Splish splash, I was takin' a bath....

 Sooooo...we moved.  And, as far as we could tell, there was only one "working" bathroom.  We originally saw this place on a chilly, rainy day and since no one had lived here for about a year, there was no water, no electricity..nothing.  We were "shown" the bathroom, conveniently across from the bedroom...and it looked "normal" albeit with a bathtub that was somewhat small, but this is Europe.  These things happen.  And we didn't have a flashlight.

Sooooo, turns out, after we moved in, we discovered that said "bathtub" had TWO levels.  An upper level that would have been fine as a seat.....IF it had even been remotely possible to STAND in the lower level.  BUT the lower level is cupped, like a fucking tulip.  Seriously.  Who?  How?  What????

Sooooo, the era of sponge baths ensued.  

Finally, we were able to have a guy come over who owns a contracting company.  Young guy, very nice, personable.  And he speaks English as well as Italian.  Turns out he lived in the US for some years!! His father moved the family there from South America. 

After discussing, it was decided that the SECOND bathroom in the back would be better suited to an immediately working shower.  First a large and heavy (and ugly) dry sink had to be removed (and is still sitting in the back) but that provided the water source.  On the other side there is a toilet and bidet and the bidet could have been removed, but this is another room with a curved ceiling, so a shower would be impossible.  

They took out the sink, put in the shower, fixed up the wall and we also replaced the double door to a small balcony, so there are no drafts, leaks or bugs.  

The work has stopped next door, there is no one there.  I love taking a shower midday, when the sun is shining in.  It almost feels like a spa.  Those doors, even when shut, will tilt in on the right, just enough to get a breeze, some fresh air.  

Yes, we have a curtain, and when it starts getting dark, or if and when someone is ever next door, of course, it will be closed, for the most part.  But right now I am loving this feeling of being bathed in sunshine with all the greenery outside while showering.  It reminds me of the years that I would take my daughter to the water park in Michigan.  We could rent a tube for the day, there was an area to sit under umbrella and have lunch or a snack.  There was a wave pool and a water slide.  She loved it, I loved it.  

Eventually we will remove the bidet and put in a sink, hang a mirror and voila!  

Eventually we will rehab the stupid bilevel tub.  Eventually......  hopefully within a year.  Eventually every room, other than the bedroom which is done, needs to be painted.  But, hallelujah, I am clean.  Yippee!!

Tell someone to meet me, I'm coming home

The cats were freaked out by moving.  We had to bring them in shifts.  And none of us were familiar with the terrain, as it were.  

Scruffy was one of the most severely traumatized.  He disappeared for about a week, even though they were confined to one room, said room had once been a kitchen and he found a way to wiggle into the cabinet below the sink.  I was beside myself because if he wouldn't come out, clearly he wasn't eating or getting his asthma medication.  AGGHH!!

Notte wasn't too happy either.

The BIG surprise was Calzini.  Calzini, the one we weren't going to adopt, but he made himself so at home after he was neutered we decided he would stay.  Nevertheless, Zini was somewhat standoffish.  He never made a sound and you could not touch him. 

Gradually, over the course of some time, he allowed himself to be pet.  He snuggled with his buddies in their usual spots.  Eventually, he started asking for attention.  "Hey!  I'd like a scratch, please!!"  And after sweet, lopey Lupo came along, he really came out of his shell.  They were play buddies.  And Lupo is VERY affectionate and vocal.  Zini learned.

So, by the time we moved, Zini would sit on the arms of chairs or the sofa and allow himself the attention.  But what surprised me was, after the move, HE was the great explorer.  Once we were settled in and the cats were given the run of the place, it was Zini who looked in every room, every nook, every corner.  He jumped in the windows!  "Whats goin on out there?"  

Now he talks regularly, DEMANDS affection...by either shoving his face into yours or patting you with his paws.  He still hasn't ventured into a lap, but he comes close.  He might put one or both front paws down in your lap.

I don't know, but I think the light bulb went on in his little head....and he realized he was not going to be abandoned in the street again, that he was "home" and home was with us and his companions.