12. Cortijo renovation - bringing down the walls and a drive through Oria village

Join us as we restore an old farmhouse and land in the mountains of Southern Spain, creating a home, a place to share with others and learning to live sustainably off the land. Near Oria in Almeria the driest region of Europe it will have challenges. Renovating a 200 year old cortijo that hasn't been lived in for over 10 years will be a challenge as we are novices.
This week we start bringing down the walls and really opening up the rooms. There is a drive through the village of Oria and a bit more clearing outside. Progress is slow but it's all progress.
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[@loucksr]

I have been watching ur channel ALL DAY!!!! Love the project. I’m American. So is my wife, but her father was from Burgos, and his parents lived in Marbella in their older age, before Marbella became “Marbella”. I have been to Spain, many times, and I love almost everything about being there. We have talked about fulfilling my father-in-law’s dream (he died 15 yrs ago), and to find a place for our own dream too. Ur channel has taught me a lot, and I appreciate every second of time u put into it. Maybe, with help from content creators like u, I will do this too. U r inspirational ❤️

[@SettleinSpain]

Thank you, it's wonderful to hear your story and I hope you guys make it over here. We will have to share a coffee when you do.

[@diannarowlands3784]

Loved your drive music, as a 75 year old women I enjoy all hard work you and your husband are putting into your new life and home ❤️

[@SettleinSpain]

thank you Dianna :)

[@williambradley1448]

Gosh Amanda, that looks like very hard work!

[@SettleinSpain]

hard work but rewarding :)

[@bethbankston1781]

I am learning to 'coexist' with spiders, but would much rather they be in the garden than in the house! Love watching the progress 😊

[@SettleinSpain]

I can cope to a point, but preferably outside!

[@FincaLife]

Great vid, you need a bigger hammer :) Pretty sure the beetle is a palm weevil but as others have said, firebug

[@SettleinSpain]

the only problem with a bigger hammer is that I can't swing it for very long... my muscles will get stronger!

[@karenw9996]

In watching the video, it looks like you're driving on the right side of the road - as we do in the US, but I believe most of the world drives on the left - are you truly driving on the right side, or does the camera give a mirror image, as I've seen in videos on other channels (where, in the USA, the steering wheel was on the left side as one looked through the windshield, which I know is not the case). And again - I am SO glad all this work is falling on you two and not me - I just wouldn't have the strength or stamina. Nice work!

[@SettleinSpain]

Hi Karen, yes in Europe we all drive on the right, it's the just the UK and a few former British Colonies that drive on the left I believe. We don't always have the stamina but it's amazing what you we can do with a bit of motivation! Thank you

[@virsanib]

Hi sweet Amanda! Once again you both did a great job! Congratulations! Nice to see how the renovation is on the way!

[@SettleinSpain]

Thank you 😊

[@adavandorp1605]

What a nice videos. We live in Togo West Africa and we have spiders here too. Big and small. And I'm also afraid of spiders. But luckily I have my hero (husband) here. There is a big difference between spiders inside the house or outside. I don't care much for spiders outside but a spider inside the house has to go.. Good luck with renovating your home.

[@SettleinSpain]

Oh yes outside or out of sight is fine, I know they do a good job, but!! 🤣

[@lito.m]

Nice video again. Lovely village. It looks like a red fire bug but not 100% sure.

[@SettleinSpain]

Thank you I’ll be googling firebugs!

[@lito.m]

@@SettleinSpain I could be wrong 😉

[@margaretbacon7874]

🕸😬💚

[@WalkTallSpain]

I detest spiders, and we get some whoppers out here! Looking forward to your next video 🙂

[@SettleinSpain]

Glad I’m not the only one, outside or out of sight is fine!

[@solamano7239]

I have an industrial vacuum cleaner downstairs for "everything" and two small ones, one up, one down, precisely for the removal of bugs. I found that the first years are essential. You get rid of all the mothers, even at 3:00 in the morning and in the following years, the bug problem will be much reduced.

[@SettleinSpain]

@@solamano7239 great ideas thank you

[@solamano7239]

@@SettleinSpain - Buena suerte :)

[@11370LB]

No problem with spiders in Spain. It’s the scalopendra you have to be wary of. They get quite long, and move very fast. They are like giant centipedes. They can give a very painful bite, and sometimes you need a trip to the hospital. They hide inside shoes, clothes and inside your bed! For me, they were the worst thing about living in Spain. Spiders are an absolute doddle compared to them!

[@SettleinSpain]

Ooh yes I’ve seen reports of those, and do take care with shoes and things… they do look very nasty…

[@solamano7239]

Hello there! I would guess that your red & black bugs are firebugs or 'Pyrrhocoris apterus'. They can be a bit of a nuisance when they gather but are harmless, they don't bite and don't stink and they don't come indoors.

[@SettleinSpain]

Thank you, I’ve never heard of firebugs before :)

[@solamano7239]

@@SettleinSpain - I'm in SW France & my terrace is full of them, they love the sun.

[@lauraolap9921]

@@SettleinSpain they don't do much but they eat malvaceae seeds, if they can't find them they can eat some crops such as cauliflower and cabbage, but they are not usually a problem

[@SettleinSpain]

@@lauraolap9921 thank you, hopefully we won't have any problems with them when we start planting vegetables :)

[@jenh9252]

what are your plans for the warehouse?

[@SettleinSpain]

Lots of ideas but no firm plans yet!

[@oriapeachey]

My name