Sweet Apartment, SWEET Deal! - Sunday, 4 October

My sweet little block-long street, rue Française. 

My door is under the curved arch

 in about the center of the photo.

I just love love love my little apartment. It’s a studio, but with some nice separation – when you enter, on the right is the kitchen/eating area, and then there’s a fixed wall that runs a little more than half way down the width of the room that separates the kitchen/eating area from the bed, secretary/cabinet, TV and comfy reading chair. Windows run the length of the room.  On your left when you enter is the bathroom with a large shower, and straight ahead is a nice utility room with a washer/dryer, shelves, closet, storage cabinet, etc.

Although I’ve rented from individuals before through VRBO, this was my first time renting through Airbnb. It’s a good experience! The technology for searching, reserving, paying & communicating is slick, and at least this apartment is a real good deal - $85/night – I couldn’t get a decent hotel room for that.  Here’s a link to the listing:  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/895778 

Y’know, this just might be my new #1 apartment for solo travel!

This is my favorite neighborhood in the 2^nd arrondissement. Just about everything I need can be found within a few blocks, and the best culinary supply shops are within six blocks.  There must be a dozen cafes and restos of all national cuisines and styles within a block, and even more within staggering distance (as a friend of mine is fond of saying!). My favorite food street, rue Montorgueil, is a block away (four blocks of meat market next to cheese shop next to wine store next to grocery/general store next to flower shop next to chocolate shop next to seafood shop next to café next to ethnic deli next to hardware store next to bakery next to charcuterie shop next to pastry shop – all up and down both sides of the street – you get the picture!). There’s an elementary school a block away, so I always hear children’s voices when I’m out and about.  The gorgeous Passage du Grand Cerf is a block away (read about the Paris Passages in my post from 2009: http://mariellen-musing.blogspot.fr/2009/11/passages-wednesday-11-november.html ). Since this arrondissement is in the center of town, Metro stops and bus lines are all very close and provide easy connection to every part of town.

Here are some photos. You can click on any photo in this blog to get an enlarged version.

The corridor to my courtyard has about the biggest paving stones I've seen - some 4'x5'. They must be VERY old!

To the right as you enter, the kitchen

Then the sleeping and lounging area

My view to the left

My view to the right

It's hard to see in this photo, but this tiny window in the bathroom is covered with crumpled-up chicken wire. It's the only screen in the place - but it does keep out any pigeons, I guess!

Sweet technology - I can even turn the lights on and off without getting out of bed!

My "shadow selfie" on my sidewalk! (Thank you to Sharon Pulju Biber for the idea and the term!)