Finca Arboleda and it's story

Road down to the Old Stables

Rubish to be cleared

Stables with Horse

Stables without Horse

Inside the Old Stables

First storm

First storm at Stables

Original Swiming Pool

Our Awesome Adventure at Finca Arboleda: Living the Dream in Spain

Back in 2003, we decided to shake things up and move to Spain for a fresh start. After just three visits, we found our dream home: the lovely Finca Arboleda. We bought the place in December and moved in on January 7th.

Click on the pictures for a larger image.

Old pool knocked down

Entrance

Tidy entrance

Orange Grove at purchase

Orange Grove at purchase2

Early Orange Grove

Early Orange Grove2

New Orange Grove bedroom

When we first got there, the place was pretty messy, and what we now call "the Old Stables" used to be, well, old stables. In March 2004, we experienced our first storm, which made us realise we would need to make some much-needed improvements to the road and accessibility.
We started by cleaning up the gardens, getting rid of the old pool, and spreading gravel around the beautiful citrus trees. We also began working on the "Orange Grove Apartment" by building a wall in our garage and creating a doorway by the fireplace in the sitting room we had a new bedroom. We didn't take many pictures back then, but the memories are still fresh in our minds.
Our first guests stayed with us in February 2004, and even though we were still building, we became fast friends.

Stables at purchase

Demolition

Demolition2

Rubble

Setting out

Footings going in

Looks very small

Getting excited

After facing some bumps in the road with the Orange Grove Apartment, our neighbours introduced us to a local builder who not only helped us finish up, but also went on to build the charming "Old Stables Villa."