Internet - finally, and painters

OK, guys and dolls, I am now connected to civilization at home - the internet and the telephone have been installed. As usual there's a story to tell. Whenever you think that things can't get any stranger/funnier/more irritating they actually do... So, here briefly are the highlights of the last few days (yup, it took quite a while to install).

After changing the appointment time three times in the same day two very young guys of the Max and Morris type arrived - one with tattoos up both his arm and the other with his pants falling off. They started working and said that since I don't have the usb for wireless at home (which they didn't tell me I would need, I thought they would bring it with them, there was an old apparatus of the company in the apartment for the wireless that couldn't be used) - they announced they would check their laptop to see if the line is working. I said no way and promptly connected my computer close to the fixed connection. Then they said I needed a username and password to access. I said, which username and password, no one sent anything. I asked them to call their office and get it, no they can't. this is secret information and they can't ask for it. We started arguing but nothing helped. There was no way I was getting the precious username or password. So they left. One minute after they left the connection promptly went - both computer and telephone were not working. I called the service got disconnected once tried again - the answer is - the phone will work tomorrow, for the internet I need the username and password. My explanations that it seems that something else is wrong didn't fall on receptive Italian ears (imagine that during the whole time, I'm talking in Italian, added fun...). So with this I went back to the office and to a lovely recital given by an American opera singer (her name escapes me) organized by KKL. Got back late and looked at my silent computer and felt very frustrated.

The next day, came the painters. Ah, what do they have to do with the internet? They don't, they are taking care of my balcony. There was a leak in my balcony and it made the ceiling look not very lovely. I told the owner of the apartment to fix it so he said the fixers will come... The first time they came they spent the whole Sat. fixing the ceiling. When I say whole I mean whole - from 8 till 4 in the afternoon. When they finished the first time, I asked what's left to do, they said - just to paint. How long would you imagine it takes to paint a ceiling of a not very large balcony? two hours if you're not a professional is my guess. So when on the day before I was told they were coming to work I figured two hours max and they're finished. But like in the eternal stand up of the gashashim and their take on painters, life isn't that simple. They get here yesterday, I ask them (just to make sure, you know) how long will it take. They look at me and say, all day, and all of tomorrow. I said to them, you're out of your mind, why so long, they say, it needs to be insulated and then painted. and this takes two days to do?, yup, they said. So, when you're lost, you're lost. Called the owner of the apartment told him they're crazy and settled down to watch the guy spend the whole day working on my ceiling. Funny, this all took place while it was nice and wet because it's been raining here pretty badly. I was told that insulation needs to be done when it's dry... We'll see.

Anyway, in the meantime, since the phone didn't start working miraculously as promised and the internet was still dead I called the cable company again during my stay at home. This time I used the strategy learnt from hard experience in Hungary. My first sentence when the phone was answered on the other side was - is there anyone there who speaks English? This is usually a good strategy since those who speak another language tend to be smarter and more, how shall I say, more aware and helpful. I got this guy on the phone that pretty quickly realized that something wasn't right. He promised to have it fixed in 24 hours and he said he would also send a complaint regarding Max and Morris. I must say i wasn't terribly optimistic but he did sound kind of forceful and that he actually knew what he was doing. He was also very easy with my username and password, seems it's not a state secret after all. This company, although, once you're installed gives you good service is nutorious for it's bad customer relations. In the meantime, Michela was doing her thing at the office - you see, as you can probably guess, we know the CEO of this company as well. After trying the regular way, we went to his assistant.

To go back to my painters - they finished their job "early" and by two thirty had left (not clear when they're coming back for more, we'll see). Since I've got guests (my first, and the weather is absolutely horrible), I rushed to the supermarket to buy some things for them. while there, at three i get a call from the cable company saying that in 20 min. techinicians are coming to check things. I rushed back home not believing my good luck. A nice Albanian guy was waiting for me (how do I know he's Albanian? he had a strange "r" in Italian so I asked him and he said he's from Albania). He was much nicer than Max and Morris. He checked and found that like I said (by the way, in our computer unit in Jerusalem they learnt the hard way that when I say something's not right, it usually isn't, but these guys don't know me yet, hopefully we won't have close contact and they won't have to learn....) there was a faulty cable that wasn't connected properly. Once it was connected - no need for my username and password, it actually started working on its own. Oh, what joy!

Two minutes after they left I got another phone call from the cable company saying that they received a call from Michela and are checking in.... I informed them that they can relax, things have been fixed and we are now in business. We also have a special person to talk to in the company if I've got any problems of any kind.

If this all sounds vaguely familiar this is because what happened here is exactly what happened in the bank when I arrived. Until you use your contacts and get very angry things don't move... Totally unnecessary in my mind, but there you have it.

Got to run. I'll send my numbers, etc. in a mail, you're welcome to call, write, and so on.

Adventures on the way from Florence, buying cars, museums

Haven't written for a while. Got a lot of things happening. No time to write. But the good news is that barring "force major" on the 20th of Nov. I will be connected at home to the internet (halleluya!!)and will be able to write more and talk to you through messenger, skype or whatever.

In the meantime, some of the recent excitements - First, looks like I just bought a black diesel, shift, Toyota Yaris. Why black? that's the color they had available, why diesel? I'm told it's much more economical (and with oil costing 100$ a barrel this is definitely a consideration....). shift? it seems Italians are not into automatic cars, why? according to them only the handicapped drive automatic and if I want to sell the car here later, looks like I'll have to live with this (not the end of the world for me). Why Toyota? I'm told it's a good, reliable car. We'll see. If all goes as planned I'll have the car on Dec. 5th. and then I can start crisscrossing Europe. In the meantime, I'm using the public transportation, which isn't too bad, some of the time.... Which brings me to my next story:

I went to visit my friends Petra and Renato in their village near Florence last weekend (Petra studied Italian with me in Florence eleven years ago). They live in this lovely place right over a pretty Tuscan valley with a magnificant view. We travelled around, went to a small artists' village, talked to a gold jeweller, enjoyed autumn in Tuscany (beautiful, if you're wondering). Had a great time there (great food and great company). Getting there was fine. Took the Eurostar, sat comfortably, got there on time. On the way back, as it was a holiday weekend all the trains were packed. The one I was supposed to take was coming from the South of Italy (which it seems is nutorious for late trains...). I was told it would be three and a half (!) hours late. I found out there would be an earlier train that didn't require having a reserved seat. This means that the train was PACKED with people. I stood for two and a half hours in a narrow corrider with two Chinese girls squashed against me. A unique experience. On top of this, took the scenic route back to Milan - visited every city on the way.... It took me 8 hours to get back from Florence to Milan (normally it should take about 3 hours). The moral of this part of the story? Travel only with Euro Star or make sure you've got a reservation on a train not coming from the South.... or don't go on a holiday weekend (although I'm very glad I went, haven't seen Petra in 7 years and we probably won't meet again till the spring so...).

On the recommendation of my brother I went to see a David Lynch exhibition here in Milan. Tres Bizarre!! is what I can say after seeing it. I knew I was probably not in the right place for me when I saw the young punky types who came to see the exhibition. Strange music, pictures, and exhibits. Too strange for me, unfortunately.

A place I liked more is the Museum Poldi-Pezzoli. Here is what one web site had to say of this place:

Museo Poldi-Pezzoli - Via Manzoni 12, Milan, ItalySituated in north-east Milan, the Museo Poldi-Pezzoli is a private museum that was established by Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli and opened to the public in 1881. The building itself is a good example of a late 19th-century aristocratic residence in Milan and both the exterior and interior are well preserved. Inside the museum are many exhibits, including Pezzoli's fine collection of sculptures, paintings - many by notable artists, watches, jewellery, glass, textiles, ancient armour and much more.

I like these kinds of places because I like private collections - you see things that someone collected because he/she liked these things - be it pictures, statues, etc. and you can see their preferences, even if it's just that they liked bright colors or something. It's more personal. The Frick Collection in NY is like this as is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

What else? Next week I'll be in Dusseldorf to attend Medica - an exhibition of medical equipment and appliances. We will be promoting Israeli companies and helping them meet relevant Italian companies.

As always, I'd love to hear from you. Do write. Have a great weekend.