Casares

On a European level it’s considerably debated: Should Germany, Holland, or France pay the Spanish bill? Should they take responsibility for Spain’s Governments deficit? I hear my fellow countrymen (the Dutch) moaning every day: Can’t the Spanish take better care of their finances? Can’t they match earnings with expenses? Hmm, Rajoy, the new prime minister is trying to get some order in the cash registry. He is raising taxes, cutting back on costs and taking measures to improve the productivity of the Spanish employees by abolishing national holidays.

And this is all so un-Spanish! They cherish their holidays and they never worry about meeting income with expenses, but yes they do pay their own bills. It’s even a national sport to secretly pay someone else’s bill! I am obviously not talking about government expenses, I am talking about every days life in Spain.  So different from us Dutchies. When we have an evening out with a group of friends, we don’t simply go Dutch, we carefully recalculate which part if the bill is payable by whom. Sometimes we will go one step further and ask the waiter upfront for separate bills. Don’t laugh!  When we go to the pub and accidently run into some acquaintances we order a round. Yet, the next round is for them.  Here in my village, Casares, they have a completely different routine. You meet someone in a local bar and they invite you to a beer and despite the fact that you ordered several rounds as well, at the end of the evening you find out that the complete bill has been paid for by your Spanish friend. Complaining at the bartender is of no use at all, he has strict orders not to accept any money from you.  How embarrassing! I’ve found out that the only way for me to pay a bill in a bar is to sneak up to the bartender at the beginning of the evening and leave a 50€ note, upfront, as a down payment, ensuring that this time it will be my bill! If they catch me I have to prepare myself for a fight or hide. What on earth was I thinking, they invited me! Semi-angry faces, a lot of hand waving and in rapid Spanish the bartender is told off and instructed to never take my money again!

What’s behind this all? I don’t know exactly. I do know that the Spanish consider it an honor to pay the bill. It shows that they care about you. You are their guest and have to be pampered. At the same time they show that they can afford it, that they are generous. It gives them a certain feeling of superiority. But most of all it’s a sport, a game, and they want to win the game.

Plaza de España, Casares

It doesn’t even make a lot of difference whether you know them well or not. The other day I invited some clients for a coffee on the Plaza. I wanted them to experience the ultimate White Village lifestyle, relaxing on a terrace, observing the villagers, enjoying the sunshine. I was assuming that the bartender, since he knows me, would keep the bill for me. Unfortunately the accompanying Spanish agent was too quick for me. The bartenders comment was simple: Anita, if I have the choice I won’t let a lady pay! And that was that. My Spanish colleague walked away with a big smile on his face. He’d won the game!

I presume Rajoy will win the game as well. It would be far below his standard to let someone else pay his bill!

Interested in the white village experience? Check our properties:

Village houses for sale in Gaucin

Village houses for sale in Casares

For Sale, Luxury Villa in Benalmadena, El Higueron, Capellania, Andalusia, Spain

On the coast between Málaga and Marbella you will find this perfectly maintained and wonderfully situated villa in the beautiful and excellently situated urbanization of La Capellania in the town of Benalmádena, bordering Fuengirola. The villa offers a splendid and unobstructed view of the Mediterranean. Malaga airport is just 15 minutes and Puerto Banús only 25 minutes away.

Next to the urbanization you will find a modern shopping strip with a supermarket and some restaurants as well as the modern sports facilities of El Higuerón, with tennis and paddle courts, two restaurants, three swimming pools, a spa and yoga and fitness facilities. A sportive and social meeting point in the area. And so close by…
This property is one of the biggest and most luxuriously appointed houses of the urbanization. A small house used to be in the same spot. About fifteen years ago this was redone and incorporated into the present big villa. The past few years the villa has been updated on certain points.
The villa is accessed via remote controlled gate leading to a car park for multiple vehicles on the grounds itself. The villa frontage is approximately 45 meters. Partly because of this, the house makes a stately impression, whereas the architecture is pleasing. At the rear (sea) side the house tapers into a T-shape, dividing the house into two L-shapes. To one side is a secluded patio (behind the kitchen) and a flight of steps leading to the top of the hill on the grounds. The hilltop is flat and offers an unobstructed view of the area. The other side offers covered deck, a wooden pool deck with swimming pool in a tastefully laid out garden, a gazebo as well as a tea house that offers fantastic views.
The floor space of the villa is approximately 3.300 sqm. There is a covered flight of steps at the front. The 200-year old Indian doors lead to the spacious hall, which leads to the split living. One side of the living accommodates the couching area with the fireplace; the other side is the dining area with TV-corner. The two ample rooms are interconnected. The indoor living is approximately 110 sqm. The adjoining covered outdoor living is approximately 60sqm. Both the indoor and outdoor living offers unparalleled views of the Mediterranean.
The spacious kitchen is approximately 50sqm. The cooking island is the central spot. It is the spot to jointly prepare a meal, have a glass of wine. There is sufficient storage space. The kitchen is double equipped for much of its equipment. There is a big American fridge for food as well as a separate fridge for drinks; there are two dish washers and three sinks. Furthermore an oven, a ceramic cooker, a gas cooker hood, a grill and a deep-fryer. Sitting at the dining table is bliss. Behind the patio there is a patio for the afternoon hours.
The property has six bedrooms and five bathrooms. As well as a big, indoor garage. There is a spacious den with a good glass frontage, with next to it a toilet and on the other side a modern bar with French doors opening onto the deck and swimming pool. The bar has a fridge and dishwasher. Conveniently located for the office and swimming pool, it is also a good spot for garden and swimming pool parties. The bar also accommodates to a large playroom with a pool table.
Around the swimming pool you will find a sturdy, wooden deck. The swimming pool is approximately 6 by 12 meters. Looking across the blue water of the swimming pool, you will experience even more the strengths of how the property is situated.
The splendidly laid out garden has a gazebo and a covered deck to provide shaded enjoyment of the views of the Mediterranean and your house. There is also a magnificent spot with three double hammocks and a dug-in-trampoline for the kids amidst lush, subtropical plants. There is a fantastically (views of the sea) sunk-in Jacuzzi.
A unique feature is the sheltered spot below the overhanging rock of your own mountain, from which you can have the most splendid views. Besides its special architecture, the views are the major attractions of the villa. It is a panorama which is rarely as spectacular at the Costa del Sol. It is worth mentioning that the views at night are also more than beautiful. You are then overlooking the starry lights of the villas far below you and the lights of the town and the port of Fuengirola.
Details:
Modern, well maintained villa
Spacious floor space, approx 755 sqm.
Spacious plot of approx 3.300 sqm.
Close to shops, spa and sports facilities
Easy and rapid access to motorway
In 2008 a new air conditioning unit was installed
In 2009 a new central heating/hot eater installation was installed (powered by a water pump and solar panels with fuel consumption at only a quarter of normal energy levels)
Floor heating throughout the house
Recently painted
Heated pool
Automatic garden irrigation with separate water reservoir
Remotely controlled garden lighting
Underground 30.000 liter water reservoir for the house itself

Beautiful rustic style, quality villa south facing with nice sea- mountain- and golf views located in a prime position within La Zagaleta Golf and Country Club, Andalusia.
Constructed with high quality materials, solid wood windows, terracotta flooring, high ceilings with wooden beams, covered terraces and beautiful views over the golf and the La Zagaleta mountains and the Mediterranean sea.
The villa was designed and built paying great attention to detail, using the highest quality fixtures and fittings. Beamed vaulted high ceilings, terracotta flooring and spacious terraces highlight the house built in 2002. All the main rooms are on one floor, making the villa quite unique.
Approached by a nice drive way leading to a vaulted beamed porch giving space for 2 cars, the villa welcomes you with a lovely Spanish ‘patio’ with orange trees and a fountain. The drawing room, with a fireplace, has a bar and vaulted beamed ceilings and opens to a relaxing covered and enclosed terrace. There is a separate dining room, which adjoins the fully fitted kitchen with breakfast area, Miele appliances and laundry room with separate entrance. On the right wing of the villa, surrounding the Spanish Patio, there is an office which could be turned into a fifth bedroom, two bedrooms en suite and the master suite with big bathroom, with shower, and Jacuzzi bath.

Luxury Villa in La Zagaleta, Benahavis, near Marbella

The basement consists of a guest bedroom with windows and en suite bathroom, a storage room, machinery room and garage for 2 cars plus a golf buggy.
Additional features include A/C and under floor heating throughout the house, B&O installation, alarm system, water deposit of 2.000lts, oil tank of 5.000lts and wooden panels for wheelchair users.
The extensive manicured grounds boast tropical plants with an attractive heated swimming pool.

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