E62 Retiring in Montefrio, Andalusia, Spain

Imagine this, you are living in Abu Dhabi but desire more of a rural life. You have never been to Spain and you don’t know Spanish, would you purchase an old house, without a roof, in a rural spot in Andalusia, Spain? That’s exactly what Sabina Ostrowska and Robert Ryan did. It took a year and half to renovate the house, which included the addition of two guest suites that they rent out under the name “Cortijo Berruguilla.” Although the couple is very busy with their airbnb and running an English language school, they love their life amongst the olive groves in rural southern Spain. Find out more about living in the Spanish countryside, on Episode 62 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.

Sabina Ostrowska’s delightful memoir of the trials and tribulations of purchasing and renovating a fixer-upper, in rural Andalusia, is The Crinkle Crankle Wall: Our First Year in Andalusia. Since the release of this podcast episode, Sabina has come out with her second book in the series. It is titled A Hoopoe on the Nispero Tree: Our Andalusian Adventure Continues (New Life in Andalusia Book 2).

Sabina and Robert’s two highly rated guest suites, known as Cortijo Berruguilla, each contain one king bed, one pull-out sofa, a kitchen and one bath. The house also has a pool which is available from May through September. The guest suites may be rented out via Airbnb.com and Booking.com.