Update May 2026 - A weekend in Spain full of atmosphere, mountains, tranquility, nature, and finally the prospect of construction starting.
On May 21, 2026, we went to Spain again for a short while. This time together with our friends Arie and Jantine. A short trip from Thursday to Saturday evening, but we enjoyed it so much again.
Actually, we mainly wanted to take a break, show the surroundings, and of course feel again why this region stole our hearts.
And let's be honest… every time we come back, that feeling only gets stronger.
Setting off early for Spain
The alarm went off very early on Thursday morning. But as soon as you walk onto Rotterdam The Hague Airport, the holiday feeling actually starts immediately.
Just a little while longer and we would be back among the mountains, the palm trees, the almond trees, and the relaxed Spanish life.
The flight with Transavia was wonderfully quiet. No crowds, no stress, and above all, no endless traffic jams like we are used to in the Netherlands.
We noticed that difference again immediately, by the way, when we returned on Saturday evening. In Spain, we drove relaxed through mountains, villages, and quiet roads for days. Once back in the Netherlands, we were stuck in traffic almost immediately.
Visited the construction site of Casa de la Almendra
Naturally, we went straight to our site in Macisvenda, a small village in the Murcia region near the beautiful Hondon Valley. Although no construction was taking place yet, this visit felt different from the previous times. Now it finally seems to be getting really close.
In two weeks, our contractor José Antonio Ruiz will start construction of Casa de la Almendra.
That suddenly makes everything much more tangible.
We gave Arie and Jantine an extensive tour of the site and told them what will go where:
the guesthouse
the 10 x 5 meter swimming pool
the spacious camper pitches
the honesty bar
the outdoor kitchen
the places where everyone will soon be able to enjoy the view
As we stood there, we ourselves saw it more and more clearly before us.
Right now it is still a quiet piece of nature with almond trees, wildflowers, stones, and views of the mountains, but soon we hope to welcome guests there who come for exactly what we ourselves enjoy so much: peace, space, nature, and the relaxed Spanish outdoor life.
What strikes us time and again in this region, by the way, is the lovely cooling breeze that is almost always blowing. Even when the sun is shining brightly, it still feels pleasant. That makes the climate here truly exceptionally nice.
How beautiful the landscape is at this moment. Flowers and plants are in bloom everywhere. Green valleys, rugged mountains, almond trees, and beautiful vistas.
Sometimes we drive somewhere and just think: "How incredibly beautiful it is here."
Lunch at El Fielato
On Thursday afternoon, we went for lunch at restaurant El Fielato. We already knew this place from a previous trip, and that is precisely why we wanted to take Arie and Jantine there.
Some places you just want to share, and El Fielato is absolutely one of them.
It is a unique cave restaurant in the middle of a stunning mountainous area. The drive there alone is beautiful. Mountains, gorges, winding roads, and views where you actually want to stop every few minutes for a photo.
There is a wonderful atmosphere inside. Thick white walls, vaulted ceilings, and that typical Spanish feeling, as if time moves just a little slower there.
And then the food…
A delicious three-course set menu for a price at which you can barely buy a sandwich and a drink in the Netherlands these days.
We really had a feast. Good food, good company, and above all, lots of laughter—those are the moments that stick with you.
Staying overnight at Casa de la Piña
This time we stayed with Henk and Angelie at Casa de la Piña in Hondón de los Frailes.
What a lovely place. Small-scale, atmospheric, and incredibly hospitable. Only three rooms, an honesty bar, a wonderful pool, and an atmosphere that makes you feel welcome immediately.
And then breakfast…
Freshly baked bread, homemade jam, delicious various types of cheese and cold cuts, a fresh egg, and something surprising added every morning.
You can tell from everything that this is done with love.
That is exactly the feeling we want to create at Casa de la Almendra.
No mass tourism, no rush, just enjoying the outdoors, the peace, and nature.
Eating at Veintiocho on Thursday evening
On Thursday evening, we went to eat at restaurant Veintiocho in Hondón de los Frailes. A cozy restaurant run by Dutch people, located in a charming little street in the village.
A nice combination of Spanish coziness with a small Dutch touch.
And let's be honest: after all the food on that first day, we slowly began to understand why hiking in those mountains might not be a bad idea after all.
Driving around the region
On Friday, we drove around a lot through the area of the Hondon Valley and Murcia. Everything was in beautiful bloom. Green valleys, colorful flowers, cacti, olive trees, almond trees, and that bright Spanish light everywhere.
It remains remarkable how this region feels both rugged and calming at the same time. Sometimes we drove up a small mountain road and looked out over vast valleys with small villages in the distance. Then we would get out for a moment to simply enjoy the view in silence.
That is perhaps precisely what makes this region so special. No mass tourism and no crowds, but rather space, nature, and silence.
We visited Novelda, among other places, with the impressive church Santuario de Santa María Magdalena. A remarkable building that bears a strong resemblance to Gaudí in style.
As if someone thought: let's build a church… but just a little bit differently. That turned out pretty well!
Pinoso was once again pleasantly busy and atmospheric. The streets were festively decorated with flags, people were sitting on terraces everywhere, and you could just feel that typical Spanish liveliness.
Friday afternoon lunch at La Font
On Friday afternoon, we had lunch at La Font in Hondón de las Nieves.
A typical Spanish restaurant where English is still truly a foreign language. To be honest, that actually makes it even more fun.
La Font is run by Virtu, an incredibly warm Spanish cook who serves delicious, honest dishes. No complicated gimmicks or trendy menus here, just fresh Spanish cuisine with wonderful flavors.
And the best part? The menu del día here is even more affordable than you might expect. A starter, main course, dessert, wine, and coffee for under 15 euros per person.
And the quality? Really incredibly good.
Fresh ingredients, pure flavors, and exactly that warm Spanish feeling we love so much.
These are the kinds of spots you normally only get to know when you really start to discover the region.
Friday night paella at Henk and Angelie's
On Friday evening, we were invited by Henk and Angelie from Casa de la Piña to come and eat paella.
Well… we certainly found that out. That was incredibly delicious!
A large pot of fresh paella on the table, sitting comfortably outside, good conversation, and delicious food. The kind of evening where no one is in a rush and you actually don't want the night to end.
And secretly, you immediately notice why people love returning to a small-scale bed and breakfast like Casa de la Piña. Not only because of the beautiful rooms or the pool, but especially because of the atmosphere and the hospitality.
We think we laughed more than we talked.
And perhaps that is ultimately the real Spanish life. Together and time for each other.
Just relaxing by the pool for a bit
On the last day, we were able to relax by the pool at Casa de la Piña before heading back to the airport late in the afternoon.
Just doing absolutely nothing. Just sun, peace, and enjoyment.
And somewhere in between, you realize: soon this will simply be part of our lives.
And then came good news…
As we write this blog, a message came in from José Antonio Ruiz.
The architect personally went to the architects' association to complain about the delay in the approval of our project. There he was told that the approval would probably be issued very soon.
If that indeed happens, José Antonio will go straight to the town hall to apply for the building permit, and construction can start immediately!
In addition, José Antonio now has:
applied for the connection for irrigation water
the electricity connection has been set in motion
preparations made for the access gates
plans made to start excavating the foundation
preparations have been made to fully fence off the site
So, hard work is being done behind the scenes to be able to start as soon as possible.
Honestly, after being patient for so long, that feels quite special to write down.
Just a little more patience…
The site is still empty and quiet.
But as we stood there, we could already picture it all: the guesthouse, the swimming pool, the camper pitches, people enjoying the peace and quiet, a drink at the honesty bar, cooking and eating together at the outdoor kitchen, the setting sun behind the mountains...
Just a little more patience.
The dream is now slowly starting to become a real reality.
See you soon, we can't wait to share all of this with you!
Nathalie & Richard
Casa de la Almedra
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