Since we got the keys a few days ago, we decided Sunday to drive out and take a few things with us including some cleaning supplies, drinks for the frig and some summer weight clothes we don't need right now. We stopped at the Ipercoop in Avellino to get paper towels, toilet paper, and some additional cleaners. By the time we got here, I was looking forward to testing out the new bathroom! Low and behold, we can't get the key to unlock the door.
After almost a half hour of trying to unlock the front door, I gave up and went to call my girlfriend who had opened it for me a few days ago. Discovered my Blackberry was dead, and of course, Johnnie never has his cell phone. So, put the Blackberry on the car charger and wait a few more minutes until I have enough charge to make a call. I call my girlfriend and she tells me how she unlocks the door. We try that, no luck. Finally I break down and call the landlord. By this time we are pretty sure they lock is broken and we don't want to break off the key in the lock by forcing it too hard.
A few more minutes wait and the landlord comes. By this time I am looking longingly at the bushes trying to decide which is the most private. She hops out of the car, and opens the door on the first try! Talk about embarrassment! I am sure she is thinking "These Americans can't even unlock the door!"
 |
| The offending key |
Hitchcock's Latest "The Napoli Elevator Ride"
So I will tell you one of my worst nightmares is being stuck in an elevator, even worse if it is crowded with people. I studiously avoided elevators until a few years ago when bad knees necessitated using them. So here goes, almost my worst nightmare!
Our elevator is the type that has three doors that open different directions depending on what floor you are on. Our palazzo takes up an entire city block, so there are many businesses as well as other apartments within the palazzo. Our elevator we share with the bank, a tailor and people with apartments on other floors. So this elevator is a bit funky at the best of times, it occasionally drops a few inches when it reaches the top, occasionally doesn't go at all, or sometimes stops at the wrongs floor. Usually you push the button again and it resets itself and goes.
Yesterday, on the way to work in the morning it would not let me out into the courtyard; it kept opening to the bank. That early the bank is not open and I can see alarms inside the bank, so I know better than to even take one step out there. Fortunately, it will go back up to the 3rd floor where our apartment is. So after a few tries down and up again, I just give up and come back to the apartment.
Johnnie walks down the stairs to the ground floor to try and call the elevator down to the courtyard. Now I have to tell you, these are the original stairs in the 1200 AD palazzo. They are narrow, steep, spiral stairs inside a turret tower with no handrails and there is no way I am going down those stairs unless it is life or death. He tries calling the elevator and that doesn't work. So, first I call the landlord. No answer. Then I look up on the computer how to say "The elevator is broken. Please call a repairman" and call the portierre to report the problem. Someone else answers and I just hope they give him the message.
With computer at home, I settle down to work virtual until the elevator gets fixed. After a couple hours the portierre comes up to report it is fixed. I am in the middle of some stuff so I figure I'll finish before packing up to head to work. Next thing we know, it is not fixed. Someone else is stuck in the elevator (thankfully it is not me! I am so claustrophobic).
Meanwhile the landlord calls and makes a shopping date with Johnnie to help us buy appliances. We find out from her our poor housekeeper had the same thing happen to her last Saturday when she left. The elevator stopped at the bank and wouldn't go up or down. So she got out at the bank and it closed behind her and wouldn't open again. She triggered the alarms in the bank and then sat for a hour waiting until the police came. They tried to arrest her, crying and distraught because she didn't have any ID or papers with her. They finally got it straightened out but poor Valentina, I am not sure she will ever come back!
Finally late in the afternoon, we got the sign that the elevator was fixed. By that time there was no point in me driving to work so I finished working at home. Later I went out with Johnnie to pay for the appliances he found, and when we got back, the elevator wouldn't work again! The landlord just happened to be there, she called the portierre to come help and he was able to actually go into the bank and do something from that side to make it shut and open the other way. Mama mia!
Going to work tomorrow I am going to call the portierre when I get on the elevator and Johnnie is going to ride with me to make sure I get there. I also found out there is another elevator on the top floor but I have to go through someone else's apartment to get there. That is good to know that there is another route besides the medieval stairs.
You Look Like a Credit Card Thief!
If life doesn't have enough adventure already, we had one more hurdle to complete our 48 hr. adventure. After Johnnie chose washer, dryer, tv and microwave for us, I needed to go over and pay with my corporate credit card. I had already been warned by others that the card won't allow big charges to go through, so I called them in advance to let them know I am making large purchases in the new couple weeks. They said, just fine, thanks for letting us know. So of course, when we get there, they refuse the charge (2280 Euro -- over my $2000 US limit on my card, they say). So I say, "No that is a mistake, run it again". Then the card gets blocked. So, standing in line at the cash register in front of God and half of Napoli, I am calling the credit card company, not very happy with them. They unblock the card and inform me this is my company that puts the $2000 block on "miscellaneous" charges. So I will deal with the Boeing people tomorrow. Would be nice if someone told me this but alas, that would be too much to expect! So after a few minutes, they unlock the card and we split the charge into two pieces and go merrily on our way. So the logic is, I can spend $10000 as long as I do it in $2000 increments. Amazing the thinking of the accountants and bean counters that make up these goofy rules!
Of course, to finish the evening, we get lost coming back. Or should I say Suzie II is totally lost in this part of Napoli but we find our way out and all is well.
End of the 48 hr. adventure. It is all part of the journey and even now we are laughing about our experiences.
All I can say I'm praying for you
ReplyDeleteand you need a lot of prayer. Like all of us needs it.
ReplyDelete