History
History of Chalet Los Yayos
Chalet Los Yayos is not just a house to me; it has been my favorite place in the world since I was a child, a place where I felt happy the moment we arrived and where I could admire the beauty of nature.
The beginnings, my childhood, my memories
This house has been part of my family since it was built in 1970. It was one of the first houses built in the Nuevo Broto residential area, which at that time was a modern and exciting new project. My grandparents were among the first to buy there, and my grandmother always tells me how they walked through those newly drawn streets to choose the house they liked most. She chose this one because she loved the two garden squares in the entrance, one on each side of the little path leading to the door.
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Back then, my mother and my uncles were still very young, and I have beautiful photos of them playing in the garden, which at the time was completely empty. In those days the house wasn’t called “Chalet Los Yayos” but “Chalet Mariano Mur,” after my grandfather.
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I’ve been coming to this house since I was born. Every year at Easter and again in September before school started, we spent a few days here. I remember the joy I felt as soon as we arrived: peace, happiness… I couldn’t help but smile. I’m from Zaragoza, a beautiful city, but with no mountains or such spectacular nature. That’s why the landscapes here impressed me so much. I always said this was my favorite place.
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Coming to the house also meant spending time with my family. I have very happy memories with my parents, my sister, my grandparents and my uncles. Many moments come to mind: playing with my grandparents’ dog; playing in the garden together, swimming in the pool, playing basketball… or those Easters when it snowed a lot and we had snowball fights. I especially remember the walks with my grandmother, talking about how beautiful the gardens were.
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When it was time to leave, it was very hard for me. I had the habit of saying goodbye to every room and every tree. Many of those trees have our names: my sister’s, my cousins’, mine… I love all of them, but one is particularly special: “Leoncio,” named after my great-grandfather. It is the large pine tree to the right of the house. It was planted when it was tiny, and for years one of my favorite things was comparing my height to the tree’s to see how much we had both grown. At first, I was taller, but one year Leoncio began to grow faster and soon surpassed me, eventually becoming the majestic tree it is today. The truth is, I could tell a story about almost every tree in the garden.
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My grandparents used to say that one day, when they were very old, they would have to sell the house and that made me sad. So I decided that someday, I would be the one to buy it. Destiny made it possible, and I was able to do so together with my wonderful husband. I fulfilled the childhood dream of keeping the house in the family. :-)
When we bought the house, I loved it just as it was, but some things were already outdated, so we decided to renovate. At first, I wanted to change as little as possible, I didn’t want to alter the house from my memories. But I soon understood that the house also deserved to improve and begin a new chapter: not only a continuation of my memories, but the beginning of new and beautiful ones with my husband and children, so that they, too, would feel it was theirs.
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We found a balance: renewing the house and making it prettier and more comfortable, while preserving its essence and keeping everything that could be kept.
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We changed the downstairs floor, the heating, the electrical system, the windows, the doors, the bathrooms, the kitchen, and many pieces of furniture. But we also preserved many things: the Castilian furniture in the living room and one bedroom, the dining table (which I restored myself), the lamps, the paintings, many decorations… even some drawings my sister and I painted as children. Although we changed the doors, I was determined to keep the handles. I sanded and painted them myself. I couldn’t remove them, their characteristic sound is part of the soul of the house. The same goes for the upstairs floor: maybe I should have changed it, but walking there without that special creaking wouldn’t be the same. Those sounds hold so many memories.
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We also removed the wall separating the corridor from the living room. It was a big change, but I knew the house improved a lot that way, and I don’t regret it, it turned out beautifully. We kept the tiles that were on that wall. We learned that each of the first houses in the residential area had its own unique tile design, so this design was part of the house’s identity. We reinstalled the tiles on the wall where the dining table is now, and I love them!
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I should say that we didn’t renovate the house thinking about renting it; we renovated it thinking about us, and how each choice made us feel. This house holds so much of who we are, and above all, it is a tribute to my family, especially to my grandparents, my “yayos.”
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We decided to rent it only when it’s free, because although we go whenever we can, we can’t go as often as we’d like. Leaving it closed made no sense, and renting it helps us maintain it better. At first I was nervous, I didn’t know if people would love it as much as I do, or if they would treat the house and garden with the care they deserve. But I’m happy to say that most guests treat it with great affection. And when they tell me they felt very comfortable here, it makes me incredibly happy. It brings me joy to share with others the happiness this place has always given me.
The renovation: a new chapter
Why “Chalet Los Yayos”?
Why did we change the name? As I said, this house is a tribute to my grandparents. Although I love my grandfather’s name, it never felt fair that my grandmother’s wasn’t included. Besides, when I was a child, I always called it “el chalet de los yayos.” So naming it Chalet Los Yayos felt completely natural.​
Of course, we kept my grandfather’s name as well. It now decorates a table in the living room, as a reminder of its origins.