14 September 2025

Water at home:

I am looking for a new apartment 

When I leased my apartment in February 2024, there were some issues that needed addressing. The kitchen, my bathroom and the guest bathroom all have damaged tiles.  Biggest on that list was the guest bathroom with numerous floor tiles that were cracked or broken. I discussed this with the landlady. She said they would be happy to repair the floors, but since I was only committing to less than a year, I agreed to hold off. When I renewed my lease this January, she agreed that the floors would be repaired. 

She began working with her insurance company.  After one no-show, after another last minute cancellation, they eventually showed up to take photos of the damage and measurements of the rooms affected. 

By early summer, they were scheduling the work to start. Again, they never showed, later canceled at the last minute because of a car accident, and a third time, never showed again. 

When they finally arrived to start the repairs, they came with one (1) tile for the guest bathroom, and it was the wrong color.  Of course, I wouldn’t let them replace just one tile. 

Again, we rescheduled to do the work last week, and they canceled at the last minute because of the death of the father of one of the workers.  Really? I’ve become very skeptical of these people.

On Tuesday this week, they finally arrived to repair the guest bathroom floor. 

Two hours after their scheduled arrival, I called the manager (in Spanish) and confirmed they were coming and in no uncertain terms, I told him the work would bet completed to my satisfaction “today!” 

He agreed.  They arrived moments later.

Last week, I told you that I had been sick but my friend Milo was visiting from Barcelona. He was a godsend through so this. He was able to let the workers in while I  was in school and get them started. 

When they took out the old damaged tiles, they found that the concrete of the sub floor was so deteriorating, that much of it was just sand. There was nothing stable for the tiles to rest on. No wonder they’re all breaking! They tell me the problem is throughout the whole apartment.

So they did the work of cleaning out much of the debris, put down a protective layer and then put down a fresh concrete base on Wednesday.  

On Thursday, they put down the new tiles. They look really good.

And it turns out, the plumbing fixtures are so old and rusted that they didn’t fit back to the connections. So, after several trips to the hardware store (Milo was doing all of this work and my landlady will reimburse me), they thought they had a temporary fix.

On Thursday afternoon, I left for Lugano Switzerland to visit my friend Jim who is spending a month there, studying Italian. 

When I arrived, first realized that I didn’t have mobile service on my phone (despite confirming with my carrier that I would in fact have coverage). Then, when I got Internet signal, I received a message from Milo that the connection from the bidet is leaking. He’s put down towels and is mopping up water every few hours. 

I forwarded his message and photos to the apartment owner. 

The workers returned on Friday, replaced a one of five faulty valves and left with instructions that to use the toilet, one needed to turn on the water at the wall, flush, and turn turn off the water. Not ideal. But a workable, temporary solution. 

In Saturday I learned that the leaking was continuing and needed mopping every two hours. Milo has been there throughout the weekend trying to keep the leaking water under control.

I eventually heard from my landlady that they would return Monday. If she’s not more worried about water dripping in her apartment, why am I!?

As I write this, I’m on the train from Lugano Switzerland to Milan Italy airport, where I fly home tonight to Valencia. So, let’s talk about my trip to Lugano.  It’s a lot more fun!

About an hour before I left for the airport, to go to Lugano, I received a delightful video message from my former English student, Dima. When we last spoke just over a month ago, he told me that he and Lisa were planning to leave Valencia. He was hoping to find a sponsor in the UK.  Now, I learned that things had taken a fast turn and they had left Valencia and are currently in Switzerland. Switzerland?!  I’m on my way there in a matter of hours!  I quickly responded and we made tentative plans to meet in Lugano on Sunday. 

Lake Lugano Switzerland:

That (Thursday) evening, I flew to Milan Italy, where Jim met me at the airport. We took the train to Lugano and he welcomed me to his temporary home with stunning views of Lake Lugano and a comfortable guest room. 

This is the kind of water I want to see!

Jim is an amazing host!  

Lugano is in the south/ Italian speaking part of Switzerland.  So language, culture, and food of two neighboring countries all fit together, interchangeably. 

We got up on Friday, made a big breakfast of Swiss sausage, eggs, toast, Mimosas coffee… and then set out for some leisurely sightseeing. 

First stop, a Swiss chocolate factory tour!  

They didn’t allow photos indoors. And I haven’t found a way to attach aromas or flavors to this blog. But suffice it to say, the sights and smells and tasting options made me feel like a kid in a candy factory!

Back in Lugano, we walked around the beautiful town, along the lake, had a delicious lunch, and stopped along the water for a cocktail before eventually going home to make an incredible pasta dinner. Jim is a great host and cook!

On Saturday, after another big breakfast (one needs sufficient fuel for sightseeing), we purchased a day pass for the water bus to spend the day on the water, going around the lake. 

It was a cloudy day. But the threatened rain never arrived. 

We got off in the small town of Morcote. We hiked up the hill to the church. The highlight there was the cemetery. We saw a fascinating mix of old and new grave markers. 

Back to the lake, we had a delicious lunch: salad and polenta. His with gorgonzola cheese. Mine with veal (Ossoscuro).

We enjoyed a gelato before getting back onto the boat. 

We relaxed on the upper deck, watching the towns and villages go by like a relaxing screen saver. 

Almost back to Lugano, we stopped at Campione Italia, a one-square km town that is owned by Italy, across the lake from Lugano. There is a giant casino there that was built by Mussolini. We enjoyed an afternoon refreshment before taking the water bus back across the lake and home to Lugano. 

When we got back to the apartment (and Internet), I received a message from Dima and his wife Lisa. They were passing through Lugano later that evening around 10 pm, instead of Sunday, on their way to Como Italy. Maybe we could meet for a short visit!?

We met at the train station and then walked down the hill to the main plaza and to the water front. 

Dima continues to look for a sponsor in the UK. Meanwhile, they have decided to tour Europe. So with everything they own in their car, (including Vishnia the dog), they were going from Switzerland to Italy. After two weeks in Italy, they’ll check out Croatia. And after some time there, they’ll drive north to Norway!  Who knows? There are a lot of English speakers in Norway. Maybe they’ll even decide to settle there! 

Send them good thoughts. They’re brave.  They’ll be fine.  

Sunday (today) after another egg, sausage and toast breakfast (Jim knows I love a good breakfast!), we took the bus to the San Salvatore funicular overlooking Lake Lugano. 

What spectacular views! 

After a mountain top experience, we returned to the city.

I’m now at the airport en route to Valencia.

Wish me luck with whatever I find when I get home.