Currently, most of what we own is in a storage unit, back in Istria, and we are travelling light (although the packed car would suggest otherwise), as we move around Andalucia, getting to know the region of our new home. The purchase hasn’t completed yet, so we don’t know when we can begin to arrange bringing everything over, but what is packed away in boxes, is already beginning to fade in my memory. I’m sure it will all be reassuringly familiar when we do start to unwrap and unpack, but it has given me the opportunity to consider the kind of house we want to create, rather than shoe-horning everything in and trying to make everything that was at home in Istria, as at home in a very different kind of house.
One thing that I know we will definitely incorporate, however, is beautiful Andalucian crockery. I mean, do you even live in Andalucia if you don’t have beautifully painted and patterned bowls and dishes and plates? In the new house, we are very lucky to have a big roof terrace, where a kitchen will be built so that we can make the most of the weather and the views, and I think this is where we will incorporate splashes of Spanish colour.
I am so looking forward to heading out and visiting those fabulous roadside pottery places, which are awash with colour and vibrancy. Plates and bowls stacked high. All colours, patterns, shapes and sizes. Matched sets or mis-matched, it doesn’t matter. Some will be used in the kitchen, some will be used decoratively on walls, some will be filled with fresh fruit. These places are real treasure troves, and prices are so much more competitive than in the boutique-y shops in towns.
Even more exciting though, is the opportunity to take the ferry across to Tangier from Tarifa or Algeciras and get into the souks. Tagine pots are on our shopping list, as well as rugs and cushions and Moorish ceramic tiles and lanterns and lights…
But, before any retail therapy can even be considered, we need to get the purchase completed and those keys in our hands. Both sets of solicitors are currently on their annual Spanish holidays, but things are in place for everything to start moving again in September. And, as there should be no unexpected complications – our solicitor has done all of the due diligence – we are hoping that we can complete quite quickly. And, get shopping…
