Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Une Bonne Addresse

September 13, 2007... He met me at the airport and we took a bus into the city, then a taxi to the apartment. He had been looking for two months, which is not unusual, housing being in such short supply. We were simply lucky to get into one the very day I arrived from California.

We drove along the Seine excited about our new neighborhood/quartier, passing the Louvre before turning onto our street.


We are surrounded by one-way streets and I am happier than ever that I don't have to drive here. In fact, we are so central that I rarely even need to take the Metro...

The street/rue is very short, but the name is very long...
Rue des Lavandieres Sainte Opportune. According to Balade Historique Dans les Rues de Paris, the name Rue des Lavandieres Sainte Opportune dates back to 1244 and is due to the laundresses of the street named "Sainte Opportune" after the neighborhood convent.

This is Sainte Opportune...





...getting shit on.












And this is our building. We live on the top floor with no elevator. On most days, I don't mind the exercise, but the four flights of stairs were a challenge with two well-stuffed suitcases after fifteen hours of travel .

We couldn't have the keys until the rental agency received a fax showing proof of insurance. (The "charm" of the old building is all the reason you need.) So he made insurance arrangements on his cell phone while the agent counted the dishes and linens and noted the condition of the walls and floors and furniture.

I kept thinking, I could have decorated it myself...









...all white and wood with accents in chocolate brown and sage. It makes for good rentals! I promise better pictures once we've settled in... maybe a before and after!

This picture was taken just the other night from the window over our sofa... cold and clear. Most of our windows face south and let in lots of light, which will be most welcome this winter.

That's the Conciergerie across the river... I wonder where they kept Marie Antoinette... guess I'll have to take that tour. You can also see the rooftop and spire of Sainte Chapelle. Our bathroom window faces east and lets in all the pink and orange morning sun. Once the leaves all fall from the trees, I'll take a picture of it... the Hotel de Ville and the Tour St Jacques.

Somebody, pinch me!

8 comments:

Shaun said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shaun said...

Suzanne ~ What a lovely first entry for your exciting new blog. I'm so glad you decided to create one afterall. It will be lovely to catch your musings both in written and photographed forms. The last photo - the evening view - is beautiful, so beautiful. Love to you, M. and the pup.

Brooke said...

I love this! I know you've been talking about creating a blog for quite some time now, and it's so wonderful to see the finished product! I love reading about all the beautiful pictures you have posted - makes me feel like I'm in a fantasy, even if just for a moment. I completely understand why it is that you're so happy there, not that I didn't before. You're living your dream! I can't wait to see you and Mohamed and meet Little Mr. Filou. I love you!

Ryan said...

Oh my dear sweet Suzanne
I have so much pride in you for your courage to live your dream and allow yourself to be as creative as only your imagination can take you.
I will wait with great anticipation to all the wonderful things you will share with all of us on this adventure you have taken.
Al and I are very excited to see you and Mohammed in the spring

All my love
your poodle
Ryan

Joe and Rose said...

Aloha Suzanne:
We love the pictures and your comments. The view from the sofa is encroyable!
Please keep the pictures coming they help convey the sense of place.
We would love to see you when we pass through in April... that will be a little tricky because of the timing, but If we all try I think we can do it.
Thanks for the blog... Now we can all live in Paris vicariously... That is a real gift.
Be well and Be happy.
Love
Your Uncle Joe and Aunt Rose

Diana said...

Wowser! Mohammed gets a big "thumbs up" for finding that cool place in such a wonderful part of Paris - you must just be walking on air... I'd be applying for a life pass to the Louvre if I lived there, since you'd need a lifetime to get through even a fraction of its collection, the Da Vinci Code notwithstanding.

Diane tells me you got a dog and I'm just here to demand photos. Beauregard, the world's most expensive Cocker Spaniel, wants to see!

A bientot,
Diana

jackbox said...

"Suzanne take you down to her place near the river..." now I have more than one reason to associate that song with you!

What a dream... and to live it, too. I would love to hear a "day-in-the-life" story once you establish your routine.

Avoir... bonne weekend!
dvd

merryl said...

Hi! Hope you ALL arrived safely and are bundled up together in the apartment.

How did they do? Especially Buddy, of course. (I'm sure Sophia was fine).

The house is so quiet without all of you. Post photos!