Où devrais-j'habite?
Arrondissements, Regions, and Pretty Little Streets
Even though I really can’t book or reserve an apartment in Paris until next year, I’m filling my days hunting, dreaming, and of course worrying. Mainly I want to be in a part of town close to shops and cafes but also safe and not too much traffic or gobs of people. I noticed near any of the main attractions the absolute cattle call of humans shuffling through made life frustrating. So I hope to find a neighborhood less touristy. We stayed in Denfert-Rochereau and that was quite lovely and close to everything. Montparnasse was also very nice. Of course I love the Marai but that gets a bit packed. St. Germain-des-pres is lovely as is Luxembourg gardens. Oh where to choose!
I love the Hausman buildings and the french architecture of mouldings, fireplace mantels, and old windows. Finding these apartments at the price I want to pay is less easy. I certainly don’t want to move to Paris and live in a modern apartment with no character. I do hear however, that the parquet floors in the Hausman buildings can be quite squeaky and that could be irritating if I have tenants above me. My current plan is to live in Paris for at least six months and then move onto other areas I want to discover. Perhaps it will be Bordeaux or the South of France.
Please send any suggestions or tips on choosing an apartment in Paris if you have any! I am on a few facebook pages for expats moving to France. I probably should find one that just focuses on Paris. I need the ins and outs of life in Paris!
In my mind, Paris is the most magical place on earth with its cathedrals, castles, palaces, gardens, and of course very expensive beautiful things. I’m looking forward to the theater and Paris Fashion Week and the museums and the quiet little streets and tiny shops. I can’t wait to shop each day for fresh bread and produce and cheese and chocolate!
Arriving in Paris in August, I realize it might be quite hot and humid. I’m already trying to navigate this as I’m so used to American air conditioning. I ask myself questions like, if I live on the first floor, will I safely be able to leave my windows open to let the cool night air in? Do those standing fans that hold ice cube trays work? Can I buy a portable air conditioner and jerry-rig it to the apartment window without my landlord noticing? Sleeping while hot is not fun. Luckily many places in Southern and Southwestern France have air conditioners now.
I expect to have Paris as my home base while I see other parts of france and travel to other EU and UK countries. I’m excited to see Mont St Michel, the Poitou-Charentes region, Bordeaux, Rennes, and St. Tropez. Other countries that are a must are Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, Turkey, and perhaps Scotland. I have been to Spain, Ireland, England, Germany, but perhaps I’ll revisit those as well!
Next year can’t get here soon enough and luckily I have good friends and family coming to help me clear out my house so that its ready to sell in the spring. I’d rather dream all day about my Parisienne apartment and croissants and coffee, but at some point I have to focus on the hard work ahead of dismantling my life so that I might build a new one.
Santé to creating a new dream, a new life, a new purpose. Dieu est bon tous le temps!