My Parisian flat

I'm finally moved in!! Still no internet (that actually won't be installed for a few weeks), but have found another wireless network to hop onto.

As I type this, I'm waiting for the owner's husband to come by, unfortunately there are a few problems! Turns out when the water is turned on to the toilet, it leaks from the bottom of the toilet seat, but only at night. Also, neither the oven nor the washing machine work, even though the little light turns on, which is supposed to indicate that it works. It could be that the dishwasher (which is in between the oven and clothes washer) doesn't work either, but as I've never used one before I'm not about to start now. What is strange is that the stove top does work.

Hopefully he'll be by soon, they don't actually live in Paris, I'm not sure how far their town is. He did say he was coming by today, but not what time.

Other than that, I love the place. The pictures are from before moving my stuff in, currently it is a complete mess, though everything is unpacked from the boxes (the movers did that, along with me), it's all lying around or arranged haphazardly.

When you first enter, there's a long hallway. There's bookshelves lining the hallway that came with the place, which is good, because there's no closets! So I also use them to store linens, towels, sports equipment, etc. The kitchen is off to the left when you enter, and though you can't tell from the pic, there is more space in the back of the kitchen off to the right, where thankfully my dinette table just fits! Then the WC (toilet) is just past the kitchen, then near the end of the hallway is the bedroom, and the bathroom (tub/shower and sink) is off of that. The bedroom also includes an armoire (to make up for no closets). There's still not enough hanging space, so I'll probably by a cheapo armoire from Ikea for a bit more hanging space and put it in the hallway by the entrance.

The end of the hallway has room for my desk and filing cabinet, a little mini office. It's good it worked out that way, because there was no other room for it.

The hallway veers to the left, then there's the living room. You can open the French windows and step on to a little terrace! While the bedroom looks onto the courtyard and is very quiet, the living room faces the street. And actually there is an elevated metro line that runs along the street. While I know this would bother a lot of people and would make them not consider the apartment, it doesn't bother me at all. I think I'm used to it already. And if you're ever staying with me and don't want the noise, you can have the bedroom, and i'll take the sofabed (though metro doesn't run all night)!

Ok owner's husband, please come soon so I can cook, do some laundry, and not worry about the leaky toilet...

Allright, I saved the above as a draft b/c blogger wasn't posting my pics, and it's now the evening. Though the husband didn't come by, one of the building maintenance guys did. The toilet does need to be replaced, it the meantime i just have to shut it's water off at night or when out during the day. The oven apparently you have to turn the timer all the way to 120 minutes to get the over to turn on. ?! ok, whatever. And the washer, um, the water supply to that was shut off, a twist to one of the valves under the sink did the trick. Um, excuse me, the washing machines i've used were always in community laundry rooms, i never had to ponder the mystery of where the water came from. It was just there. :)

I am still just wandering around my apt in awe of how much i love it. Since i was a kid i've alwasy been fascinated by old houses and buildings. I'll take my mouldings and heavy wooden front door, and fireplaces, and doorknobs with the original iron keys in them, and French windows, and yes, creaky wooden floors and loud plumbing and weak radiators over a sleek modern place anyday. Well, maybe next winter when all 5 radiators are turned to the max and i'm still cold i'll be singing a different tune... :)