Granted, it had been years since I entertained, but I used to be pretty good at it (in fact some of my Laguna Parties were nearly legendary). I had never entertained in Mexico, but how hard could it be to have a few friends over for cocktails??
Well first of all shopping is an experience in Mexico. You have to go from shop to shop to shop to find what you want, and sometimes you don't. It seems that vermouth is just not available here. What was I to do about my martini swilling friends? The stores have red, but no white vermouth. I finally broke down and told them that either they bring a specimen bottle of vermouth, or there wouldn't be any. They told me that they brought theirs down from Canada, but that straight vodka would be just fine. Of course it has to be shaken with ice (never stirred) and my silver cocktail shaker is somewhere in storage. I finally managed to borrow one from my favorite bar.
I had to stock up on all sorts of booze, not being sure what anyone drank. As it turned out, no one had any gin or rum, but we went through three bottles of tequila and two of vodka (mind you it was a small party of about 20 people). We also ran completely out of the mixing stuff for Margaritas. Then came hors d'oeuvres. I bought several cheeses, nuts and made some ham rolls, and a couple of dips. My friend made his fabulous guacamole. Then I went to Los Mercados (where the 'white folk' shop) to buy some hot hors d'oeuvres. All together there was lots of food and between the booze and food must have spent my months allowance.
Rule No. 1 for a good cocktail party is to have more guests than chairs. That way people mingle and talk to everyone and the party is more lively (otherwise they all sit in packs and only talk to each other). Would you believe I have 16 chairs and four ottomans in this little apartment. I placed all the dinning chairs against the wall, but that did not keep people from pulling them out and sitting on them. Next time I will hide all six chairs in the laundry room. Now granted some people (especially the friends my age) have to sit. But I find they are usually interesting people and people will gravitate around them. It started slowly (no one in Mexico arrives on time) and 10 or 12 people did not show up at all. No one calls or gives excuses here, they are just no shows and may not even mention it again. Mexican culture is different.
Everyone wanted to be on the patio where I had four equipauli chairs around a table. I put no food out there at all, for I knew people would sit there all night and not move. Finally two more chairs were added to the already crowded patio. My two most entertaining guest whom I counted on to be the life of the party sat together on the sofa. I finally managed to get them up and moving about, but they too wound up on the patio. Meanwhile I had eight platters of food sitting uneaten. I gave up and carried some to the patio.
I had hired my favorite bar tender who did a wonderful job of keeping everyone happy and their glasses full. I like to be free to make sure I greet each guest upon arrival and get them with someone they are comfortable with. I also make sure to say a special "thank you, and good night" at the door when they leave ( one did escape, totally unnoticed by me). The booze was flowing and everyone seemed to be having a good time in spite of the fact that I kept trying to get people up and moving around, The "white folks" all left at a reasonable hour, but the Mexican contingent stayed on (taking over all the patio chairs) and started doing shots of tequila. I only had two real shot glasses so they were drinking the shots out of water glasses (hence the three bottles of tequila). One of my Mexican guests had brought a good bottle of tequila, so I did not mind the booze consumption, but my midnight I was fading fast. I finally asked my friend to suggest a cab (there is also a cab stand across the street, one more thing I did not pay attention to when I rented the place). Everyone said they had a wonderful time.
I awoke late and very tired, but determined to clean the place up. NO WATER!! I could not wash dishes, or do the floor (let alone take a shower). It was off for two and a half days. The owner apparently will not give the management company money to pay for anything. Marcello the maintenance man or "super" said that she will not even buy him the proper tools to fix things in the building. He borrows mine when ever he can. My Realtor said, "there was nothing more they could do". Well I fired off a fiery letter stating that they had better figure out what else they can do since they rented three more apartments after I told them of all the problems. I did get the emails of the other tenants and sent them all a letter. I started it with "Welcome To Our Little House of Horrors) I then got them all together to go "en mass" to the management office and tell them that no more rent will be paid until all our grievances are met. By noon the water was running again. We will probably never find out the real problem.
You can probably think of some problems with having no water. Luckily I have bottles of hand sanitizer, but it takes a half a large bottle of drinking water for one flushing of the toilet. Three days later, I still had dirty dishes and glasses in the sink from the party. The floor was a mess (it usually is in Mexico) but at least I now have water. Of course it is brown when it first starts flowing. I almost did not want to use it to mop the floors. Eventually it clears up (you don't want to think about what might be still floating in it). Yes, there are problems with living in a third world country, but please do not think that my problems are typical of all rental situations. I just picked a "lulu" of a building. But, I am here and making the most of it and do like the way the apartment looks. I finally gave up and bought my own TV, eventually I will buy a microwave. I don't think I will ever get anything out of the management company, but all I really want is a new contract with a new starting date. I am sure we both hope that I don't have to write another posting on this apartment.
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