Greetings everyone!
I thought I would be reporting that the last couple of days had been uneventful, but even though yesterday was less than spectacular, today made up for it.
First Sunday: While I'm sure I'll enjoy it a bit more when it means my day off,but as of now Sunday is downright boring. Again, almost nothing is open, at least, nothing of terrible interest. By 5 o'clock, I was starting to feel a little cabin fever, so I decided to go on a walk, and Theo joined me. We didn't quite feel like going all the way to La Defense, so we just strolled in the other direction.
It's interesting, a couple people have asked me, "Isn't Paris dirty?" before, and I'd never really been able to answer that. Now I realize it's because the first couple of times I'd been here, I'd been too enraptured by the buildings and everything around me to truly notice the sidewalks. But lemme tell you that I can now wholeheartedly agree: yes, parts of Paris really are dirty, especially the sidewalks. Maybe it's the lack of grass that makes it so obvious, (and maybe not because a few times now I've seen dogs poop and their owners just continue along) but there is dog crap everywhere. It's kinda atrocious and anyone who's ever lived in Seattle knows that not scooping would definitely be frowned upon. Guess the French are too cool for that..though apparently not cool enough to avoid stepping in it because that's exactly what happened to Theo on our walk ahaha.
After we got back, I got a reply from a landlord who I'd begun e-mail before I'd left Seattle after I'd asked her if the place was still available. The other apartment viewing I'd had planned for that day had fallen through, but then I set one up with this lady for the next day. Later, we had dinner and then Theo left for the week to stay with a friend who lived closer to their school.
Today: Woke up to an empty house as both Theo's parents had gone to work. I'd planned on having lunch with Nadya, who'd visited Seattle after Theo and PH this summer, but not until after seeing the apartment. I called the landlord, Alice, and she gave me the address and directions before I left. It was the 15 minute walk to La Defense's metro, and then about a half hour from there to Gare de Lyon, the nearest metro to the apartment, but it was on the same line, which meant no transfers. I got off at Gare de Lyon and was able to find the building 2 minutes later because I recognized the surroundings from pictures this morning (thank you Google Maps Street View!). I also really liked the area; not far from a main street, but tucked a few blocks behind on a quieter one.
I got into the building with the code I'd been give, but it really only lead to the inner courtyard with the mailboxes. At the door to the inside of the building were intercoms, which was a nice touch of added security. The landlord buzzed me in, and I hiked the 5 flights of stairs up to the top, sans elevator. Not gonna lie, not the most ideal situation but maybe it'll help me from getting fat off all of this cheese and bread.
I met Alice as she was coming out of one of the doors at the end of the corridor. She then led me to the door next door and told me that that was the apartment and that she just lived next door part-time. Eh, ok, whatever.
Then the grand tour! Well, maybe not so grand, as the studio apartment, as it can more accurately be called, is only 20 square meters. Pretty small, but livable. And it had pretty much everything I'd been looking for in a place. I wish I had pictures, but a descriptions will have to to do for the time being. While the sleeping/desk area and kitchen were really just one big room, the kitchen was tucked in a corner behind a half wall, where a curtain could be pulled across to hide it. It also had a small high window to let light in during the day, a shallow, but double sink, toaster, microwave, 2 hot plates, mini fridge, plates, pots, pans, and utensils. No oven but I hadn't been expecting one, so no big deal. The main room had a twin size bed, but was super comfy. One corner of the room was taken up by a large armoire with a long mirror attached to the front. Plenty of room for my clothes! :DD The main window looked out across a few rooftops and the street below, where I was told there is an outdoor market for most of the week. There was also a large desk, a couple chairs and an ethernet cord for internet. The bathroom was compact, but again, managable. The showers here are often raised about a foot or so off the floor and it doesn't seem very common to have a showerhead holder. I'll have to think about what to do about that...
After carefully going over the apartment together, I told Alice that I really liked the apartment and ask what I would need to secure it. She'd mentioned earlier that another girl had been planning on seeing it later that day, and I didn't want to let this one get away as she'd also mentioned that she was heading back to her mother's the next morning and was hoping to have it rented out by then. But even though she surprised me by asking me what I thought I should pay for the apartment (including everything like water, gas, electricity, internet etc) which basically let me name a price, the deposit was 2 month's rent. This seemed like a lot, but later when I talked to Theo's mom about it (who's rented out an apartment of theirs before) said that nowadays, it's becoming more and more common. So that was the only iffy part, but I think sometimes you just gotta take a leap of faith and hope she doesn't keep the whole thing if I break a glass or something. Though she did tell me I could move in as soon as I wanted to and only charge me half month's rent as I was moving in halfway through September. As the deposit isn't something she needs right away, that could wait until she got back at the end of the month to collect that as well. Hallelujah! Because I only had enough for a little over half month's what with the terrible exchange rate. So I went back just a few hours later to give her the cash (as I don't have checks here yet). The ATM only let me withdraw 350 in euros as my daily limit, but I was so lucky she accepted even that for now.
But anyways, I signed the contract, provided some emergency information, got a copy of her ID and last utilities bill, and the keys!! So I'm free to move in in the morning, super excited!! :)) I'll take a few pictures tomorrow and get them posted asap.
Now the flip side of today: After my first visit to the apartment, I was supposed to meet Nadya but not only was I help a little with Alice, but then I got so completely turned around after I thought I knew where I was going! It was pretty bad and what's so, so worse, is that I couldn't even call Nadya because I don't have a cell phone yet. About an hour after I was supposed to meet her, I was able to but a calling card (because public phones don't take coins) and call her to apologize profusely. She said it was fine but that she'd had to go back home. So definitely not the best part.
But still, my apartment!! So happy :) Better sleep now though, gotta move in the morning!
Much love!
Rachael
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