Friday, February 29, 2008

Nouvel appartement!

We did it.  We finaly moved into our new Parisian apartment.  Six long months have passed living out of suitcases and confined spaces, temporary places.  I don't like to dwell on a fondness for material possesions.  In fact, living with less and in a reality where one doesn't own more than what can be shipped out within an hour is liberating.  So what I experienced when I opened all those boxes we lugged with us from San Francisco was akin to an emotional reunion with dear old friends.  I was so irrationally happy to see everything.  I danced around with my yoga mat, dusted off my art supplies , and chatted up the books. 


As you might recall we had quite a large apartment in San Francisco.  We have half that in Paris, but it's airy and light.  Our new digs are in the 7th arrondisement close to La Seine and La Tour d'Eiffel.  Bernard had to warm up to the idea of living in this part of town, something to do with communist and proletariat relatives rolling in their graves.  I won't deny it, the neighbourhood is definitely more chic than where we were (Monmartre by métro Barbés).  Perhaps one can make the comparison to living in Pac Heights, or the neighbourhoods by Wellington Crescent in Winnipeg.  At any rate, the 7th is full of embassies and government institutions.  It's also full of  fromagers, boulangeries, primeurs, volaillers and charcutiers!  (And cavistes, we can't forget them.)  So, it can't be all that bad...


We will be glad to leave all the stress of starting up in Paris and ready to dive into turning our new place into a cosy nest, for at least the next 3 years, according to the terms of our lease...

One big project will be turning the odd little space that is the kitchen into a real cooking environment.  Currently we have a bar fridge, a laughably tiny sink, and 2 heat elements from hell.  I would NEVER dream of preparing anything more than boiled water as we are kitted out now.  Once I get a job we can at least install an oven.  oooohh, oven...


I suspect we will be able to put out the welcome mat by May.  Croises les doigts! 


(Yes, the Tour d'Eiffel really is only 5 minutes away, and in fact you can see the top from the apartment itself.  So strange)


We'll keep a bottle of champagne chilled in the bar sized fridge for when you plan to drop by.

2 comments:

El Presidente said...

Baby, that's an invitation that is almost impossible to resist!

So happy that you guys have finally been able to "settle down" somewhat. Its always glorious to be able to call someplace home, even if it is temporary. Aren't all homes temporary though?

Its becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the idea of visiting France. With my cousin building a new house (and having a child) out in Thionville and your new digs in beautiful Paris I'm thinking ahead to the days when we can abandon our children for a few weeks (Hello Grandparents!) and jet away to the Continent. Ahhhhh....dreams!

Amanda said...

If I am coming this year, it'll be around June 1st...plenty of time to get your oven and master boiled water!

: )