Ballbuster Blockbuster: the sequel, Dawn of the Recompense

Thursday, July 29, 2004

Ok...so, for all those interested in my incredibly fascinating apartment hunting in Paris, here's the news today.
Dacnar and Nardac saw two beautiful apartments today.

#1
140 Blvd. Menilmontant, 4th floor, north exposure, 35m2, 660Eu
Advantages, the metro menilmontant is two seconds from the door, 4th floor ensures beautiful thighs and lots of light, there's a BATHTUB in the bathroom (if you think it's funny I mention this, then you haven't visited Paris yet...this is a RARITY for the price!!), hardwood floors, gas gas everything, large kitchen with white and green mini-tiles, newly refurnished heating. 3 minutes from the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, 35 minutes by foot to centre of Paris, next to very cool popular bar areas, close to two metro lines. WOW!!! Plus, the lady at the agency really likes us, the dossiers, and she seems to think it's up to us to choose whether we like the apartment or not.

Usually, in Paris, you prepare a file, with about 60 papers, including all possible financial employment education tax past-renting information, coupled with the same thing for a guarantor. It's hell just getting this together, and usually you have to make multiple copies. In any case, if you're unemployed, or an artist, or anything not regular, chances are THIN. For every apartment you see, there's about twenty people with you who've dropped off a file.

#2
56 rue de la Chine, 4th floor, south west exposure, 40m2, 686Eu
This is the one I adore. Lots and lots of light in a big stone building. Giant ceilings, with enormous windows, grilled window casing/balcony, amazing view of Paris and lots of mouldings. New dark dark blue carpet. Kitchen is ENORMOUS, and all modern fixings. The bathroom has glass tile wall so it's full of light. One of the rooms has a fireplace. It's not as well located, about 7 minutes to the nearest metro, and about 50 minutes by foot downtown. Giant hallway, building in tip top condition, excellent gas water radiators, close to Chinatown, slightly quiet area.

Soooo, I think we're going to be offered the first one, but do we take it or do we hold out and wait for a decision on the second (which we stand less of a chance of getting...???) Stay tuned!

Oh, and this was like the 14th apartment we looked at.