After two Corona years we finally could go to Spain. From our online search we had two empty villages on our list. Both about 10 ruïnes big, at least so I thought.
As Vitoria Gasteiz is in the middle we rented a b&b there. Of course an empty village does not have public transport so we first needed to pick up our rented car. And that is easier said than done. It was half an hour walking to get there, luckily our little ones had a step with them. Although I had my creditcard, drivers license and ID with me, we could not get the car; I also needed my creditcard pin code which I had never used before. I pay with my watch or online without it. The creditcard company could give me my pin code, within a day by post to my home address. So that did not work.
We went to another company which on the phone sounded more relaxed. While walking, Maaike discovered a rental app for private renting. As I had all my cards with me Maaike could fill in the application within minutes. While waiting we still crossed the city to get to the other rental company, which we wanted to reach before siesta time. Then we got an approval in the app, and a lady agreed to rent us her car. We again changed our direction and went as fast as we could to the lady of the car. The kids where really helpful and only commented: 'Hé this fountain we already have seen three times now'.
Ok long story but in the end we ware just in time to visit our first village. We met with Abraham at some gps coordinates, since it was most easy to find. We drove another 10 minutes and finally arrived in the abandoned village, Oteruelo. It was about 30 houses small with a little church and even a tiny graveyard. Abraham, a nice guy in his forty, spoke just clear enough so Maaike could follow his Spanish, amazing after her short time of studying. He told us his grandparents had lived there and his sister used it as a summer house for a while. But the last six years it was totally empty. No electricity, no water, no
sewerage and of course no internet. Not even a livable house.
But a lot of potential, and Maaike and I would have had no problem to stay there to do some construction work.
We were interested in the place but only if it was possible to add about 10 ha of land near to it. Abraham would ask around and come back to us. He would also check if it was possible to buy the rest of the village as he only owned 10 of the 30 houses.
He left us dreaming about what we could do with the place.
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