Three years and 9 months.

That's how long we've been living our new life under the Spanish sun. Time flies.

Especially when you welcome people from all over the world every day and provide them with a unique B&B experience.

The constant coming and going of people might be annoying for many, but for us, it provides a constant new energy and new vibes in the house.

People's stories, life experiences, and unique encounters energize us. It recharges us.

Hardly a day goes by without us telling ourselves we made the right decision.

Of course, we'd like to return to Belgium and the Netherlands one day. Our roots are there.

But we're always happy when we can go back.

Last week, we spent a few days in Belgium and the Netherlands to celebrate our son Koen's birthday with his grandparents and nieces.

It was super fun again!

This week, we also hosted his children's party here at our house. Ten children in the pool on October 2nd at 31 degrees. What more could you ask for?

Ah yes, a piñata, of course. :-)

The summer months were hot, to confirm a cliché, but for us that meant the house was fully booked. This summer we welcomed almost exclusively guests from the Netherlands and Belgium who rented the house for 1 or 2 weeks each. Because, as you probably remember, we travel ourselves during the summer months and rent our house by the week. This way, guests can also enjoy our house and the beautiful surroundings in their own (private) way.

Now it's time to harvest again. The olives are almost ripe, and the almonds have almost all been picked.

In the coming weeks, we'll start harvesting the carob beans.

Perhaps you know the latter as a chocolate substitute or as a thickener for baby formula?

For us, October also marks the beginning of a change in our guest profile. Summer lovers give way to walkers and cyclists.

The pool will remain open until the end of October for a refreshing dip after an active day outdoors.

This isn't news to our Facebook and Instagram followers, but it is news to everyone else: we've had a saltwater pool instead of a freshwater pool for several weeks now.

In practice, this means we no longer have to throw chlorine tablets into our pool; instead, our water quality is maintained through saltwater electrolysis. The water is now much healthier for the skin than before, and you can feel it! The clarity is also phenomenal! No more irritated skin for chlorine-sensitive people, and a much gentler pool experience!

Just to clarify: the salinity of the water is still 10 times lower than that of the sea, so don't compare it to seawater.

The water in a saltwater pool doesn't even taste salty.

We've also completed one of our many annual celebrations: five days filled with music, dancing, food, and drinks!

The Spanish know how to have fun.

The week after the fiestas, the town is much quieter, which is understandable after the holidays :-)

An ideal time to take our guests for a walk through the town and guide them through the surrounding nature.

The Pasarela Gorge walk (www.pasareladerelleu.es) is gaining popularity each year, an ideal excursion for many before spending a few nights at Casa Pura Vida.

In the spring of 2025, the gorge trail will be further expanded with wooden walkways that will take you even further along the impressive Amadorio River gorge.

It's worth it!

We hope you enjoyed reading this update and, of course, we look forward to welcoming each of you to our B&B one day!