Living in a Cave!

[Stanley Edwards]

How long you there for. Stan?

...

Dunno! I'm looking after the cave until my friend returns from a hiking break in the mountains. Said to worry if he wasn't back by Tuesday next week

My home is only a 10 minute walk down hill so, I know many of the people here already. Some of them I got to know whilst roughing it myself last year. I already have many photographs of people, but I need to ask their permission before putting them on the web and asking them why they choose to live in a cave (assuming it is a choice for most). Plenty of interesting characters living there.

There haven't been nearly as many parties this summer for some reason. Last summer techno beats seamed to go on most weekends. The raves and parties all seem to be happening out in the mountains and by the lakes this year. Plenty of small gatherings though. I'm expecting music playing visitors this evening It's a beautiful place with a very special ambiance - plenty of local non-cave dwellers and tourists come up here just to chill and watch the sun go down.

 

[Madusa]

aww, I wanna go!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Here's an old painting of a view from the cave I'm staying in:

I'll try and find a few sunset photographs also.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Mt first ever oil painting (completed last autumn). Southern view from cave looking over The Albycin towards the city:

 

[Stanley Edwards]

And, a real photograph:

Beautiful, beautiful place.

 

[Jambooboo]

I've often wondered about the legality of setting up home in a Andalusian cave as I've traveled about there - on the road from Malaga to Motril (where my father owned a house - it was his hometown - that I have since inherited) I've noticed loads of cave entrances and wondered how far they stretch back.

Btw Stanley - you bean to Motril or any of the neighbouring towns ie. Salobrena, Almunecar etc?

 

[alandal]

We have all had a good look at this thread and we're all really jealous!! Please keep the posts coming. Really interesting, thanks

 

[Stanley Edwards]

...

Btw Stanley - you bean to Motril or any of the neighbouring towns ie. Salobrena, Almunecar etc?

I went to Motril about Three years ago. I have explored the countryside of Andalucia north of Granada extensively, but south towards the coast doesn't appeal as much. People keep telling me about Salobrena. I should take a day trip one day. There's also a 'secret' beach that sounds fantastic, I may go and find that before the summer ends.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

We have all had a good look at this thread and we're all really jealous!! Please keep the posts coming. Really interesting, thanks

Thanks.

You're all about to get even more jealous

 

[Stanley Edwards]

The very lovely, the very beautiful, the very delectable, the very delightful Inma.

erm... slightly out of focus in a very mellow drunken sort of way


So, Inma - why do you live in a cave?

Because I don't have to pay rent. Because there is more space to be creative. Because it is quiet and peaceful here. Because I met Tom. Because I like it.

Tom being the guy who's cave I'm looking after. News is that he's tackling mainland Spain's highest summit. Not exactly what I had in mind when I said 'go climb a mountain - clear the cob webs'. However, now I think about it, if someone had dropped me off in Trevelez and told me to take as long as it takes to get home, the 11,000+ FT peak of Mulhacen would have been an irresistible challenge. I'm told he went with enough provisions and food to last Six days - he should be OK, but I may be looking after the cave for longer than I first thought!

There's something very special about spending time with your best friends girl friend. You fully appreciate their company, fully appreciate what your friend sees and fully appreciate that any naughtiness is never part of the equation. We had a very nice evening together last night discussing all sorts of obscure issues over a couple of bottles of Rioja and delicious tapas.

Inma makes models carved from rubber foam:

She sells them at local fiestas and is sometimes commissioned to make them for commercial sales stands.

I like the tree best.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Inma preparing tapas:

Fucking delicious. Don't know how she manages with such basic facilities. Some lovely dip (to go with the equally delicious home baked bread from Steffi) made from avacado, Greek yoghurt and herbs and spices and stuff with rolls of sliced mountain ham stuffed with more delicious stuff

And, the dogs got a treat also:

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Quick note about the caves here.

Various sizes. Some are just a single room deep. Others go three or, four rooms deep. The deeper they go the cooler they are in summer and warmer they are in winter.

All of the caves bare the character of the cave dweller. They're customised in a very personal way. However, good ideas that work are shared and passed on. An ideal cave will have good air circulation with stale air being 'sucked out' rather than hot or, cold air being drawn in.

Plan for this evening is to visit a guy who has lived here for many years and photograph one of the best 'built from scratch' caves in the valley IMO. Complete with a very workable kitchen area and sun terrace.

 

[Boris Sprinkler]

fascinating thread. cheers.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

fascinating thread. cheers.

Thanks. Good to know people are reading and enjoying. I may even make more of an effort with my spelling and grammar and stuff now.

 

[stat]

Great thread!

Is it damp in the caves?

How do the toilets work? Are silos used, or do people compost it?

Nice hols

 

[girasol]

I don't usually subscribe to threads, but I have subscribed to this one! It's a real gem.

Keep it coming Stanley, the photos and the descriptions are both great. Have you got a blog?

 

[Stanley Edwards]

Great thread!

Is it damp in the caves?

How do the toilets work? Are silos used, or do people compost it?

Nice hols

The caves are surprisingly dry even in winter. Many of the traditional old Moorish houses of The Albycin suffer damp problems. I haven't visited a damp cave yet.

Toilets. Very few of the caves have toilet facilities of any sort. The cave I visited last night does have an outdoor bathroom of sorts. Tank of water feeds a shower and loo. Not sure about the drainage - I guess it's some sort of soak away system.

Most people use public toilets for crapping. An emergency is dealt with in a plastic bag and disposed of later. Or, people go and dig a hole.

No silos and no composting that I've come across yet.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

...Have you got a blog?

No blog. Just here. Thanks for subscribing

 

[vipper]

Absolutely blinding thread. Fascinating stuff. Good work that poster!

 

[blossie33]

Really interesting, I love unusual dwelling places!

When you say people are 'squatting' who owns the land where the caves are?

 

[rutabowa]

i, too, am totally into reading this!

 

[jigotai]

I was in Granada for about a month around the beginning of this year. I recall that there had been some police harrassment of the squatters, with lots being moved on. When I went for a wander around Sacromonte, there always seemed to be a cop car stationed by the church on the top.

The people I spoke to said that they moved into different caves, a few miles beyond sacromonte.

Are they still getting hassle from the police now?

J

 

[gabi]

I think im in love with Inma

 

[Stanley Edwards]

...

When you say people are 'squatting' who owns the land where the caves are?

The cave deeds are often clearly described with land boundaries. However, there is still much confusion as to who owns what for a few reasons.

Firstly, the whole concept of property ownership is a relatively new phenomenon to everyday Spanish folk. Not so long ago (with reference to rural areas specifically) people would just build a home wherever they worked the land. Family houses grew to accommodate expanding families. They were just family homes or, a shepherds mountain home for example.

Secondly, the caves were pretty much worthless until very recently. Nobody wanted the stigma attached to living in a cave. All over Andalucia the cave barrios of cities and towns are traditionally the poorest areas.

Thirdly, title deeds were handed down through familes. Often one cave would be inherited by Six or, more family members. Family squabbles etc would mean just one person had to object to a sale to prevent it and thus render the property worthless and quickly forgotten (as it had a very low value anyway).

Fourthly, Franco messed much of the history and records up. Apparently. Not to sure with this.

Fithly, and most funnily, in the 80's some clever guy managed to get his hands on an official Junta de Andalucia rubber stamp. Bought himself a uniform and made up lots of false deeds and collected rent on a regular basis. He even sold some caves so, there are often Two sets of deeds flying around.

As I've said, things are changing and there already seems to be a bit of a land grab going on (on a small scale).

Pretty sure all the rightful owners and non-rightful owners will stake their claims very soon.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I was in Granada for about a month around the beginning of this year. I recall that there had been some police harrassment of the squatters, with lots being moved on. When I went for a wander around Sacromonte, there always seemed to be a cop car stationed by the church on the top.

The people I spoke to said that they moved into different caves, a few miles beyond sacromonte.

Are they still getting hassle from the police now?

J

I documented this in Photography and Graphics. The thread should still exist. It was February or, March I think.

Ironically, the first cave that the police bulldozed was the one that is now a proper cave with facade and is rumoured to be a new teteria (tea room). The guy is building a terrace as I write with the most beautiful views. He actually had the deeds. As his cave was being bulldozed he ran up the hill to head of police, showed his deeds and the police had to empty the cave out.

Many of the caves are unsafe. They were being demolished on health & safety grounds. However, a good campaign and bad TV publicity organised by Totalist Angel V helped put a stop to demolishing.

I have strong suspicions that the guy who has built the teteria does actually have permission and will get electric and water. It's an obvious solution to a 'problem'. Change it from the inside and no-one will fight it. First cave gets completed by a local. Next cave gets restored and sold. Next cave, next cave, next cave... within a couple of years all caves will be reformed and have full legal deeds. Squatters go elsewhere - the next valley. Then the same thing happens again. But, there are literally valleys of caves here. There will be somewhere for people to squat for decades to come. It will just be further out of town. Possibly! There are also plans for a hotel and golf course complex in the main valley. The guy who owns it is currently under investigation for corruption (or, was - may have missed the trial). A friends of the valley group has been formed.

More info:

http://www.freewebtown.com/johncolley/fotv/01.htm

On a very slow free server.

 

[Stanley Edwards]

I think im in love with Inma

She's in the Audrey Hepburn league. Very lovely, but she's my mates girl so, leave alone

 

[Madusa]

She's in the Audrey Hepburn league. Very lovely, but she's my mates girl so, leave alone

At least *some* people on this here forum have some morals...

 

[Stanley Edwards]

The water supply:

There are fountains all over Granada that supply drinking water straight from the mountains. This one is behind Iglesia San Miguel Alto - the church at the top of the hill. Most of the people in the caves fetch their water from here.

Yesterday didn't go as planned. I found the guy I was looking to visit at someone else's cave and sort of got stuck there. Drank to much. Smoked to much. Fell down a very steep and narrow path on the way back to my mates cave.

Anyway, this is Eric the man with a million song repertoire:

So, Eric - why do you live in a cave?

Because it's very beautiful here. There is peace here and the convenience of the city is just a short walk away. I have lived here for over 10 years. I restore the caves I live. I don't pay rent, but I give something back. I have never had any trouble here. When I am asked to leave I will leave. I can busk for a couple of hours a day and that provides all the money I need to live on.

Eric playing guitar in Willy's cave:

Money!

Everybody needs it, even the people who claim they don't. You can live in the caves rent free. You can find areas of land to grow stuff (although it will need to be carefully guarded). The drinking water is free and runs all year, but there are some things you need money for. Good jobs are not easy to come by in Spain and if you let people know you live in the caves above Scaramonte you'll be out of favour with most potential employers.

The cave dwellers usually busk, sell hand made jewelery on the street (at the risk of having everything confiscated by police), some sell other art or, crafts on the street or, legally at fiestas and fairs, some manage to find work on building sites, there is a bus to a village where casual labour is often used for fruit and vegetable picking, some find part-time work as cleaners etc etc on the whole it's low paid work.

Then there are occasionally junkies who live here although they usually end up in squats in the city. They often beg, borrow and steel for money.

 

[rutabowa]

everyone who lives in caves are very handsome/beautiful!

 

[Stanley Edwards]

everyone who lives in caves are very handsome/beautiful!

I sort of manage to surround myself with beautiful people in the hope that some of it will rub off.

But, yes! Actually, the majority are very good looking. The caves always has a healthy population of hippie chicks passing by also. There is a commune in the mountains a short drive away. That attracts people from all over Europe - mostly young travelling types. They hear about the caves in Granada and visit. Some stay for days, some stay for months. Almost all of them leave in winter.

There's also a group of Danish musicians here who come and go. A couple of them have become more permanent residents. They're also a good looking bunch. Los Perros Verdé (The Green Dogs). I may catch up with them at the weekend, but they usually busk and party by night into the small hours. I'm feeling in need of a quiet weekend after last nights excesses. I'll see how I feel tomorrow - the social scene and night life of cave dwellers needs to be reported.