Teide foothills, great views, two cats - what could be better?
Introduction
ATTN: Currently not suitable for children, sorry. Hey you - yes you :-) This time I need to go to "the continent" for about a month, so I'm looking for cat lovers who want to commit to a stay this long. I've had many really pleasant housesitters in my old home in Vienna, so it was a no-brainer to list my new home on Tenerife here, so you nice people can come over, cuddle the cats and have a good time. Tenerife is pleasant all year round, this area never gets cold, and even in deepest winter you will not need a coat, although up here you might need some heating for an hour or two. It can get super hot during Calima, a few times a year, which usually only lasts a couple of days. After that, it's back to just wonderful. I'm lucky working from home (basically keeping the Internet running) and being able to enjoy this all the time. That said, sometimes I still have to travel a bit, away from paradise, and that's where you come in. The published times include a day buffer time before and after the sit. I like to meet you, get to know you, for you to get to know the cats, their quirks, routines etc.; also, there's always something not going according to plan, so this provides us with opportunities for a plan B. There is enough space and privacy for all of us here (and I'm not a bad cook either), but if you bothered by the idea of staying over, I'll help to find suitable lodging.
Show more...Home & location
Quick note up front: Currently not suitable for children. The house is placed just outside the town of San Miguel, and you have a great view of sea and mountains from here. To actually get to the ocean - or the mountains - you will still have to drive, as usual in Tenerife. We're in the south of Tenerife, in the Teide foothills, so rain is super rare and it's warm all year long, with some hot periods, when the winds go crazy too. The house has a large front "yard" (with some plants I'd like you to keep an eye and some water on), a nice shaded outdoor sitting area, and it even features a small pool, even though the tech has been neglected by the previous owners, so it's not without problems until that can be fixed. There are two closely adjacent buildings on the property: Especially for you, a canarian-style cabin with a small kitchen (not in use), a bedroom area, and a small bathroom with a shower. The cats like to lounge there during the day lately, so they're used to the room already. A two-story house where the action mostly happens. It has a (newly put-in) kitchen and a lounge/livingroom area on the ground floor, and bedrooms (2 usable) and bathrooms on top. You are free to move from the guest cabin bedroom to the house if you feel uncomfortable in the cabin for any reason. Be aware that not everything is finished on this estate - it's under construction; for that reason, I will not accept sits with small children for the time being. The house has A/C in two of the bedrooms and in the guest cabin for the worst of the Calima nights. Please only use when necessary and remember to switch off when not needed. Also, close windows and doors when in use. We have miraculously fast Internet here, which I had not expected. I've also put up enough access points to cover the estate entirely, so you're set up nicely for work (or binging Youtube) wherever your preferred spot is. Parking is right on the premises, inside of the gate. You can easily fit two cars. There are supermarkets in San Miguel, but since we're a bit outside, you'll need to use the car anyway (unless you brought a bicycle), Therefore I generally recommend the bigger ones in Valle San Lorenzo and/or Las Chafiras. Supermarkets - at least the bigger ones - have lately switched to being open on sundays. If you want to skip the car, there's a bus stop 250m from the house. That will get you, e.g., to Los Cristianos easily. Btw, apologies for the abysmal photo quality. I swear they were fine before I uploaded them!
Show more...Responsibilities
You have one main job, my friend: Taking care of the furbabies. Please... feed them (3x per day; more often if you like, our current schedule is roughly 0800, 1600, 2300; wet food only...btw they also love cooked chicken [NO BONES!]) ... clean the litter boxes as necessary ... cuddle the girls whenever they let you ... I recommend sticking roughly to the feeding times; that way they're not left alone for too long. Also, please please make sure they stay. Phili (the tiger) is easy at that, she's happy on the compound. Gandi (the black one) has been known to use escape routes to leave the compound. Unfortunately, there is a well traveled road right in front of the property - consequently she (a) wears a necklace with our address during the day, and (b) never is in the yard unsupervised (I wish). This is a real danger, so please be careful there. I'd be happy if you watered those plants I'll point out to you; some of them are tomatoes, and if they carry, you're in for a treat! Apart from that, just make sure the house is in one piece ... feel at home, cook, play, enjoy ... and roam the island. And please send me cat life updates and pictures all the time - the more the merrier! Please also raid the fridge and cupboards. If I want something not used, I'll tell you. If you use something, it would be nice if you replaced it, but don't overdo it; some loss, and wear and tear is expected,, and I want you to feel at home, not obligated. [Note: Calvin's and Nabila's reviews are about my old place in Costa de Silencio, so the "surrounding descriptions" are outdated. The rest, I hope is still current ;-) ]
Show more...Meet the pets
Phili (Philomena)
10 years
Gandi (Uganda)
10 years
Sitter Reviews (2)
Homeowner Reviews (0)
None
I enjoyed a fantastic sit in Tenerife at Elmar’s place, taking care of Phili and Gandi. They are both gorgeous girls with unique personalities: Phili is more active, chatty and cuddly, while Gandi is more laid-back and happy to do her own thing most of the time. They are both incredibly loving, well-behaved and sweet. :) Elmar’s home is within a popular gated complex with everything you need for essentials is around you: supermarkets, cafés, etc. If you love swimming like I do then the complex pools are a real bonus and usually pretty quiet. A protected underwater nature reserve called Cala Amarilla is 5 minutes walk away and I started most of my days here swimming or walking around the mountain behind. The house has a terrace area where you also see some lovely sunsets and watch the stars later! If you like exploring the island (of course!) there is a bus stop right outside so you can reach other parts of the island easily if you don’t drive yourself. I managed to reach more-remote places in Tenerife and be back the same day with no problems. Finally, Elmar is a gracious and kind host. He collected and returned me to the airport and invited me for meals. We got on well and enjoyed food and beers together and enjoyed our conversations. He also introduced me to a friend who I spent time with during my stay, meaning I definitely felt welcomed into both Elmar’s world and the community. Thanks and see you again!
Show more...None
Lovely sit with a wonderful couple of two little ladies, Phili (the "little elephant", when jumping up and down the stairs) and Gandi (silky fur). Both are loving and fun and were always close by for a snuggle. Elmar is a generous host and made sure, that the sit would be comfortable without problems. He picked me up and took me to the airport and invited me for a lovely meal in arrival and on the last evening. The house is in a fenced complex with nice pools and in walking distance to the bus stop, lots of restaurants and cafés around, several supermarkets and to the little village of Las Galletas you can easily walk as well. There is also a small little beach in only 5 minutes close by. The house itself is a cosy place on three floors, with your bedroom on the upper floor and a nice terrace to work and enjoy the sun.
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ElMar
