When I left six weeks ago, I really expected to return to a fully furnished and air conditioned apartment. My friends had been checking on the progress and did not give me many encouraging words. It was always tomorrow (manana) but it never happened. My first thought was to walk into the manager's office on Monday morning and tear the place apart, but a friend prevailed upon to try to be nice. I went in and simply asked, "Why?" No real answer has ever been given, just "sorrys" and promises that it will all be taken care of tomorrow. It never was. If it had not been for the kindness of my friend I would have been living in a hotel. I reminded her of that, and the fact that I had paid four months of rent and the place was still unlivable. She insisted that it was just a "delivery problem" (for three months??)
Suddenly my Realtor reappeared. He has now rented four of the units in the building (I was just the first unlucky sole to attempt to move in). His client was arriving at 5:00 that evening and the apartment was not ready (What a surprise!!). I had been telling him that for months. His wife (an American) then got involved and contacted the head of the management company running the building. Eventually a lawyer was contacted and they spoke to the owner. The appliances that I had been expected for months were then purchased locally at Walmart (no less) and delivered the following day (well sort of). Because of the buses in front of the building, the delivery man refused to carry them to the building (no one ever uses a dolly here). After about 15 minutes of an argument I witnessed, he dropped them on the street!
Thanks to my new friend Jose (who moved my plants) they managed to get them to my apartment and the new guy's place. However nothing was connected. I realized that there was no gas line or vent duct for the dryer included, so I ran off to the hardware store to buy them myself. When I returned, there was no one here. Everyone had gone home. The next day everything was connected so I move in. Oh, I guess I forgot to tell you that they finally got the air conditioner working, and the rest of the furniture was also delivered earlier that week. It is hideous Mexican modern made of paste board painted black. The bed was a little more than a foot off the floor (I think someone forgot the feet), but the nightstands are also only one foot tall. The washer dryer are great, but the refrigerator is Lilliputian. The freezer is below eye level and it is on top. The TV and microwave are coming on a later truck. I hope not the one from Guadalajara that has been "delayed" for three months. No real explanation of why the "delayed delivery" has ever been given.
Once in the apartment a new problem developed. I came home from the beach one day and noticed a slick streak on the floor. It was tiny beads of water. If not mopped up the beads of water become puddles. Originally the streak started at the hall closet door, made a 90 degree angle into the living room and then another 90 degree angle under my desk. Every time I mop it up, it will reappear. At first I thought it must be my hot water pipes in the cement floor and reacts to the cold tile. But the streaks continue to grow and now go under the dinning table and in front of the sofa. There are no wet steaks anywhere near the kitchen or laundry room. I think the place is haunted. By accident I discovered that if I leave the fan on high, it dries up, so it is definitely some sort of moisture problem (probably never to be solved).
My drapery lady is another sad story. I paid her in advance two month ago for labor, materials and installation. It was supposed to be done before I moved in (it was not). When I got back I found her phone no longer working. I called the shade man that recommended her and he said that she lost her phone and had a new number and that she told him everything was done. I called her and I think a week or so later she arrived with the drapes and valance. Every day she said it would be tomorrow (manana again). The valance was a meter too short (not inches but a yard) and the drapes were four inches too long so they drug on the floor. She took them back and I think it took another week to deliver the drapes. They are unlined (she saw my old lined drapes) and the hem is off from side to side by about three inches. I told her I did not care, but put them up and bring me the valance. She never did and now does not answer her phone. I called the shade man back and he said she was sick, but would look into it. How could one person make so many bad choices on one apartment???
Oh well, it is going to be home for a while. There is no use even looking during the "high season". Next summer I will reassess the situation. I have poured a lot of time and money in the place and the location is great even if it is over a bus depot (all Mismaloya buses leave from my building) But, you know what they say in real estate about "location". Also Jose and his wife have set up a little food stand under my balcony where I can get coffee cake and fresh fruit every morning. I should also mention that across from the bus loading zone are seven taco stands, that I have yet to try. I still have no TV or microwave and I have yet to get a new lease eliminating the first two months. But we will see how it goes. I have invited some friends over for cocktails this Friday to see the apartment. I am going to send you a few photos, but remember it is still not done yet (and may never be done). The mural was from a former tenant (they were going to paint it out) so I took a color out of the painting and did the whole room.
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It looks great Larry. You have great taste and it looks very comfortable. Now relax and enjoy it and the holidays.
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