The Apartment

When living in Paris, and coming from the US, you must re-orient yourself in many ways. One of those ways is how and where you live.

The apartment is located in the Opera district overlooking the Opera Comique. The view is stellar. There is free classical music on performance nights. There is a quaint place with great croissants on the first floor. Living in central Paris gets you anywhere you want with short metro rides. The train to work is a 10 minute walk (or a really short metro ride).

There are downsides. Hot water lasts 15 minutes. The washer/dryer is more like a washer/steamer. “Furnished” is a loose term. The décor consists of Air France posters. The kitchen is “bachelor size.”

One more?

The second bedroom is an odd shape with weird features.

Oh, and I miss my dishwasher.

To complete the needed furniture, a trip to IKEA was made. Guests now have a choice of standard couch or one that transforms into something more bedlike. Steamed clothes have a place to relax and dry-off. Living out of a suitcase is no more. The “coat closet” is still under construction, but will soon be complete.

Overall, you learn to quickly forget what you are missing. The trades you make to live in the heart of the city are worth it. There is so much to do here in such a small and compact space. It seems like a few years may not be enough.