Water
Water is a bit of a thing here, as to be expected given the semi-arid climate conditions. Two points on the subject.
It is not advisable to drink tap water, at least not in this part of Spain. Every supermarket (Lidl, Mercadona, Día and others) sells drinking water in plastic bottles in all thinkable sizes, from 0.5 litre up to 6 and 8 litre, the latter priced at a mere € 0.75 – 0.80 cents a bottle. Not worth taking any risk, in other words.
Having said that, it is perfectly safe to use tap water for showering, the laundry, brushing your teeth and so on. You may find that it contains quite some lime; in spite of that the taste is not bad.
Mains water supply is not as obvious and reliable as you may be used to at home. Frequent interruptions happen without prior notice, most of the times not lasting longer than a few hours but, in some cases, up to as much as a few days.
It is advisable to stock up at least a few large (8 litre) bottles of tap water to bridge any period of interruption if and when it happens. We already did that for you; you’ll find the bottles in the patio.
Even more water
Dehydration is a serious threat during the hot summer months. Because of the low air humidity, especially up in the hills and away from the sea, your sweat evaporates instantly. Though this makes the at times very high temperatures quite bearable it is very deceitful at the same time because one doesn’t feel sweaty as much which, in normal circumstances, would invoke an impulse to take in water. One’s body sheds water by the litre nonetheless.
The consequences? Don’t take it from us. Here’s a quote from a renowned health organisation: ‘Mental functions affected include memory, attention, concentration and reaction time. Common complications associated with dehydration also include low blood pressure, weakness, dizziness and increased risk of falls.’
All this creeps up on you unnoticed, up to a point where you feel exhausted and weak without knowing where it comes from. So please make a habit of drinking lots of water - and then some. Here’s to your health!