LIVING
LIVING LIVING
MAY 2009
IN PURSUIT OF URBAN ACCOMODATION
I learnt the Greek word for
sanitary towel quite by accident. I neither needed nor wanted to
know the Greek definition but I received it nevertheless like a
bullet, which dispersed a wave of tingling humiliation
throughout every cell of my body. The word was screamed at me
from a balcony by a man, whose bite was worse than his bark,
clutching a hairy terrier, sporting a red satin ribbon whose
bark was worse than her bite. I won’t write what was yelled to
my husband or to the kindly agent who’d worked hard to find us a
property, an apartment in a desirable area of Piraeus, a bargain
with a rural view and close to the sea. Extremely interested, we
asked our potential neighbor whether his little dog barked just
a little or all day, an important question we thought, as our
children would be studying for many hours in the evenings. We
never learnt the answer but we all quickly left the building to
escape his furious fists and were glad at least that we had
learnt much about the man who could have been our neighbor! It
was this moment that persuaded us not to buy but to rent until
we knew more about the area we were to live in!
Searching for rentals was also
an interesting experience. We spent many hours in the scorching
heat of July looking for the ideal property to suit our need for
temporary urban living within easy reach of the port. Having
exhausted all of the agents’ repertoires, we decided to try
independent searching by responding to adverts tacked onto tired
fruit trees.
One memorable visit was to an
apartment which was one of many owned by a short, ball-like man
who resembled Danny De Vito. He parked his brand new Mercedes
outside the property and proceeded to shout into his mobile to a
locksmith whose services he needed to smash off the door-lock,
as the key was lost. His silk shirt clung to his belly and his
gold medallions sparkled in his mane of chest hair and each time
he strode past us, the air filled with a waft of sickly sweet
cologne.
My son and I sat squat in the
shade and amused ourselves by assigning famous characters to
passing look-alikes, hence Danny de- Vito was assigned to our
puffed up owner of many glitzy properties. When he took a moment
to alleviate his lungs of nicotine assault, we took the
opportunity to enquire about his occupation. He informed us that
he worked for Customs and Excise!
Our son was easily impressed
by the newish shine of the apartment block but I was alert to
the superficiality of glare and when I saw the floor tiles which
were cream and shiny with a water-mark pattern in grey and flesh
pink, I could only think of histology slides and cross-sections
of diseased human tissue.
George wanted safety and
proximity to the port. I wanted cleanliness and some sort of
spiritual kinship with a property. Our children wanted flash and
gadgets. Being responsible parents (we told our children), we
returned to the first block we had initially visited. ….An older
property, it smelt of lavender and bees wax and was as sterile
as an operating theatre. Like a favoured grandparent, it
possessed an air of solid security, of wisdom and calm.
We took it, glad to have made
the decision and grateful at last to have finished our gruelling
journey in the heat.
TIPS:
If you are looking to rent
accommodation on the mainland, the best time to look is
during July and early August; this is when most students are on
holiday and there is less competition for better properties.
Estate agents are good at
finding rentals and will help with general liaison and paperwork.
Other ways of finding rentals
are by looking at newspapers with property supplements and
reading the bright yellow adverts seen on lamp-posts and trees
but be prepared to spend time phoning to make appointments.
Take a notebook with you as
well as a street map and write key points about each property so
that you remember likes and dislikes. Remember too to note down
the addresses and contact telephone numbers.
Be prepared to get tired.
Viewing properties is exhausting, therefore start viewing early
in the day, and carry supplies of water and packs of sweets to
maintain energy levels.
Alison
Lorentzos
copyright 2009
