Well I have had no internet since my arrival. But I have been so busy it really doesn't matter. We told Ulysis our contractor exactly what we needed. I sent an email with an attachment showing a drawing of where we needed the tie ins for the utilities for the trailer so we could be here while the house was being built. We gave him enough money to do this in advance, but at the advice of a friend, made partial payments so we could observe the work flow. This also assured quick work as if he had the entire amount requires for the house, he could just take his time. Thank God for that friend.
I was comfortable in Playa Del Carmen, living in a nice condo waiting. Gloria called Ulysis and asked if everything was ready for my arrival and he said yes that it was. Upon my arrival, there was nothing ready. No water, sewer or electricity. I'm a pretty spartan guy. I've camped out a lot so roughing it with no bathroom or electricity is not new to me. He had not even started on the well which was paid for in advance. The first day and a half, I had to use the bathroom in the field. I finally got a bottle of water but the trailer was crammed full so it was outside. This meant that if I had to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I had to go outside and get a glass of water to flush the toilet.
Also, there was no shower. I cleaned with a cloth as well as I could. I'm not saying I stunk or anything, but on day five I walked around the back of the trailer. I heard a noise and turned to see a buzzard perched on my open septic tank. He looked at me, sniffed then puked. I took a step toward him and again he sniffed at me, puked, then passed out. On day six I rented a room just to shower. Our closest neighbor Joaquin and his sons Pedro and Enrique were a huge help to me working on the porch and bathroom. Pedro and one other man dug the well. They worked harder than any of the other workers and Pedro was sick.
When Gloria arrived, Joaquin, his wife Edith and their sons came by that evening after the workers left. A very animated conversation took place and tempers escalated. It had been days and Pedro still had not been paid by Ulysis for digging the well, money we had already paid him. His reason was he said he had to pay for Gloria's airline ticket which was a total crock of shit. As you have seen, Gloria is a very nice lady until you piss her off, she then makes Hitler, Vlad the Impaler and Attila the Hun look like schoolboys. She called Ulysis and told him to bring his receipts so we could make an accounting and see where we were.
Knowing her temper, I told her to interpret exactly what I said, in the same tone of voice... right. I started in on the no water and no shower for eight days. I was firm and obviously angry, but contained. I then told him he lied about everything being ready and he lied about paying for her airplane ticket. He denied it, saying Pedro “misinterpreted” what he said. I'm the one who doesn't speak good Spanish, Pedro was raised here. Obvious that he was lying, Gloria set in on him. She began screaming at him and calling him a liar and a thief in front of his workers. She promptly fired his ass and demanded the rest of our money. He left quickly but the next day sent his plumber with a very sad face telling us that he, not Ulysis was the one having to pay rent on the cement mixer and it was very expensive daily, he needed it back.. I told him that Ulysis was a f*cking liar and what kind of fools did he think we were to believe that BS? That the mixer would stay here until we received our money which he has obviously spent. I told him that if we did not get our money by 3:00 that we would file charges and win. I have the email of the utilities we needed that he lied about, Pedro would testify that he was not paid and the lie Ulysis told him and this new lie about who was paying for the cement mixer. That he would pay court costs, his lawyer, my lawyer, my money plus interest, the room I rented for a shower and the emotional pain and suffering that I went through living like an animal for eight days.
Mexico is not like America. There, if you are found guilty the judge levies a judgment against you but you cannot collect. You cannot make them pay, you can place a lien against their property and just wait forever for them to sell, if they ever do. Here, you will be taken into custody immediately and stay in jail until your family pays the debt. Yesterday was day four of rent on the mixer, we will see.
I was comfortable in Playa Del Carmen, living in a nice condo waiting. Gloria called Ulysis and asked if everything was ready for my arrival and he said yes that it was. Upon my arrival, there was nothing ready. No water, sewer or electricity. I'm a pretty spartan guy. I've camped out a lot so roughing it with no bathroom or electricity is not new to me. He had not even started on the well which was paid for in advance. The first day and a half, I had to use the bathroom in the field. I finally got a bottle of water but the trailer was crammed full so it was outside. This meant that if I had to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I had to go outside and get a glass of water to flush the toilet.
Also, there was no shower. I cleaned with a cloth as well as I could. I'm not saying I stunk or anything, but on day five I walked around the back of the trailer. I heard a noise and turned to see a buzzard perched on my open septic tank. He looked at me, sniffed then puked. I took a step toward him and again he sniffed at me, puked, then passed out. On day six I rented a room just to shower. Our closest neighbor Joaquin and his sons Pedro and Enrique were a huge help to me working on the porch and bathroom. Pedro and one other man dug the well. They worked harder than any of the other workers and Pedro was sick.
When Gloria arrived, Joaquin, his wife Edith and their sons came by that evening after the workers left. A very animated conversation took place and tempers escalated. It had been days and Pedro still had not been paid by Ulysis for digging the well, money we had already paid him. His reason was he said he had to pay for Gloria's airline ticket which was a total crock of shit. As you have seen, Gloria is a very nice lady until you piss her off, she then makes Hitler, Vlad the Impaler and Attila the Hun look like schoolboys. She called Ulysis and told him to bring his receipts so we could make an accounting and see where we were.
Knowing her temper, I told her to interpret exactly what I said, in the same tone of voice... right. I started in on the no water and no shower for eight days. I was firm and obviously angry, but contained. I then told him he lied about everything being ready and he lied about paying for her airplane ticket. He denied it, saying Pedro “misinterpreted” what he said. I'm the one who doesn't speak good Spanish, Pedro was raised here. Obvious that he was lying, Gloria set in on him. She began screaming at him and calling him a liar and a thief in front of his workers. She promptly fired his ass and demanded the rest of our money. He left quickly but the next day sent his plumber with a very sad face telling us that he, not Ulysis was the one having to pay rent on the cement mixer and it was very expensive daily, he needed it back.. I told him that Ulysis was a f*cking liar and what kind of fools did he think we were to believe that BS? That the mixer would stay here until we received our money which he has obviously spent. I told him that if we did not get our money by 3:00 that we would file charges and win. I have the email of the utilities we needed that he lied about, Pedro would testify that he was not paid and the lie Ulysis told him and this new lie about who was paying for the cement mixer. That he would pay court costs, his lawyer, my lawyer, my money plus interest, the room I rented for a shower and the emotional pain and suffering that I went through living like an animal for eight days.
Mexico is not like America. There, if you are found guilty the judge levies a judgment against you but you cannot collect. You cannot make them pay, you can place a lien against their property and just wait forever for them to sell, if they ever do. Here, you will be taken into custody immediately and stay in jail until your family pays the debt. Yesterday was day four of rent on the mixer, we will see.
