We found out about this marvellous website last week when we completed on 20B, the same day as our next door neighbour, Terry, at 19B. We are now back in the UK for a while. To introduce ourselves we are Su and Eddie Evans, both retired, and in the UK live in Basildon, Essex. Last year we sold a property in Cabrera, one of the villages up in the mountains you can see from Los Olivos. We bought that property in Oct 2001, living there about half of each year. We really enjoyed it but could see that the bumpy narrow road up to the village then 30 steps up to our front door would become a problem with luggage and shopping. Su’s brother and his wife were among the first to move into Huerta Nueva and have lived there for 4 years. This does mean that we have some experience of living in the area.
I thought the best opening contribution I could make is some advice on crime! It is not that bad but it does happen and you have to take more than the usual care. Some, us included, are particularly concerned about the security of their property when they are not there and are having extra gates and grilles installed. There were occasional burglaries up in Cabrera and the surrounding area. However, this was usually when the property was occupied. They are after passports, money and small easy to sell valuables. On a couple of occasions people arrived on holiday, took in their luggage then went out to the local bar. When they returned they found that their arrival must have been watched and thieves had taken the opportunity. So make sure you lock up properly even if just popping out and carry passports at all times (you are supposed to anyway).
The other scam is when you are stopped while out. They work in pairs. Twice recently, to my knowledge, ladies alone have been enticed out of their cars by someone asking for directions. They then found that their handbag had been taken from the car. A few years ago a friend was stopped in a shopping centre by two men making out they were Police officers. He was asked for his driving licence. When he handed over the wallet containing his driving licence - and his credit cards - the one talking to him handed the wallet to his partner. They gave the wallet back to him and disappeared – needless to say the credit cards had gone. So think about it and take some extra care.
By the way use established legally registered tradespeople for any work you have don.