November 16, 2009 We found a house to rent!

Having given up searching for a house to rent in the nearby village of Alella, we finally came across this gem one afternoon when we met our realtor, Miguel, to look at a beachfront apartment in Caldes d'Estrac. It is located some 30 km north of Barcelona and about 20 km over the mountains to Granollers, where Pat works at the Coty plant. You'll be able to find us easily given the bright Mediterranean colour and the fact that it is situated about halfway up the mountain overlooking the Sea! The house, built right into the mountain in 1957, was completely renovated in 1999. Despite the way it appears, is actually all on one level, a "bungalow", as we call it in Canada. You will note, however, that there are several terraces, all with a seaview, and two with furniture. There are gardens and plants everywhere, complete with a built-in sprinkler system and a gardener from Senegal! The picture below shows the front of the house, the large square window on the right is the TV/living room area. The single-car garage is located in the bottom left of the picture. You enter the house by climbing up two long flights of tiled stairs...who needs a step class anymore?!?


































The switchback road leading to the house! The gray hazy part is the Mediterranean Sea!















Extra parking for about 5 cars on the opposite side of the street.















Covered terrace and BBQ area




















Another covered terrace just outside the kitchen/laundry room















Pat on the large front terrace which opens directly into the three bedrooms and living room




















Front living/TV room (apologies for the poor lighting-it was a very bright but hazy day!)















Dining room with bar doors into the breakfast nook and galley kitchen















The blue breakfast nook just inside the bar doors (above)















The galley kitchen with skylights and lots of built-in cabinets




















At the end of the kitchen is the laundry room with more storage space, opening onto a terrace















Double guest room




















Twin guest room















Guest bathroom across the hall (green tiles)




















Master bedroom















Master bathroom with jacuzzi tub overlooking the Med!




















On top of an unused cistern at the back of the house-another terrace if needed! Notice how the house is built right into the hill along the back side. We are told it stays very cool in summer...































The far side of the house looking down to the entrance way























The opposite end of the house-anoher terrace!





















Pat with our landlady, Lourdes (far left), our realtor, Miguel (left) and Gemma, (right) his Admin. The deal was in the bag and signed on November 25th! We can move in from December 10th, although Pat is in the USA on a business trip that day and we do not know when our shipment will be deloivered from Halifax.





















After we settle in, I will send more pictures reflecting our own belongings in the house! Bookings at "Casa Bourque" for 2010 open soon...

Adios!