Jul 27 2018

AirBnB

So far, the experience in New York has been good, in comparison to the logging we’ve had around the world … dealing with cancelations, and terrible situation such as the one below.


A terrible host …

Benefit Street
Providence, RI

This is an AirBnB home in Providence, Rhode Island. The stay was a disaster from the beginning, at check-in. The messy floor greeted us as soon as we opened the house door, then the door to the apartment was deadlocked… we simply couldn’t open.

Here’s the pros and cons:

Pros: convenient, has an a/c (noisy tho)

Cons:

1. WRONG INFORMATION that resutling a parking ticket. The host site stated “it’s pretty easy finding free street parking just outside this house.” And assured me repeatedly in our private communications – I’ve been to her area before, therefore I asked about parking. (Now her site doesn’t mention parking anymore …)  The street sign says 3 hrs parking 8 am to 6 pm. After the ticket, I dig a little, to find that the city has a rule -> http://www.providenceri.gov/public-works/overnight-parking/  that overnight on-street parking is not allowed, unless you buy a permit. Those kind of information I really do rely on the hosts. When they say parking is easy and free, it relaxes me totally. Never would I think otherwise.

2. Can’t open the door at check in: Finding the key to the house is like Escape Room – it’d fine but not fun in the rain. With 1st set of key, we opened the front red door to the house, to a floor FULL of mails, I almost tripped. Found the 2nd set of the key to the apartment but couldn’t open the door. I’ve been communicating with the host thought out the day since I knew she works and has guests were checking out late. When I called, both calls went straight to her voice mail. We left the apartment in a down pour. The host explained that she’s on the work phone (and the previous guest had deadlocked the door … ) so couldn’t answer my call. … Well, the AirBnB isn’t a charity either, correct? (AirBnB wasn’t much of a help. 20 minutes passed before someone answered it. AND I’ve to verify my phone. WHAT’s that for???)

3. Dangerous chimney: a neighbor who’s an architect, asked me if I live there, and pointed out the bluestone is broken. “It’s dangerous…” he said.

4. Can’t close the front red door: no matter how hard we pushed.

The room has no closet nor hangers. I asked for hangers, there’s no response.

     

What’s my recourse when the host provides wrong information that resulting a parking ticket? The city has overnight parking rule yet the host wrote in her intro and repeatedly assured me that street parking is easy.

After no respose from AirBnB for 3 days in private message, I posted on their facebook page and got a reply immediately, directing me to their www.airbnb.com/resolutions.

The support (in private I guess) ignnored me for 3 days. Why does it have to be this way, air publically to get help??


Jul 27 2018

Brown University


Providence, RI 02912

Speak to the past and it shall teach thee

Next to RISD, the campus is pretty and quiet – Harvard is pretty too but way toooo many tourists, making it far less desirable. Libraries of John Brown, Rockefeller & John Hay

    

 


Jul 26 2018

Providence at night

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Jul 26 2018

Red Fin


Jul 26 2018

John Brown house


Jul 27 2017

New England 新英格兰

Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut.

Massachusetts

State of Rhode Island 罗德岛 and Providence Plantations, Providence is the state capital.


Jun 24 2016

A mast and costume shop

At the corner of Union Street and Westminster St (door is on Westminster) in Providence is this cute shop, by an equally colorful shop owner/staff, who protests that a still photo is too boring.

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Jun 24 2016

Providence River

In Providence,  RI.

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Jun 24 2016

Giovanni Da Verrazzano

IMG_2717There is a stone, dedicated to the navigator from Italy:

Who in 1524 crossed the perilous northern ocean first to behold the coast of the future United States cast anchor in this bay explore its islands, one of which because of its shape. He christened Rhodes name later extended to the entire state of Rhode Island. Donated by Carrara, the marble city. And by Greve in Chianti where Verrazzano was born. In pledge of ever growing friendship between the American and the Italian peopels.


Jun 24 2016

Memorial Park @ Providence, RI

The park is on the Providence River. The obelisk base has a few quotations; the black status is In tribute to Rhode Island Korean War veterans, even Korean War barely register with the general populace.

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