Johi is a self-proclaimed egotista. Her home is filled with color and her creations. Her family is warm and welcoming. This has been the best Airbnb experience I have had, and it was difficult to leave and return home. I promised Johi a review with a lot of drama and plot twists, so here it is…
The great mystery: There was a mysterious pot smell, but we could not locate where it is coming from. I smelled it first. She acted like I had lost my mind and imagined it. Then a few days later, she smelled it. She asked her youngest son, who then acted like she lost her mind and imagined it. Then a few days later, he smelled it as well. Her older son did not smell it and did not think the essence was real. Was it the power of suggestion or a fantasma? We hypothesized it was the other Airbnb guest, but the other guest informed us that marijuana makes them anxious. I thought it must be Johi’s mother, who is a very devout, strict, clean-living woman, as it makes for a better story than a pot ghost. Unfortunately, it was nothing so dramatic.
Mystery solved: Turns out it was just the water in a vase of fresh flowers.
Language: If I spoke to her in English, she will say “no intiendo” and laugh. Even though her English comprehension is excellent and speaks well. I understand Spanish, but I don’t speak it well, and she took to playfully razzing me about it. She would force me to untie my tongue and have words drip in misshapen forms onto her floor.
Fortunately, she did not charge me a cleaning fee for my word sludge I have left around the house.
She kept me up late at night watching movies and discussing art, culture, and life. She said she was going to secuesterar me because she “liked my company” and that she would request a large sum from my husband that he was unable to pay, so I would have no reason to leave.
Return: She allowed me to return home, but I do have creative/cultural/intellectual Stockholm Syndrome now and am ready to return back to CDMX and her home.
Her dog wanted to eat me because I am a vegan and I swear I heard him say “que delciousa” when he ran past me out the door. (Actually, he just has a lot to say to every guest but is not aggressive).
The street her house is on is very quiet, except for the shrill sound of the comoté man which is as haunting as it is a Pavlovian signal of deliciousness.
Overall: A warm and welcoming home with a great family, centrally located, and easy public transportation access.