End of week 2

This last week has really flown, but I’m pretty well settled in now. TV and internet sorted, I’ve ordered the blinds and bought everything I need for the house for the time being, I’ve been going to yoga every day, and to the movies twice so I’m settling into some sort of routine.

I even got my first junk mail today! The local dentist has free exams, 2 for 1 cleaning and 50% off whitening. Wednesdays are 2 for 1 roast chicken days. There are no letterboxes at the front so I guess any mail is just stuck through the gate like this was. Since the Mexican postal service has such a terrible reputation, I suppose no-one bothers to use it and that’s why no-one bothers with letterboxes.

I have a new neighbour, the other ground floor unit, and they have a cute brown & white Chihuahua which is so thrilled to see me when I come home she pees on the floor. Still, the welcome is very nice!

The weather has been warm and sticky during the day but the nights are still pleasantly cooler so I sleep reasonably well. But they are still building next door, and my days start with the sound of large hammers thudding at 7am - 7 days a week!

It looks like next week all the paperwork for my apartment will finally be finished at the solicitor and I will be able to sign. Arturo came today and took photos of the things I want repaired, they are going to submit the list to the developer and I won’t sign until everything has been done or organised to be done. That includes the painting & cleaning, so I need to make a decision about the colours this weekend. I’d like to keep the place fairly neutral but I think I’ll have a burnt orange wall next to the kitchen, and I may do a cappuccino wall in my bedroom.

I’m excited about week 3. The TV unit will be delivered on Monday, and with some luck the cable TV and internet may be connected this week, or early the next. It will be great to have internet here when I want it rather than having to copy text and pictures onto my USB stick and go out to update this blog.

The blinds should also be here by the end of the week, giving me some privacy at last. Martin the caretaker appears regularly outside my window to tell me things, and I can’t be wandering the house in my lacy pj’s.

Quotes are being sought for the painting and final repairs on my apartment, and the paperwork the solicitor needs to finalise the sale should be ready so as soon as I am sure the work will be done, I can sign and suite 202 of Coral Maya Suites will be officially mine.

I can then take some photos and start investigating the possibilities for both vacation rental and house swap. Yes I know I’ve just got here, and it’s not that I’m in a hurry to leave my new home by any means. But my potential renters are already planning their holidays for later in the year and I don’t want to leave things to the last minute. If I advertise the place for rent and get a good short-term offer, then it’s a good excuse for me to go travelling. I can spend a week in Cuba including airfares, hotel and food for about $350. I can catch the bus down to Belize or over to Guatemala and spend time there for even less. So as long as the rent covers my own travels and a bit more, I’m happy. I’m keen to go to Europe in summer and visit my friends in Italy and Spain. I hear there are some very good real estate deals to be had in Spain and I’d like to investigate them.