La mesa camilla
The mesa camilla is a very Spanish invention (in fact I believe it to be a very southernly Spanish invention). It consists of a table, a heater and a heavy, long tablecloth-like fabric that drapes over the sides. The idea is that you put the heater under the table and when you sit down you put the fabric over you like a blanket. The truth is that it does keep you quite warm. The downside is that once you get up and move, you lose the heat. Since the houses and apartments here in the south of Spain are not created for the cold (no central heating) a mesa camilla can be found almost every where.
We didn't have one last year and survived with blankets, space heaters and flannel pajamas throughout the winter. This year Jose decided we needed to get a mesa camilla. I fought the good fight (since often times they look very similar to the option in the picture above) but we ended up ordering one not too long ago.
Typically the mesa camilla is made of wood and can be stored through the seasons it is not in use. Since we are a bit short on space here in our apartment we decided to purchase a mesa camilla that we can keep in our living room all year long. We got one made of metal that can be used at two different heights, tall in the winter and short in the fall, spring and summer. Jose is lucky that I actually really like the style of our new table, otherwise it might have been another cold winter for us.
Here it is without the fabric covering:
The circle in the middle at the bottom is where you put the heater. In the past they would (as you might imagine) use hot coals as their heat source. Now most people use a gas or electric heater. It's a bit surprising that there aren't more fires or problems with mesa camillas since the fabric hangs down to the ground on all four sides (not seen in the photo above).
This is our mesa camilla all put together. The fabric is very simple, without decoration and we will be able to use the table itself all year long. So far we have been cuddling under its warmth and Cooper is absolutely loving it. He is curled up and comfy right now so at least we know that he approves.
We didn't have one last year and survived with blankets, space heaters and flannel pajamas throughout the winter. This year Jose decided we needed to get a mesa camilla. I fought the good fight (since often times they look very similar to the option in the picture above) but we ended up ordering one not too long ago.
Typically the mesa camilla is made of wood and can be stored through the seasons it is not in use. Since we are a bit short on space here in our apartment we decided to purchase a mesa camilla that we can keep in our living room all year long. We got one made of metal that can be used at two different heights, tall in the winter and short in the fall, spring and summer. Jose is lucky that I actually really like the style of our new table, otherwise it might have been another cold winter for us.
Here it is without the fabric covering:
The circle in the middle at the bottom is where you put the heater. In the past they would (as you might imagine) use hot coals as their heat source. Now most people use a gas or electric heater. It's a bit surprising that there aren't more fires or problems with mesa camillas since the fabric hangs down to the ground on all four sides (not seen in the photo above).
This is our mesa camilla all put together. The fabric is very simple, without decoration and we will be able to use the table itself all year long. So far we have been cuddling under its warmth and Cooper is absolutely loving it. He is curled up and comfy right now so at least we know that he approves.
It definitely is from Andalusia! I have friends from the north who are going out with Andaluces and can't stand mesa camillas. They swore they wouldn't have them in the house due to fire hazard: but have had to give in! I would love one at home but would spend all day there!
ReplyDeleteThe mesa camilla is like a vortex! You never want to leave because it is so cozy. I asked my in-laws about why there aren't more fires from them and they said it's because people are obsessive about turning off the heater!
DeleteI studied in Sevilla in the late eighties, and my girlfriend had one. It was heated by a lightbulb. Sabina references a mess camilla in the song “La canción más hermosa del mundo,” and i was pretty sure this is what it was, but I searched the term to be sure, which is what brought me here. Thanks!
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