Construction update Summer 2026: How happy can you be with a piece of sewer?
Finally see with my own eyes
In our previous blog, we wrote about the minor disappointment caused by the necessary amendment to the permit application. Fortunately, a lot has happened since then, and we can provide a positive update on that.
Back home, we had already regularly received photos of the progress. That is great, of course, but ultimately you still want to see it with your own eyes. That is why we drove straight from the airport to Macisvenda.
It was quite exciting to drive into the little street for the first time and suddenly see our new sliding gate and pedestrian door there. And then we saw it: the wall was already completely finished too!
We drove along the wall, through the gate, and onto our own property. Work on the foundation beams was in full swing there. The first person we saw was the father of José Antonio, our builder. He was busy loading beams onto the truck.
It is difficult to describe how happy we were at that moment. After all the discussions, drawings, adjustments, and uncertainties, they were finally really building. Materials were on site, machines were moving, and work was being done on the foundation of our house. Then, suddenly, it all starts to feel very real.
The wall immediately has a second function.
On one side of the property, the wall is quite high. That will soon prove to be very practical. We purchased a shipping container for our move to Spain. Friends will transport our belongings in it from the Netherlands to Macisvenda. After the move, the container will get a second life as storage space. It can be placed behind the high wall and will be completely out of sight there. Ideal for garden supplies, tools, and materials that we will undoubtedly need later.
After our first extensive tour of the grounds, we went grocery shopping and then drove on to Dick and Evelien. It was wonderful to be back there! Rocko, the dog, was also visibly happy to see us again.
Not long after, we were sitting by the pool with a drink, and of course, we had to go for a swim. Evelien had made lasagna, and we were able to join in for a nice meal. We really couldn't have wished for a better start to our stay.
Building without hard connections
The next day, we went back to the site together with Dick and Evelien.
Foundation beams were by now in place, and part of the so-called 'bread rolls' had also been installed.
Elastic bearing felt strips were placed between the foundation and the foundation beams. These provide acoustic decoupling. As a result, the rigid connection between the concrete components is interrupted, making it more difficult for contact noise and vibrations to spread through the building later.
These are details that you, as a future resident, might not immediately consider. Exactly
That is why we were pleased to see that construction is being carried out seriously and carefully. What will soon disappear underground and out of sight must, of course, be of good quality.
In the meantime, we were in contact via email with a Dutch couple who are having a house built in El Cantón. They had previously taken photos for us when we were in the Netherlands. Now we went to look at their house under construction and, in turn, took photos for them. It is really convenient that you can help each other in this way.
Toasting with the drone
On Sunday, we first went to the church in Hondón de los Frailes. To our surprise, our nephew Stijn's favorite song was playing there. It is remarkable how something like that can suddenly make you think of home, thousands of kilometers from the Netherlands.
After that, of course, we drove back to the site. Dick and Evelien had brought two chairs along for us. We wanted to film with the drone how we toasted together to the progress of the construction.
The drone flew around us while we sat on the grounds with our glasses. The video turned out really nice. A moment like that really says it all: there we sit, right in the middle of our own piece of land, while the first outlines of our future house become visible all around us.
Palms, plans, and an excavator
During this trip, we also got an increasingly clear picture of how we want to design the garden. So we went to a garden center again.
There we saw beautiful palm-like trees that we could already picture standing by our pool and on the grounds. At the same time, we realize that we really need someone who understands the local conditions. Which trees and plants grow well in this soil? Which species can withstand the heat, drought, and wind? And how much water do they need?
The planting itself will also be a challenge. The soil on our site is so hard that you cannot make a planting hole with an ordinary shovel. For the larger trees, an excavator will probably be needed.
Fortunately, we met many kind and helpful people again during this trip. People who want to help themselves, have experience, or know exactly who to approach. In any case, we are going to start creating a real garden design in the near future.
Naturally, we also paid another visit to the Siësta Group to look at garden furniture. They had received a new furniture line, and it was very beautiful. So, plenty of choices, although we have to try not to want to buy everything immediately.
The casitas and camper pitches are increasingly taking shape.
Naturally, during these days we also talked and thought a lot about the casita and the camper pitches. Alongside our own home, they will soon form an important part of Casa de la Almendra.
The casita will become a comfortable guesthouse for two people, with its own
Kitchen, bathroom, seating area, and terrace. Luxurious but not excessive, yet with everything needed for a wonderful and independent stay. We want to create a quiet and warm place, fitting in with the surroundings and offering plenty of privacy.
Last month we planned for four camper pitches, but it will probably be three. By doing so, we are consciously opting for even more space and exclusivity. Three spacious pitches with plenty of privacy and an unobstructed view over the valley. It is precisely this peace and space that should make Casa de la Almendra special.
Camper guests can make use of electricity, water, sanitary facilities, a washing-up area, and of course the (heated) swimming pool. Additionally, next to the outdoor kitchen there will be a cozy spot where guests can meet, have a drink together, or simply quietly enjoy the surroundings.
As we walked around the grounds, we kept trying to imagine where the campers would soon be parked, where people would be sitting, and what view they would have from their chairs. Right now it is still mostly sand, stone, and building materials, but in our minds, we see Casa de la Almendra taking shape more and more clearly.
Good news about the permit
Then there was the permit application. As we wrote in our previous blog, the procedure had to be adjusted. That was quite a setback at the time.
Everything is now finalized. The necessary contracts have been signed, and the builder, together with our lawyer Lana, will handle the signing at the notary for us. We are very pleased that all parties involved are cooperating well.
Three meters of extra space
We met with José Antonio on the site to go over various details of the construction. It was a very pleasant surprise that the swimming pool can be built another three meters further from the house.
We didn't know this was an option. This creates a much more spacious terrace between the house and the swimming pool. That offers more possibilities for the layout and will likely also make the whole thing look calmer and more spacious.
We also discussed the finish and color of the wall and the small up and
Steps at the house, the casita, and the outdoor kitchen. These might seem like details, but they are very important. During a heavy Spanish rain shower, you absolutely want to prevent water from running straight inside.
José Antonio gave us good advice on this. He knows the region, the soil, and the sometimes heavy rainfall. It is nice to have someone who doesn't just build what is on a drawing, but also thinks along with you about how you can live there comfortably and safely in the future.
Neighbors, drinks, and becoming wiser together
During our stay, we also spoke to several future neighbors. We had a drink together, met up on a terrace, and went out for dinner.
That was not only very enjoyable, but also educational. Everyone has different experiences with building, living, and life in Spain. One person knows a lot about permits, another knows a good supplier or has experience with landscaping a garden.
Wisdom lies within one another. We notice that time and again.
Naturally, we also had a bite to eat together fairly regularly. With drinks, of course. A special surprise was a Spanish, refined version of tiramisu that we shared for dessert. Very tasty!
We also ate salmorejo, a traditional cold Spanish soup based on tomatoes, bread, garlic, and olive oil, usually served with pieces of salmon and egg.
At cave restaurant Restaurante La Cueva del Peregrino, we learned something new again about preparing paella. For the traditional preparation, pruning wood is often placed under the paella pan.
Grapevines used: leña de sarmiento . Outside the restaurant, the bunches of grapevine wood were already neatly bundled and ready. The restaurant itself also calls this paella a la leña de sarmiento .
That grapevine wood not only provides heat, but also a characteristic flavor to the dish.
A kitchen in the color Almendra
We also had an appointment with the kitchen supplier in Hondón de los Frailes. We had been to this man before, and he immediately gave us a sense of trust.
We soon looked at various colors and materials.
When one of the colors turned out to be called Almendra, the choice was naturally quickly made. Almendra means almond, so it fits perfectly with Casa de la Almendra.
We also selected the interior of the cabinets, the worktop, and various other details. We have a lot of confidence in this craftsman. His name is also José, by the way, like surprisingly many men we meet in Spain.
Happy with a plastic tube
When we returned to the site a few days later, we were happy again. Part of the sewage system had been laid by then!
How happy can a piece of plastic pipe make you? Well, we certainly are very happy. Every pipe, beam, and tube represents another step forward. Moreover, all of this will soon disappear under the floor. So it is especially nice that we can still see exactly how it is being installed.
Bar Javi Macisvenda
This milestone naturally had to be celebrated at Bar Javi. There, we ate delicious bread with jamón and manchego. We struck up a conversation with an English mother and her son.
A few tables away, Spanish residents of the village were playing a game. Naturally, we wanted to know how it worked. We were even allowed to join in!
We haven't done that yet this time, but who knows, next time we might just join in. It is precisely these kinds of spontaneous encounters that make our stay special every time.
Almonds, grapes and a surprisingly green summer
We drove around a lot during this trip and once again thoroughly enjoyed the scenery. The nuts are now clearly visible on the almond trees. In this region, the almonds are harvested from the end of summer. The orchards around Macisvenda and Abanilla depend largely on traditional dryland farming. The trees therefore have to make do with little water and plenty of sun.
The grapes grew well, too. Some bunches were protected from insects and birds with nets. Others were even individually packed in bags. Very inventive, but also incredibly labor-intensive. How beautiful the surroundings are, even in the middle of summer. We saw a surprising amount of greenery, beautiful walking routes, well-filled water basins, and impressive stretches of nature.
At the same time, we were confronted through the news with images of the fierce wildfires elsewhere in Spain. While we enjoyed the landscape, people in other places were fighting for their homes, animals, and nature. That contrast is stark. Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by this and to the emergency workers doing their job under extreme conditions.
Back to the Netherlands
We are back in the Netherlands now.
Work will continue on the site this week. After that, the holiday period begins and work will be temporarily suspended. That actually works out quite well, because during that period the concrete for the foundation can cure properly.
Construction will resume in September. Because we expect that we will not be able to do much on the site ourselves that month, we have decided to return to Macisvenda in mid-October.
Until then, we would of course love to receive photos of every new beam, wall, pipe, and tube. Because we know for sure by now: a piece of plastic sewer pipe can make you incredibly happy when it is in the ground in the right place.
Kind regards,
Nathalie & Richard
Comments