Friday 25 July 2008

Homeless? Maybe not.

We have still no word on the Garbatella apartment. Since giving the owner the ultimatum 'take it or leave it' he seems to have decided to leave it.

Hmm...it makes you realise just how much money some of these people have. I mean - this owners 3 bedroom Garbatella apartment has been empty for months on end! He has been making no income off it, and has instead been paying condominium fees and god know what else while it sits there rotting away (ok so I am being a little melodramatic here...)

Along comes a well know and respected international company who is offering to pay him a lot of money to have a contract for 3 years and all he can say is...well all he can do is disappear off the radar. Incredible. This guy must seriously be rolling in cash if he can turn his back on us. Good luck finding someone else to pay that rent is all I can say!

So - soon to be homeless Leanne and bel ragazzo have been hitting the streets to find somewhere else to live.

We saw a 2 bedroom flat in San Giovanni yesterday.



Location wise you cannot beat San Giovanni. It is within the city walls, has many forms of public transport and is only a 10 minute walk from the Colosseum. (Ha! I would never have to take the vile metro B again!) It has a little private courtyard cement area too which is a bonus. The downside is the price (it's expensive) and nothing flash on the inside...no air conditioning, a teeny fridge (that didn't seem to close very well) no freezer and although it is large, it feels small.

I also saw another 2 bedroom flat in Ostiense, which is near Piramide staion, just outside of the city walls.



The house itself felt much more spacious then the other flat. There was air conditioning which is a plus and already connected wireless internet and phone so we would not have to argue with Telecom. The down side is the area which is vile. It is the horrible part of Ostiense (for those familiar with Rome it is under the bridge on Via Ostiense and then a good 10 minute walk from there.) I feel a little dirty there and would be scared walking home by myself at night as there are a lot of drunks hanging around, and the house is located in a residential area so there are no bars of restaurants you could run into if you needed help.

So who knows...who knows...we sadly cannot be fussy as we have to leave ASAP. I am hoping we can move to San Giovanni as I quite like the thought of living inside the city walls for a change :)

9 comments:

LuLu said...

I don't understand how anyone would turn down a 3 year contract. This guy wouldn't have to worry about finding new tenants or any roll over whatsoever...he really is a bit pazzo!! And I'm almost positive that the carrying costs on something like that isn't exactly cheap either.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that you find something you like and soon!!

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

Hi Lulu,
I think he really must be pazzo... I really have been trying to understand the situation but cannot think of why someone would behave in such a way.
Chi lo sa....chi lo sa....

Anonymous said...

i wish you much luck finding the perfect place! looking forward to reading about it!

just think that in the end....everything always works out!

Monika said...

Hi Leanne!
Nice to meet you through the blog too!

I feel your pain with trying to find an apartment. (I have a blog on it too called 'our own casa' if you have time). We found a really great place but saw some shocking places along the way that if they were in Australia would probably be condemned (and they were very expensive with river views)

I'm looking forward to hearing more of your Rome adventures on here :)
Your Aussie connection, Monika
ps I'm a Perth gal, although I did live in Melbourne and Sydney when we first emigrated to Australia from Poland many moons ago.

Romerican said...

San Giovanni is a fantastic area. Everything you could possibly need is right there. I agree with you on the Ostienses location- not a place I'd want to be walking around alone in at night.

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

Hi Romerican,
You are right - San Giovanni is a great location and I really like that little electric bus too!
Ostiense on the other hand...well if I have to live there I will run all the way home.

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

Hi Eryn,
I am not even hoping for a perfect place - just any place would do for now!

Hi Monika,
I'll have to go and check out your house dramas right away. I haven't back tracked much on your blog yet as I was lucky to find it only yesterday!

'A Tuscan view.....from Umbria' said...

Sending you lots of positive vibes for finding a new home. Some of the dodgiest places I've lived turned out to be the best in the end.

Leanne was in Italy now in Australia said...

Hi Amanda,
Thanks for the positive vibes! Hopefully tomorrow we will know something.