La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
San Geraldo and I are still sharing one bathroom. The first time I spoke with a plumber, on a Thursday, he said he would be in touch the Monday to schedule the work. He didn’t contact me. I texted him that Wednesday to see if he was going to schedule us. He said he’d be here that afternoon. He showed up, looked at everything although I had sent him photos of it all per his request, and he told me he’d be back Tuesday to do the work. I texted him Tuesday late morning and he said he got tied up and would be here Thursday morning. I said I wouldn’t be here Thursday morning, could he be here in the afternoon. No, he said, he’d be here Friday. He didn’t show up and I haven’t heard from him. A smarter person would have cut their losses after the first no-show. However, I did learn and, if by some miracle he does contact me, I’ll tell him to take a hike.
While waiting, I had emailed (per their website) another plumber. I gave them all the information. They wrote back a day later that it was too much work for them. Fixing a few leaks and looking at a water heater? I thanked them for the reply.
Saturday, I found a plumber with an actual shop just six minutes away. They also have licensed electricians. I took a picture of our new kitchen light fixture and the bizarre wiring left behind by the old light fixture. I thought I’d simply walk over there this morning and maybe have more success in person. The shop is open mornings and afternoons, and closed for siesta. I walked over this morning and there was a hand-written sign on the door. “Sorry. Closed this morning (Monday).”
So there’s something I miss about Fuengirola. We had a plumber who was always available, did excellent work, and charged next to nothing. What I need are a couple of Romans. They’d get the work done. And it would last. Check out the photos below of the Roman Bridge, built in the early 1st century B.C., that crosses the River Guadalquivir behind the Mesquite.
San Geraldo y yo todavía compartimos un baño. La primera vez que hablé con un plomero, un jueves, me dijo que se pondría en contacto el lunes para programar el trabajo. No se comunicó conmigo. Le envié un mensaje de texto ese miércoles para ver si nos programaría una cita. Dijo que estaría aquí esa tarde. Se presentó, miró todo a pesar de que le había enviado fotos de todo según su pedido, y me dijo que volvería el martes para hacer el trabajo. Le envié un mensaje de texto el martes a última hora de la mañana y me dijo que estaba ocupado y que estaría aquí el jueves por la mañana. Le dije que no estaría aquí el jueves por la mañana, que podría venir por la tarde. No, dijo, que estaría aquí el viernes. No se presentó y no he tenido noticias suyas. Una persona más inteligente habría cortado sus pérdidas después de la primera ausencia. Sin embargo, aprendí y, si por algún milagro se comunica conmigo, le diré que se vaya.
Mientras esperaba, le envié un correo electrónico (según su sitio web) a otro fontanero. Le di toda la información. Me respondió un día después que era demasiado trabajo para ellos. ¿Arreglar algunas fugas y mirar un calentador de agua? Les agradecí la respuesta.
El sábado, encontré un plomero con una tienda real a solo seis minutos de distancia. También tienen electricistas autorizados. Tomé una foto de nuestra nueva lámpara de cocina y del extraño cableado que dejó la vieja lámpara. Pensé que simplemente iría allí esta mañana y tal vez tendría más éxito en persona. La tienda abre por la mañana y por la tarde, y cierra por la siesta. Fui esta mañana y había un cartel escrito a mano en la puerta: “Lo siento. Cerrado esta mañana (lunes)”.
Hay algo que echo de menos de Fuengirola. Teníamos un fontanero que siempre estaba disponible, hacía un trabajo excelente y no cobraba prácticamente nada. Lo que necesito son un par de romanos. Harían el trabajo y durarían. Echa un vistazo a las fotos que aparecen a continuación del puente romano, construido a principios del siglo I a. C., que cruza el río Guadalquivir detrás del algarrobo.
• La lampara anterior, descolorida, y mal colgada.
• How it was hung. The plate on the ceiling was installed over an existing plate and it looks like they piggy backed the wires to the old ones.
• Cómo se colgó. La placa del techo se instaló sobre una placa existente y parece que conectaron los cables a las antiguas.
• La Torre de la Calahorra, construida bajo el califato almohade en 1333 para proteger el puente. Se puede ver a dos policías recabando credenciales de un músico para proteger el puente de actuaciones sin licencia.
• San Rafael, patrón de Córdoba. San Rafael fue erigido en el siglo XVIII. Se dice que protegía a los peregrinos y a los viajeros que cruzaban el puente. Mira cuánto ha durado. Quizá sea su ayuda lo que necesito.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Who doesn’t love starting the day with a good double entendre? If you find any Romans to work for you, please send them my way after they’ve repaired everything you need to have done. The back of my house has been rotting and falling apart for years and I can’t find a trustworthy contractor to do the work. I especially can’t find someone who actually shows up. How does anyone ever get anything done?
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
I was an old double-entendre roll. We’ve had the same contractor experience just about everywhere we’ve lived. We always wonder how they make a living.
Yes,you need a Roman electrician to sort that light fixture. Or my friend Gary.
I guess the length of Cordoba’s history has had its impact on modern scheduling. This week/year/century, we’ll get there. Boud.
Boud:
Do you think Gary would be interested in doing some work in Córdoba? SG used to be easily able to do the electrical and plumbing, but everything looks different in Spain.
What beautiful shadows are cast by the Roman bridge!
Debra:
Isn’t that wonderful?
Do you suppose that getting tradespeople to come and fix things is ridiculously hard all over the world?
That’s rather shockingly good audio on that video.
Ms. Moonheavysigh:
Absolutely. We had the same experience in most places we’ve lived. We did have a couple of experiences in Fuengirola but, for the most part, we were very lucky there. My iPhone does a good job recording.
The patron saint of plumbing is St. Vincent Ferrer, a Spainiard. Maybe he could help?
TexasTrailerParkTrash:
Crud. St. Vincent Ferrer doesn’t have a shop in Córdoba. I guess I’ll have to pray to him.
Don’t the medications say to seek medical help if it lasts more than four hours? Over two centuries is simply de trop.
Will Jay
Will Jay:
San Rafael didn’t believe in doctors. He believed in divine intervention.
May your plumbing find divine intervention.
David Godfrey:
Ha! That idea just came up in two of my previous replies!
Stunning views of the Roman bridge!
I am not surprised you find it difficult to get efficient workmanship in the land of “Mañana”. What is amazing, however, is that you did find a reliable plumber/workman on the Costa! All we ever hear from the people who live there is their frustrations with getting anything done. [Indeed, we spent a week in one apartment overlooking the roof of a neighbouring hotel, taking bets on how long it would take the team of four builders who occasionally turned up to lay a whole row of bricks. Needless to say, only two were in place by the time we left!]
Cordoba’s Roman Bridge was probably erected in its entirety in a year or two. Jx
Jon:
Our problems with finding contractors is not a Spanish thing. Except for Fuengirola, where we only had a couple of disappointments, we had trouble finding reliable contractors everywhere we lived, and that was all previously in the United States. A friend of mine in London has horror stories about contractors.
Hoping you find great permanent contractors soon …..took us a few tries as well.
Jim:
It seems to always be the case. We have a neighbor who seems to know a lot, I’m going to knock on his door today.
The shadows from the bridge on the water are lovely. So is the guitar clip!
I’ll admit I scrolled back up to take a closer look at San Rafael when you mentioned his erection. 😂
Kelly:
Do you remember the SNL bit with Gilda Radner as Emily Latella and her rag on the 1976 Presidential Erections?
I guess that’s one of the downsides to moving to a new place — no reliable network of friends, neighbours or co-workers to recommend the best tradespeople to you. Is there a Spanish equivalent of the Better Business Bureau you could access on-line?
Tundra Bunny:
We’ve met some very nice neighbors who offered help any time we need it. I think I’ll ask one today.
We are going through the same problems with contractors and “handymen” getting Michael’s dad’s house ready to be rented. It is frustrating!
Michael:
We’ve had so many problems exactly like this over the years. We were lucky in Fuengirola.
Saint Raphael got his erection from pilgrims??? What on earth is going on here. Is Saint Raphael the patron saint of porno stars? Ok the Catholic Church says he is the patron saint of Happy Endings, so maybe that it what it is all about.
Laurent:
The Patron Saint of Happy Endings! What a source of pride.
Sounds like “mañana” territory.
Frank D:
No different from just about everyplace we’ve ever lived.
Watched the video. So glad that musician had the proper credentials, because he’s pretty good. Now all you need is a plumber with the proper credentials.
Kirk:
I wonder if that musician knows plumbing.
I will say that is one plus to the area I live in… we find very reliable and good tradesmen. Matter of fact, I’m getting new living room windows, which are huge. I already had the talk, the estimate, final measure done and the windows are being made. They will be done mid-December. They called today and want to install them on…….December 26th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mistress Borghese:
December 26th??? Now THAT’s service! The next thing we have to do is enclose the terrace. Give us strength!
Sharing a bathroom ! Oh the hardship x
finlaygray:
Tragic. And for the first couple of weeks, we shared it with the cats, too. Oh woe is us.
I was totally into the whole pendant lamp drama and then I got to those photos!
Whoa!
Stunning. Really. That LIGHT!
I would NOT mind having to share a bathroom while that light fixture is fixed if THAT was my daily walk…
XOXO
Sixpence Notthewiser:
The sun was bright and the skies were vivid that day. And, oh, there are so many options for daily walks that would knock your socks off.
Seems like plumbers and electricians are hard to schedule everywhere. I think they have more work than they can handle. Those would be very lucrative fields for someone now looking for a trade!
Steve:
I agree.
you have me going there, with the title.