My first Blog or …….How it all started !

From Valencia to the countryside,
In 2022, my partner and I still lived in vibrant Valencia, a city that has brought us both a lot. It was my first time living in such a big city, and honestly, I loved it. The energy, the people, the constant buzz – Valencia is alive and vibrant, and that’s exactly what I loved about it. But after a few years, the question started to bother me: “What are we going to do when we are no longer busy with our work here every day?” Ultimately, we are both no longer 20 years old.

My partner has a bar-restaurant in the city, a place that he runs with heart and soul as a true catering man. But we started to wonder what would happen if we let go of that in a few years. Would we sit in an apartment in the city, waiting for the next day, without really having anything to do? That thought felt anything but appealing to both of us. We like to be busy and socialize with people. Besides, as much as I liked the city, I’m not a city kid! I have a deep love for the countryside. I love to feel the space and tranquility around me, to be surrounded by plants and animals, to see tractors driving in the distance…The city doesn’t stop, life always goes on there – and that’s beautiful. But I longed for something else: for silence, for village life, for an environment where you can take time and follow the rhythm of nature. And so the idea for a new adventure was born: a Boutique Guesthouse & Unique Rural Getaway, away from the hustle and bustle, in the middle of nature.

House hunting:
We decided to leave the city behind and look for a place where we could make our idea come true. After visiting many houses, we finally found what is now called Finca Malata. It immediately felt good. A house and plot that was full of potential, although a lot of work needed to be done. But that didn’t stop us. We immediately fell in love with the location: a spacious plot of 1750 m2, a beautiful swimming pool, and direct access to a nature reserve. We are located in the mountains but still on a flat piece of land, which is ideal for guests who want to walk, cycle, or simply enjoy the surroundings.

A renovation (and a broken ankle),
A lot had to be done, and we knew it. New windows, new floors, a partial renovation of the kitchen and bathroom, a lot of painting, not to mention the current Boutique Guesthouse & Unique Rural Getaway rooms and the plot – everything needed a very thorough renovation, but nevertheless we couldn’t wait to get started. to get started. Unfortunately, things didn’t go exactly as planned, which often happens in life. Three months after we moved in, on the very first day all the craftsmen started working, I sprained my ankle on the kitchen stairs. It turned out to be a very ugly fracture, and I had to have surgery. The start of our project suddenly became a lot more complicated: I ended up in a wheelchair while all the renovations continued. Save it! We joked that this could have easily fit into the Dutch TV show “I’m leaving”, with all the setbacks you can think of. Still, we persevered, and despite the bumps in the road, everything turned out fine in the end.

The opening of Finca Malata:
In July this year we were able to open the doors to our first guests. It was a wonderful moment, after all the hard work and challenges we had overcome. Since then we have welcomed guests from all over the world. Some only stay one night, others for almost two weeks. Each guest brings a different atmosphere and stories, which only makes the work more beautiful for me.
Our animal family is also extensive. In addition to our dog Nina, who has been with us for years, we have taken in two street cats: Minoes and Ukje. And then there is Catootje, our wire-haired dachshund who just turned 1 year old.

A dream that lives:
Now, with the peace of the countryside around us, the guests who keep coming and our animal family, we can say that the adventure we started in 2022 has been more than worth it. Every day brings something new, and although there are sometimes challenges, we feel completely at home here. Finca Malata is not just a Boutique Guesthouse & Unique Rural Getaway, it has become our home – and we are happy to share it with so many people!
Curious about what there is to do here? I will tell you more about it in my next blog…