DO YOUNEED A PHONE WHEN ON VACATION?

Yes, yes and yes. Problema #1

This morning I was woken up by a knock on our door about 6:00am. It was our downstairs neighbor Sylvia explaining that their apartment was flooded with a couple of inches of water and could I call Javier, our apartment manager. So we made a couple of attempts but no answer. She said the water was coming from the apartment next door to them. We went down to investigate and could hear water running and coming from under the door. I banged on the door but got no reply, tried the door it was unlocked and yelled to see if anyone was there, but no reply. So I went in, the apartment was steamy from lots of hot water, checked the bathroom, no problem there on to the kitchen where I discovered the leak was under the floor board of the kitchen sink cupboard. Luckily there was shut off valves, turned them both off and once the hot water valve was closed the water stopped flowing from under the floor board. But there was still 2 inches of water on the floor.The Senor and I took towels and bed linen to dam the water flow at the door so we could swamp out Will and Sylvia’s apartment which was the pressing need. Again I called Javier with no answer, then tried Arturo the building owner. Autro speaks a little English, I speak very little Spanish, I told him PROBLEMA and tried to explain broken pipes, I thought we had communicated and we anticipated his prompt arrival. 3 hour later no Arturo.

Mean time we got every broom and dust pan we could find and started sweeping the water down the stairs. Will and Sylvia would sweep the water out of their apartment and the Senor and I would sweep it from the hallway landing down the stairs. We had a great water fall going. But even once their apartment was free of standing water the locked apartment across the hall kept draining water from under the door. It had evidently filled up with water as did the hallway. We have no idea how long the water had been running, but long enough for the entire downstairs to have a good 2 inches of water. Sorry no pictures, we were too busy mopping and sweeping. Took the 4 of us well over an hour to get their apartment livable again. When Javier opened up shop I explained the problem, he called Arturo who will soon be here to fix the problem and he can swamp out the other apartments.

Problema #2
I open my wallet to find our B of A travel credit card missing in action. I search each and every purse I brought twice. The Senor searches each and every purse I every brought. Together we tore the room apart searching every crook and cranny, but it is still MIA. My initial reaction after checking our bank statement on-line was to wait and see before reporting it, but on the best advise of everyone I talked with I decided to report it. I do make copies of all our cards and ID’s when we travel and there are directions to call collect if out of the country. Now just how do you reach an operator and explain collect call when you don’t speak the language, and even if you reached one you have to say the numbers in Spanish which they don’t necessarily understand my pronunciation so I chose to go to the telephone exchange across the street. After several tries and several different numbers I was told NO. The next morning I went to the other exchange and they said no without even looking at my numbers. I think now that almost everyone has a phone, it’s a service they no longer provide. I sent an e-mail to the bank to cancel the cards and decided to try to call them my self without going collect as I had finally learned what the USA country code is. I explained my problem and we were discussing options of receiving new cards when the phone went dead, out of minutes. My first thought was to have them sent to the Santander bank which is a B of A affiliate. But of course I didn’t have the address and it was Sunday. But by Monday after buying more minutes I decided we would have it sent direct to our apartment as it had to be signed for, and Javier’s Liquor Store and Scooter rental business is under our Apartment and open 6 days a week, except for Siesta time. Monday I gave the bank the full address and they said it would be there on Friday. And big surprise it was!. That morning I got a phone call from someone speaking Spanish, I knew it had to be the delivery company. the only word I understood was “ahora” now, so I said si and asked Javier to sign and when we got back from the beach our cards were there. Oh and 2 days after canceling the card we found the missing card.

Our original purpose for purchasing our Mexican phones was to keep in touch with each other when we have separate plans, which is seldom, but we have decided that we will do the global upgrade when we come next year and bring our phones from home for a multitude of reasons. I want to travel with a phone I know how to use and copious quantities of minutes. Signing off KO

Author: zihuathyme

I'm a traveler, not as frequently as I would like , but I plan on doing more. After working full time at Mount Rainier National Park during the summer of 22 I have decided to retire completely and forever. Prior to that I was semi retired as a Wedding Officiant I officiated at about 20 weddings a season, and with my small delivery service I handled the distribution of a local high-quality Home and Garden magazine . Prior to my "semi retirement" I was in corrections and before that I owned and operated a bail bond agency. I now plan to travel to new places and exciting places, getting ready to do that as a solo as the Senior is no longer with me, his choice, and I am OK with that. For hobbies I'm a reader and love my kindle. And I enjoy writing. View all posts by zihuathyme