Saturday 23 September 2017

Disputes and other happenings

Well, much has transpired since our last blog 2 weeks ago.
Firstly the aftermath of Irma. Perry and Tracie have been incredibly lucky. Apparently one end of their street which is 18-24" lower than where they are was inundated fairly badly and there are piles of house contents on the roadside which have been ruined. But their house was not touched. No water inside although they think that it was lapping against the glass French doors! Anyway, they were probably built with all this in mind and they held without leaking. The section was a bit of a mess with one large tree down and lots of debris. The paperweight (a.k.a. the Merc!) had tree branches all over it but was unscratched. One jetski was up on the lawn and the other wedged on the pontoon. That one may need checking for water intrusion into the engine but apart from that they are undamaged as well. So lucky. If the eye had passed over Miami the story would have been very different. Power and internet are both back on so apart from fixing things around the property all is almost back to normal.
One story made us laugh. One individual complained on social media that there was a pile of garden debris which remained uncollected in front of his house. He said it was disgraceful and would turn the grass brown! Someone else replied and said "don't worry. Maria will be along shortly and blow it all away!" However, it seems that Maria is taking a right turn well away from Florida and will likely eventually blow itself out in the Atlantic. Of course it was devastating again in the Caribbean but hopefully it won't impact the US East Coast anywhere.
In the meantime Jean had something which we think was a viral flu - zero energy and generally feeling terrible but no fever. This hasn't helped with dealing with the incompetent real estate company we've had to deal with but we're through that now. We're back in fighting trim. 
We've already mentioned the deficiencies in the apartment which were caused by First American Realty (FAR). Finally, around the end of August the last of these was satisfactorily fixed but it has taken 6 weeks of our time to organize. Just gross incompetence on the part of FAR. We also spent hours going through accounts and identified many areas where we were overcharged and in some instances items charged twice. We had had an initial quote late in 2016 and quite clearly told them that we had a price limit which they agreed in writing would be sufficient to finish the apartment to the required standard. However, 4 months later, after they had alleged that the apartment was ready for letting (and it wasn't), they then attempted to hit us for nearly 30% more with no supporting documentation! That was just before we left Malaysia. We've been in an escalating dispute situation ever since and have changed our lawyer and our property manager. It seems that we are in a strong position legally so we think it will eventually die down but it's been quite an unpleasant situation and definitely one which we had certainly not anticipated. FAR had done a reasonable job of the refurbishment except for the deficiencies which when added up, meant that the apartment was not rentable. It's just as well we arrived when we did.
But it seems to us that it's the way of the world these days. We've been harassed and bullied and threatened and these days it seems that this is always the first line of attack. No attempt to come to any sort of compromise or listen to an opposing argument - just "you pay or else". Well, in this case they picked on the wrong people; we don't respond well in this type of situation. Anyway, all is under control. Their employees have been instructed to have no further contact with us and are in fact withholding information from us - hence all the running around getting copies of documents etc.  We've changed the locks and finally had some good legal advice. It's also involved much administrative stuff with changing accounts with suppliers of Internet, cable TV, telephone, all utilities, and also changing the contact for the Body Corporate - and all in Spanish!! But we have had some wonderful help from some wonderful people so now hopefully we can get on with life. We think that it's simply a case of bad mismanagement on FAR's part and they are just trying to minimize their losses or maximize their profit!!
There's really not much else to report. The foregoing has been occupying our time and thinking just about 100% of the time. But we are getting some good insights into the Colombian legal system - yesterday we had to get the Deeds to the property printed off again - and notarized. So there we are in a taxi trying to give the driver instructions but we were well prepared. We usually write down the address to give to the driver and he actually helped in finding the Notary's office as it wasn't well signed. All good fun when your knowledge of  the language is sketchy to say the least, but again there are so many people who will help and there's always someone who speaks reasonable English. At least our lawyer and the new property manager are both fluent in English.
Got up at 4 this morning to watch the results of the NZ elections coming in. MMP certainly allows everyone's vote to count. And NZ falls over backwards to enable NZer's to vote overseas - provided yu are a NZ citizen and have been in the country sometime in the last 3 years. So, we downloaded our voting papers and because we don't have a printer, we emailed them to our finance broker (Alianza Valores) who by chance are occupying temporary premises only a 2 minute walk from the apartment. So, we toddled off up there and signed the papers and had them witnessed - then AV scanned and emailed them back to us. Then it was a matter of uploading them to the NZ Govt. website and sending an email to confirm that they had been received. In due course an email came back confirming that indeed everything was ticketyboo.  
It's certainly been a cliffhanger. Provisional results are (in percentages):
National 48.0
Labour 35.8
NZ First 7.5
Greens 5.9
TOP 2.2
Others 2.6
Under the MMP electoral system there is no representation until a party gets over 5% of the total vote, so now there are 4 parties in contention. NZ First holds the balance of power. There are 2 arguments. First, that National obtained the most votes of any single party and that therefore NZ First should coalesce with National giving a total of 55.5%. The other argument is that 52% of voters did not vote for National and that therefore there is justification for a Labour/NZ First/Greens coalition. Together they would hold 49.2% against National's 48% - a very slender and possibly unworkable arrangement. The main thing is that NZ First can keep the rest of them honest - which is a long overdue situation. The other argument of course is that NZF policies are possibly more in line with Labour/Greens and therefore that's a more obvious fit than NZF/National. Politics are fascinating!! It's Jim's interest really, although we are continually interested in events in the rest of the world as well. Particularly with Donald Trump who has inherited major problems from successive administrations - particularly the last one, and particularly Kim Jong-Un. And then there are all the vested interests, even from his own party, who are deliberately trying to sabotage his administration. Traitors, no less.
Cheers to all in Godzone and elsewhere
Jim and Jean
Medellin
Colombia
 

Sunday 10 September 2017

Perry, Tracie, Carter and Nash in Medellin and other happenings in the "City of Eternal Spring" - and Irma.

Hi to all and here's hoping you are all in the pink,
Well, it is now day 57 in Medellin and we have only 31 days left. That thought makes us somewhat sad because we really enjoy being here - in spite of all the problems we have had with First American Realty (FAR).
A highlight of recent days was the arrival of Perry and his family on August 23rd. They were picked up from Jose Maria Cordova International Airport late at night by Latin Hosts who we hired for the airport transfers as well as the upcoming tours we organized for them. They provide child car seats which are definitely not common, nor legally required here in Colombia. Incidentally, Jose Maria Cordova Munoz was the Colombian general who finally defeated the Spanish in the War of Independence in 1820.
Great excitement when the Dodge finally pulled up after midnight on the 24th. at the security gate at the entrance to Jardines de la Maria. Great to see them and of course los nietos (the grandchildren). Upstairs to the apartment and soon Carter and Nash were asleep in their queen bed! A bit of a talk and then we were all in bed - ready for the fray later in the morning.
After a late start Perry and Tracie had some work to do so we left them to it on the apartment wifi, and Jean and Jim took los nietos down to a local park (about half a k) where they could run around. We had found a café there previously where we had coffee and los nietos busied themselves picking pebbles out of a garden and throwing them all over the path. Then it was a case of picking them all up and putting them back in the garden! Heaps of gardens and small border hedges all around here on the sides of the roads and all neatly manicured and generally looked after. Until the nietos arrived!!! Then, after a quiet afternoon we all walked along the road to an Italian restaurant we had discovered ( Il Forno) and had a great dinner - as usual. Los nietos had a ride on a miniaturized Harley Davidson which they thought was just the bees knees.
Early to bed as we had to be up fairly early to be picked up by Latin Hosts at 8 to go roughly SE from the city for about 2 hours to a town called el Carmen de Viboral. The main claim to fame is the local ceramics industry where they hand paint all the pieces. El Carmen de Viboral is at least 1,000' higher than Medellin, so it was a climb all the way and the van was a bit noisy in lower gears. In addition the seating was cramped so we were all glad when we finally arrived. Ears were popping all the way!
We were conducted around one of the factories which operated fairly primitively on several floors but it was fascinating to see all the processes - particularly the hand painting itself by a team of skilled ladies who could create a leaf or a flower petal by just a flick of the wrist. The patterns were colourful and exquisitely done and we would have loved to buy a dinner set, but not good to leave in a rented apartment. Maybe when we come back permanently. A 12 place dinner set was around NZD600. They use local clay but also have a more upmarket production which they export to Europe. For this they use clay imported from Italy, so it's really quite a sophisticated operation when you realize just what they produce. There are several ceramics factories in el Carmen de Viboral so it's a significant business.
Then we were taken to a studio where more ceramics painting was being done and we were all given plain white egg cups which we could paint ourselves. Including los nietos!! The results were variable, but Tracie's was probably the most accomplished. Anyway, it certainly made all of us very aware of the skill level necessary to produce the beautiful objects that we saw and we were full of admiration.
We then went on to Santa Elena where we first had lunch which was good with trout etc on the menu before visiting a flower farm. Colombia is the 2nd largest exporter of cut flowers in the world. The farm wasn't commercial, but rather a representation of the more traditional ways of growing a huge variety of flowers including roses, dahlias, calla lilies, bird of paradise and hydrangeas. The commercial operations are all much larger and mostly under cover. The farm was a riot of colour and we were entertained by the farmer whose remarks were translated for us by our tour guide. The original flower growers are known as Silleteros and the way of life the Silletera culture. It was explained to us just how the growers of old used to get their flowers to market in Medellin. Incidentally, this tradition is the origin of the annual Flower Festival of Medellin which has just been held. They had triangular or circular wooden frames which they carried on their backs into which were inserted bunches of flowers. All this was demonstrated to us, after which we all tried the flower laden frames on our backs. We estimated that the weight would have been near 15 kilos fully laden and these hardy Silleteros would carry these on their backs on muddy trails over rugged country AT NIGHT for 11 hours. They always wore the same clothes and carried a particular shoulder bag which always had the necessaries for the journey. Food and probably some Arguardiente - which is rum and Anis. Then, if they didn't sell everything at the flower market in Medellin, they would carry their wares from door to door until everything was gone. Then they would buy things that they couldn't get back home and take them back. And the return journey was particularly arduous as Santa Elena is roughly 1,000' above Medellin, so a climb all the way on the same muddy trails. A hardy bunch indeed. We all had our photos taken with the flower laden frame on our backs. With Jim's knees, probably all he could manage was about 100 metres on the flat, let alone up and down dale. It was starting to get dark by the time we left the flower farm, such was our degree of fascination with the whole enterprise. As an aside, we believe that the generally low humidity allows the flowers to be produced with a degree of hardiness which you don't find in high humidity and it would also have resulted in longer life after cutting. No doubt a major reason for Colombia's present standing in the export cut flower business. The other factors would be low cost of production and proximity to the USA - a very large market.
So, it was a long day, but los nietos were very good and just slept during the return to Medellin. Everyone quite tired when we arrived back so we decided to have a meal at home for once. A rum and some glasses of red Chilean wine and we all felt better! We had some steak which we'd marinated in beer, but we had no idea how it would turn out and we'd never used the oven before! However, we put it in at a low heat and steamed some vegetables and it was all delicious. Again early to bed to sleep well.
The next day had a slow start, but we had planned to go to Parque Arvi which is a very large area of natural bush high above the city's NE side. We walked from our apartment down to the nearest Metro station Ayura. First time for any of us on the Metro and the experience lived up to all the hype. Very clean, well patronized and efficient. Then, after about 20 minutes, off the Metro at the Acevedo station. From there a short walk to the Metrocable terminus. We all fitted comfortably into one cable car and off we went. Jim a little apprehensive as he doesn't like heights but trying to remain nonchalant!! As it happened it was all quite serene being wafted along almost silently through the air - reminded Jim of the American comedian, Shelley Berman who back in the 1960's did a skit on flying and famously said "there's not a damn thing down there people, but air!". He also recounts an imaginary sequence where he summons the stewardess and says "Miss, the wing is a sheet of flame". She replies "coffee, tea or milk?". He says "we don't have time for coffee, tea or milk - we're doomed". She says "oh really, how about a martini?!".
After one change half way up, we eventually arrived at the terminus. On the way the ascent was almost vertical with spectacular views of the city. We passed over some obviously very poor barrios (neighbourhoods) with shanty type brick buildings which were on extremely steep slopes. Wouldn't want to be there in an earthquake. On that note Medellin is built on a very solid layer of granite and it is said that as a result severe damage from an earthquake is very unlikely - touch wood!
Once we'd reached the top of the hill, we continued in a more or less horizontal fashion over bushland until we reached Parque Arvi. There we found the usual collection of tourist outlets and then eventually (because there was next to no signage) we came to a group of shanty type eating places in a rural setting. We ordered a very basic lunch and at that time Nash decided to throw a 2 year old crank which meant that Perry and Tracie had to take turns in wheeling him about in the stroller until he had come back down to earth! But it was a pleasant time and good to have been there with Perry and Tracie and los nietos. Then back down the hill with Jim bravely facing the downhill view and scarcely felt a thing! Maybe it was the beer.Then back on the Metro and a cab back to the apartment.
The next day we were scheduled to do a day trip to Guatape where Jean and Jim had been last year. Guatape is a hydro lake which was formed back in the 1970's when many valleys including the old township of Penol were drowned to create electric power. Sounds like NZ!! The usual climb out of Medellin with ears popping and then once we were up on the plateau, los nietos were carsick! So, there was a necessity for a pitstop at a local roadside café where they had some delicious sweetcorn based empanadas. Jim had 3 !! And coffee. Just what the doctor ordered after another early morning start with very little food. Maybe that was what was wrong with los nietos - anyway, never mind, the mess was cleaned up by Perry and Tracie - just what they needed at that point we're sure!! Then on to el Penol just before Guatape. El Penol is a mammoth volcanic plug which rises vertically from the surrounding countryside and which has over 700 steps built into the side in a zigzag pattern in a fissure in the rock face. Perry, Tracie and Carter elected to climb to the top while the oldies with Jim's creaking joints stayed at the bottom looking after Nash who immediately threw another crank when his immediate family disappeared heavenwards!!! We quietened him down (for a while) with some delicious Colombian beans and rice but it was only short lived! Anyway, they soon descended and were off to a replica of the old town of Penol which had been drowned. Very touristy of course but one doesn't mind that when one is doing the tourist thing. Tracie spied an antique tricycle with a seat for a younger sibling at the back and insisted on buying it much to Perry's dismay. Thoughts of getting it back to Miami no doubt. Jim bought a Silletero shoulder bag which will wow them back in Langkawi that's for sure! He can keep a supply of Aguardiente in the appropriate compartment for those arduous moments! Like entering and leaving the marina and getting hauled out! Jim also bought an old 33.3 rpm vinyl record to play on our new retro styled record player/CD player/radio and tape player! Typical lively Colombian music and the old record was in excellent condition. And Jean bought a fancy sun hat and a T-shirt. Then on to the town of Guatape itself. Old hat to Jean and Jim but great that Perry and Tracie could have a chance to see it. We had lunch at a restaurant on the waterfront and then went for a walk through the town which is almost impossibly colourful with every façade decorated with individual motifs and all colours of the rainbow. Then all too soon it was time to be back in the van for the journey back down to Medellin. Perry and Tracie went out to dinner in the Ponsonby of Medellin (Poblado) while the wrinklies babysat and we had homemade oxtail soup. We cooked some food for los nietos and all was well.
The next day it was decided that we all went to the Tesoro Mall above Poblado. Great views of the city and the valley from up there. And there's an extensive amusement park for the children there as well so we all piled into a Uber taxi and duly arrived. Had a bit of mall food and then we were immersed in the amusement park. Poor old Jim's knees were playing up a bit by then so was good to sit down at various times while los nietos played endlessly. Then back to the apartment in a pedal car taxi - God knows how we all fitted in. Jean and Perry walked off down the road to Il Forno to get some takeaway pizzas. In the meantime Perry and Jim had packed the vintage trike in many layers of bubblewrap and cardboard having first managed to overcome a rusty bolt to take the front wheel off. Many jokes in poor taste about US Customs being very interested in a suspicious parcel from Colombia! Finally at 9pm that night the sad time for departure was upon us. The car seats which had been contaminated, we had taken to the apartment and cleaned and we had put the covers through the washing machine so all was pristine once more. We took the car seats down to the security gate and Perry installed them back in the car. We even managed to get the bubble wrapped trike plus all their luggage into the back - then suddenly it was goodbye and they were gone. We felt quite deflated but there was much to be done - mainly in the on-going discussions with FAR.
Since then we have been out and about seeing new things and areas. And of course FAR. Late last week we had 2 mammoth meetings with them and the upshot is that we are still awaiting clarification for a number of invoice items which, although they had assured us they would answer, they were obviously unable to so do. It is becoming a farce. At the end we then presented them with a counter claim for an amount well in excess of anything they are claiming from us - loss of income and related matters. There has been a deafening silence since. We have decided that we absolutely could not trust them to manage the apartment on-going and so we intend to sack them, but the timing has to be right. In the meantime we have been recommended by our lawyer to another property manager - a young Argentinian lady who has a 3 week old baby which she brings to meetings and breast feeds on demand. She is lovely and very efficient. We went to a local comms provider last week to get the wifi, cable TV and landline transferred to her name so the business of transferring the letting business is well underway. It is fairly complicated because there are property taxes to pay, body corporate fees and comms (as above), so everything has to be properly documented, especially as we are not yet permanent residents and so we cannot put any of these things in our names - except the actual ownership of the apartment. Anyway, it's all underway. Jean's cellphone has also been a problem; the provider we were using proved to have a network that was basically incompatible with her phone, but 2 days ago we finally found a provider that suited the phone - Movistar, Thank goodness for that as it took all day!! All in broken Spanish and translating messages on the translation service on the cellphone. Very trying. New phone number is +57 315 3581195.
The other thing that has been occupying our minds almost to the exclusion of everything else right now is Hurricane Irma. No doubt everyone has been following her destructive path through the Caribbean islands and the inexorable progress towards Miami where Perry, Tracie and los nietos live. For quite a while it seemed as though Miami was in the cross hairs but now at the last minute it seems as though Irma has veered off more to the west which would spare Miami the worst. Maybe their house will survive - this did not seem likely 2 days ago. Storm surge up to 7 metres which occurs as a result of extremely low atmospheric pressure is the main concern and is not survivable, especially when there are wind driven waves on top of it being creating by 100+ knot winds. That creates an irresistible force which almost nothing on land can survive. So on Wednesday night after putting hurricane shutters on all their doors and windows, they packed up one of the cars, said a probable goodbye to their house and possessions and left for Asheville in North Carolina. Much to Jim's chagrin, they left the Mercedes jamming the garage door; Perry's description was that it could act as a paperweight! It won't be much of a paperweight if it starts to float. A particularly difficult leaving was saying goodbye to Rosa, the childrens' Mexican nanny. Rosa has been with them for over 2 years now and everyone, especially the children, is very attached to her. Of course they don't know whether they will be able to return to the house and the life they have had. Rosa apparently was evacuating to Naples on the west coast, but fortuitously had a change of mind and remains in Miami with her family - hopefully clear of any risk of any storm surge inundation.  
They drove all night to Savannah, Georgia, had a rest and then on. In the meantime Perry had Microsoft business in Sydney, Australia and so, with nothing more that could be done he flew out from Charlotte (NC). In the meantime Tracie and the boys have rented an apartment in Asheville so they will be safe. They may get some rain and wind in the next few days but no storm surge up in the NC mountains.    
We have been hearing reports of people who have elected to stay on Key West and "ride it out". This is a ludicrous decision impossible to understand because KW is west of the south of Florida and so is even more in Irma's sights. In addition, the highest point of land is 16 feet (5.5 metres) above sea level where Earnest Hemingway's 2 story masonry house stands. They might stand a chance if they can hole up in the house if the house remains intact, but that's a big if. Pretty well the whole island will be underwater with storm driven waves of unimaginable height and destructive power. Almost certainly the road south from Miami to the Keys will also be destroyed at some of the many points where it crosses water on causeways and bridges. 
Since last night we have been anxiously following Irma's destructive path on www.tropicaltidbits.com - an excellent site with detailed updates every few hours. We were pleased for Perry and Tracie's sake to see that Irma had veered more west than originally expected, thus sparing Miami of the worst effects of storm damage and hopefully their house won't be so badly affected. Now at 1800 on the 10th. Irma is just north of Naples on the west coast and its speed has increased to 14 mph which will take it away more quickly. Just as well Rosa elected to stay in Miami. That Miami seems to have escaped the worst that could happen is nothing short of miraculous - although there has been a degree of storm surge which may have affected the house. We'll have to wait and see.
Complete change of subject and just to make everyone feel jealous - this afternoon (Sun.) we walked a short distance along the road to where there is a small museum located in what used to be a country house (Finca) before all the apartment high rises. Beautiful old place with a delightful garden full of many plants that we are familiar with in New Zealand. Bromeliads, tree ferns, grasses, etc. etc. There is a café/restaurant around the back and it was packed when we arrived about 3 pm. We managed to find a table and the food was the best we have had in a long time. Creamy tomato/vegetable soup, maize empanadas with cheese inside and a lovely sauce, and thin slices of beef on toast with green olives and olive oil. And the piece de resistance - coffee with vodka and amaretto (called Georgia). The whole thing was absolutely delicious and we staggered out after having had 4 (2 ea.) gorgeous Georgias!! And only COP52,500 (NZD25).
That's it from us for now - hope everyone is well.
Lotsaluv from us in Medellin..........................
Jim and Jean


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