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When even the wind takes a siesta

There are days in Andalusia when even the wind decides to pause. August is full of them. Around Cortijo La Vista, in the hills of the Sierra Morena, life retreats into the shade. In the early morning you can still hear the soft chime of sheep bells under the holm oaks, but once the sun climbs high, sounds disappear. Shutters close, squares fall silent, and the only movement is the shimmer of warm air above the asphalt.

The art of slowing down

This silence isn’t emptiness — it’s an age-old response to summer heat. Across Spain, the siesta began out of sheer necessity: work in the cool hours, rest during the burning ones. And in August, the holiday month, that rhythm is non-negotiable.

Cities like Córdoba empty out; families escape to cooler villages. Here in the Valle del Guadiato, that can mean a difference of several degrees. The village square stays quiet until dusk, when chairs are pulled outside and conversations slowly come to life again.

The holm oak as teacher

In August, the landscape becomes a quiet guide. Grass turns golden, the mountains on the horizon remain steadily green. Holm oaks hold onto their leaves as if they know that letting go won’t help here. Under their wide canopies, sheep huddle close together in shade that feels like a naturally cooled room. The air carries the scent of warm wood, dry grass and a hint of wild thyme.

Living with the rhythm of the land

For anyone here in August, the secret is to move with the rhythm. Wake early, while the air is still soft and the mountains glow blue-grey. Seek shade during the heat of the afternoon — by the pool, in a quiet room with the shutters closed, or beneath a tree where time feels slower.

And accept that the day truly begins after eight, when the smell of grilled meat and fresh bread drifts through the streets.

Meta description: Experience the summer stillness of rural Andalusia. At Cortijo La Vista, silence, shade and slow evenings shape the rhythm of August.

Meta title: Summer stillness in Andalusia | Cortijo La Vista

What silence does to you

This is not a holiday for ticking off lists. It’s an invitation to listen to what isn’t happening. To the absence of hurry. To the calm that rests between the holm oaks. It’s silence that doesn’t overwhelm you, but holds you — like a gentle hand on your back.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What makes August in Andalusia so special?
The heat forces a slower pace. The daily rhythm shifts: active mornings, quiet afternoons, lively evenings.

Why do Spaniards take a siesta?
Originally to avoid the hottest hours of the day. Today it remains a cultural rhythm that brings balance between work, rest and shared meals.

How do you experience summer stillness at Cortijo La Vista?
By moving with it: rising early, resting in the afternoon shade, long evenings at the table. Silence and calm naturally become part of your day.

Here, we live with the rhythm of the land. Even the wind knows when it's time to fall quiet.

✨ Thank you for reading this far — it truly means a lot.
If you’d like to read more, a ♡ or free subscription is always welcome.

Hasta luego from Andalusia,
Danielle | Cortijo La Vista

Why do we long for change (without letting everything go)?

It can sometimes feel as if real change only counts when you do something drastic: quit your job, move abroad, start from scratch. But what if you sense that something needs to shift, while not being sure you actually want to start all over again? We know that feeling all too well — and it turned out to be the beginning of a different rhythm.

Choosing a different rhythm

We had a good life. Meaningful work, a warm home, wonderful friends. And yet something kept tugging. As if life was whispering, “Keep going like this and the calm will come… eventually.” But what if “eventually” is simply too late?

We didn’t begin with a dramatic break, but with a conversation. About how we wanted to live. Which rhythm suited us. What we truly valued — not on paper, but in the reality of everyday life. And slowly, space appeared: fewer assignments, more aimless walks, and the realisation that calm isn’t the end point, but the beginning.

Changing without breaking

In that first phase, we bought a casa rural in Andalusia — a place with history, stillness and promise. At the same time, our life in the Netherlands continued to run. We didn’t step out of it; we stepped alongside it. We kept working, we travelled back and forth, and we built something new without tearing down the old. Not everything has to happen at once. You’re allowed to simply turn the volume down.

Why we’re writing this down

Over the past years, we’ve mainly learned about choosing. About listening to what feels right — even when it’s scary. And about the art of slowing down without grinding to a halt. That’s why we’re working on an e-book. Not a manual, but a story: about doubt and trust, and about finding movement without dismantling your life.

And now?

Our cortijo isn’t open yet, but the longing is already here. And perhaps that’s the most important step. Sometimes a different life doesn’t begin with a big decision, but with a different conversation. A small step back. A day of walking. An empty weekend. Or a story that touches something inside you.

Have you ever felt it too — that something needed to change, even though you didn’t know exactly what? Tell me. I’d love to listen. Curious about our e-book? Send me a message and I’ll keep you posted.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

How do you “start again” without giving everything up?
Begin small: choose one rhythm shift (for instance free mornings, fewer work commitments, walking more often). Build something alongside your current life rather than cutting into it.

What do you mean by “step alongside it, not out of it”?
You keep what works (your home, work, connections) and explore a new direction in parallel. That way you can test what feels right without unnecessary disruption.

Will there be an e-book?
Yes! We’re writing a story-driven e-book about choosing, trusting and slowing down — not a how-to, but recognition and practical anchors.

You don’t need a dramatic break to create change. By building a different rhythm alongside the life you already have, you can move gently towards what feels right — just as we’re doing with Cortijo La Vista.

✨ Thank you for reading this far — it truly means a lot.
If you’d like to read more, a ♡ or free subscription is always welcome.
Hasta luego from Andalusia,
Daniëlle | Cortijo La Vista