So after a day (9 AM - 6 PM) of pounding, hammering, and chipping away to level the cement bed in which the original tiles had been set, they laid a few of the new tiles before leaving yesterday. And they look grand!
The workers will be back this morning to commence serious tile work and we should be in possession of our kitchen before the end of the day -- depending on how much time will be required before the tiles are set up.
We were able to use the new sink for dinner dishes after that section was replaced - all in the same day! But we're ready to acquiesce to a longer follow-up period for all the counters.
This morning wasn't a great deal of fun as the kitchen was unusable. We made coffee (as well as preparing the dogs' breakfast) in the 3/4 downstairs bathroom - in shifts. First the coffee grinder; then the coffee maker; and finally the cups/cream/sugar. It worked, but I'd rather not deal with it again!
Here are some pictures of the same corner of the kitchen. With blue tile; tile removed (photo shot through the door into the dining area, which is glassed, so there's a bit of reflection); and the finished work.
Before
During (note space where stove was in Before picture)
and
After --- Ta-Dah!!!
It is now Wednesday and we have all the bits and pieces of the kitchen back in place, so the counter isn't as pristine as it appears in this photo. (We also have the office put back together, the outside wall having been touched-up, so we're not tripping over things.) Now to find a recirculating exhaust hood that will fit the opening above the estufa. We'll eventually get things sorted.
