11 Jun Cave-Dwelling In Spain Offers A Welcome Inconvenience
OZY Writer Laura Secorun Palet, contributed this article to NPR about people who’ve chosen an “underground” (literally) way of life.
Have you ever fantasized about getting away from it all — going somewhere without smartphones, computers or Twitter?
Tuning out from technology can be challenging, but for the truly daring, there is an even more radical solution. In southern Spain, thousands of people live completely unplugged — in caverns.
The province of Granada has about 11,800 caves carved into the mountains in an area that UNESCO has listed as a World Heritage Site. Most were excavated in the 15th century with the Christian Reconquest. About 5,800 are still privately owned and in full-time use today.
Back in the 1970s, 45,000 people lived in these hidden neighborhoods tucked into the mountains. By the ’90s, most had migrated to the cities. But over the past decade, the tide has turned as people flee the concrete jungle and retreat to the caves.
Assuming you’re not claustrophobic, there are a number of perks to underground life — from the endless peace and quiet to having a forest in your backyard and a birdsong as an alarm clock. Thick stone walls keep the caves warm in winter and cool during the torrid Andalusian summer, when temperatures frequently top 95 degrees. And some caves offer a million-dollar view of the Alhambra, Granada’s gorgeous palace fortress.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.