Well, it has been two weeks since we moved from our AirBnB in Brilliante, Córdoba into our new apartment in Casco Histórico. We found a place we absolutely love. And after meeting our landlords, who both speak English (a rare find in Cordoba btw), we secured a lease for a year. Our landlords met in college in London, where they both learned English, which for us is a real treat. We are attempting to speak some Spanish, but we’re both definitely still in learning mode, although Gary’s mode is much more learned than my own!

Where we are located in a busy area for this girl, who has never really lived in a city situation, especially one where English is not the native tongue. There is an elementary school across the street, traffic on two sides, scooters everywhere, tiny tight roads and lots of pedestrians. Oh, and oranges trees covered in ripe oranges everywhere, but that is s story for another post.

I have to admit, I have a difficult time concentrating on anything in the apartment for over a minute as there are so many distractions on the surrounding streets. I actually find myself doing my own version of “I Spy,” gazing out the windows. And did I mention the glorious windows throughout, with actual sunshine drifting in nearly every day? Even on the rainy days we get a ray or two passing through. I am beginning to feel like a cat, soaking up the sunlight in each room as it passes over me, warming and energizing my spirit, but also creating a wonderful space of color that I’ve so enjoyed in every Almodóvar film I’ve viewed.

There are items in homes here that I have just never seen anywhere else. One thing is rolling privacy window shades. I am sure they are elsewhere, however, I have never seen them anywhere except in Spain. They can be the hand-crank type or electric. Either way, they roll down over the windows and completely close off the outside world.

There’s a second, more low-tech device to maintain privacy — free standing wooden dividers that sit on the sill outside the window, behind the decorative wrought iron gratings outide. These wooden screens make it nearly impossible for people to see into a home as they walk by. These wooden screens are totally cool for those living on the ground floor as they deter prying eyes on the street!

Household appliances here are just smaller than in the US. Refrigerators are taller and thinner and dishwashers are also about 2/3 as wide. Dryers are almost non-existent here since most seasons permit a fairly quick drying time. But to be honest, the dryerless home is not my favorite thing here. When finally dry, jeans from the drying rack can almost attempt their own hike to the street, as stiff as they are. Towels try to follow. As for the rest of the clothes? Meh, no biggie.

They actually advertise apartments here as having “American kitchens”. Who are they enticing and what does this mean, exactly? Big American kitchens for Big American people? The only kitchens I have encountered here, in my six visits in España, are tiny and quite functional. No, I have never tried a full on swing dance in my average, smallish kitchen, but for a few flamenco steps it’s quit workable.

Now, if you’re truly inclined to dance, our rather spacious outdoort patio is perfect spot. It’s not a porch nor a plain old courtyard. It’s a wonderful private space for sitting outdoors and cultivating a garden of Spanish plants and flowers. There are three apartments above us and our patio space that look down into the space that is just ours. Any naked escapades outside the apartment are discouraged. But I’m quite sure that sitting in the cool shaded space ande sipping a chilled Verdejo in summer will be a real treat.

All in all, we feel fortunate to have found a wonderful apartment in the neighborhood of our choosing to enjoy our first year in España.

What a delight!