The Ratio of Minneapolitans Skyrocketed! -and- "Inside Scoop" on the Apartment - Sunday, 2 April

Minneapolis visited the American Church in Paris this morning. And no, not just me! The ratio of Minneapolitans in the congregation skyrocketed with a visiting handbell choir from University Baptist Church in Minneapolis. They played part of the prelude plus other special music! Small world! I spoke with some of the musicians after the service and learned that they were just finishing a 2+ week trip, mostly in Germany. Apparently a former beloved member of The American Church is connected with the choir and insisted that they stop here.

(This is my favorite Sunday morning haunt – just search in this blog for “American Church” and you’ll find a lot of info - here's one example from a couple years ago: http://mariellen-musing.blogspot.com/2015/10/you-can-learn-all-kinds-of-stuff-at-acp.html )

modeling my new scarf in
the mirror over the fireplace,
with the kitchen in the
background

And now for some “inside scoop” on the apartment. You can find some accurate photos on its listing: https://www.vrbo.com/1732100ha

Other than one odd quirk, the apartment is comfortable and provides everything one could need. It’s actually the residence of the owner, Philippe Lelluch – he rents it out for extra cash, I guess. He’s a very nice, accommodating, helpful guy, a professional photographer for the French government - he told me that he basically has Pete Souza’s job (Obama’s photographer). Wow! Very cool. He has an extensive library of books on Buddhism in the apartment. When his neighbor downstairs complained about me walking in the bedroom with my shoes on (making the floors squeak and clunk), Philippe came to my defense. He told me later that this guy just doesn't like apartments in the building being rented out, and will use "I'm a light sleeper and it woke me up" as an argument a lot.

Furniture is solid, simple and comfortable. There are large grey tiles in the kitchen and shower areas; otherwise the floors are squeaky medium-width chestnut-colored boards (so you know the building is old!). The kitchen is well outfitted - I think they're Ikea components - including an oven (many apartments just have microwaves) and a large fridge & freezer.


There are lovely tiles inside the building’s entryway and a small elevator (with a labeled capacity of “3 personnes” - very tiny personnes - this one person just fit in with her purse and shopping!).


So, what’s the odd quirk, you ask? The toilet room is separate from the bathroom - actually very common in France - but this one is extremely tiny (smaller than an airplane’s), so tiny that I almost had to sit diagonally on the … um … throne and stick my feet out the door! I was alone here, so who would care, right?

the view from "the throne"

But the really weird part – it opened onto the living room and kitchen area. Eeewwwww! I’m guessing that at one point the toilet was in the bathroom but they moved it to make room for the washing machine, but who knows? I should have asked Philippe!