QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Questions & Answers from Mac and Gayle

Q: What attracted you to the area in the first place?

A: We always wanted to move to Spain but not to the Costas, it had to be somewhere inland and fairly rural but also with a local school and nearby village not too far away. The price of caves in 2002/3 was also a major factor as being on a limited budget also limited our property selection - with the caves we had a lot more choice.

Q: What have you found to be the most beneficial aspect of living in rural Spain?

A: Healthy living and escaping the rat race! Day to day life is so much more laid back than in the UK. Making new friends and absorbing ourselves into the Spanish lifestyle has been a challenge but very rewarding. Less stress is a huge benefit.

Q: What did your friends and family think when you said "we're buying a cave"?

A: They obviously thought we were mad, no-one had heard of the Spanish caves before we mentioned them as a possible new home to renovate in Andalucia. Media exposure on the subject was limited at the time so nobody could envisage fully what we had planned - even the most open minded.

Q: In general, what is the best part of the Spanish lifestyle?

A: Barbeques in the summer months are a fantastic affair, all the neighbours join in and more often than not they are not even planned which usually turn out to be the best ones! Having the opportunity to learn and improve on language skills has been great, the locals really do appreciate the effort you put in. Making friends of different nationalities and sharing some aspects of ones culture. Cooking and experiencing the local food and the age old tradition of tapas. The countryside and the views. Everything!

Q: Where do you envisage the cave lifestyle / rural villages to be in the future?

A: There is no doubt that the caves are becoming very popular with primarily British seeking a relaxed life in Spain, as a result the local economy is benefiting. The villages won't get flooded to saturation with expats and will certainly not turn out like the coastal regions, there just aren't enough properties.

Q: Would your answers to the above have been useful to you prior to buying your property?

A: Once the real cave aspect has been realised and the stereotypical image disgarded then as a potential buyer you need to discover as much information as possible to help with making the decision. Comments and opinions from existing cave dwellers can only be a good thing weather pro-cave or otherwise . . . it's good to get a balanced view!

Q: Any other comments?

A: It would probably be fair to say that rural Andalucia is twenty years behind the UK and this takes some getting used to. Services like Internet, etc are readily available as are most other home comforts and essentials. The local population tends to be predominantly made up of the older generation so the "old school" culture is still very strong. This can be frustrating at times given certain situations. Running a business can be hard as what you would expect to take a day in the UK can take a week in rural parts. Top tip: never be in a rush!