THE APARTMENT – Stage Two

Last post – I left you in PARIS – where we had no idea where we were going to live ……………

Step 4)  – Come back again (this time a weekend trip via TGV – – -) Stay at an APT/HOTEL with a discount thanks to David’s jobpost,- & look again.  Nothing.  No keys, no apt owners available.   THEN VOILA!  We travel to this port town of Cassis just for fun and giggles and to get away from the big city.   It is better than a picture postcard and actually takes our breath away.   It is where we have dreamt to be – and is a mix of David’s Island roots (UK and Dominican Republic, and a teeny teeny bit of where I grew up  –  Miami – & Miami Beach  –   Miami Beach,  only with MOUNTAINS !!! )    But, can we live here?   Is it AFFORDABLE?     Well, we found a place to stay one night on the Air BnB and fell in love. Our view from the terrace was THE LARGEST CLIFF IN EUROPE – that is over the SEA.

Step 5)  LOOK FOR A PLACE TO LIVE IN THE PLACE OF YOUR DREAMS?

Easy , right?

Non!!!!

SO, we’re looking around, walk into the town square, go  into an art gallery that I wasn’t keen on, but David was, and because of this art gallery, was told by the proprietor, that if we’re looking for an apartment to go to FALQUE AGENCY across from the fountain.   What fountain?  The ONLY big fountain in the center of town.

The Agent shows us happily a place,  within  10 minutes –  an apt on the SEA.  It is far away (need a car) and it’s a STUDIO. However, it has an AWESOME view from the terrace.   It was BREATHTAKINGLY beautiful, but SMALL  – no washing machine. and the kitchen – a counter with a hot plate.  Hmmmmm.

Step 5) Return to Paris, assured that this is where we will be, tiny, no kitchen and all, because we just NEED a place!   But first we must complete copious amounts of paperwork, via INTERNET, sending  Income Tax returns, proof of employment, 3 months of paystubs, passport photos, proof that David has a CDI (permanent WORK STATUS –  means – can’t get fired)  AND, ofcourse, promise of our first-born (that’ll be a miracle) to them via e-mail.  None of these documents sent to her via our computer get to her as we have a MAC , so we must copy and paste all of these into a WORD DOCUMENT so the AGENCY can read it!!!  Okay, this is do-able. SLOWLY.

Step 6)  Return  to  CASSIS via TGV and think we will get this studio on the sea , – with a Murphy Bed and 2 bunk beds in the front hallway – not really sure  if this is what we want — but it’s affordable.  Suddenly,  the Agent says, Oh, I have one more to show you………there’s NO VIEW, but it’s nice. It’s a ONE BEDROOM!  SO, we decide to see it.  We said to her, “NO VIEW –  not even out the window?”  “None at all?”

“NON! ” came the response.  But when we arrived at this stone cottage – and opened the shutters there was a  view – of huge palms , stone steps to the bottom (of something) and the huge pool next door to us.   The view out of the front was a multi-leveled terrace which we were told  was not “for our use” we would have to go in and out via this terrace quickly.  No loitering about.   Hmmmm.  Okay.  Fine. We can do this, but I walk slowly, so I’m going to take my time walking to the gate entrance because, well, I walk slowly anyway with bad knees (sometimes).

But then, we find out that the owners “should not mind so much” – after all, I tell Natalie, our Real Estate Agent, “LOOK AT US Natalie!! We’re hardly going to be having huge ruckus parties……..the wildest thing we might do out on that terrace is – READ A BOOK – on a KINDLE!!! ”    Well, Natalie TOLD the owners this – wherever they were on vacance, and because they (apparently) liked this response & that we were this  “quiet older couple” – gladly said yes – to us living there.  This was good news as we were now at the end of our “MOVING money.”

STEP 5)   Natalie, our very smart  enterprising agent tells the owners more about us  –  and it’s not only okay for us to move in on Monday when we arrive, but we can actually USE the multi-leveled terrace, and patio to our heart’s content-  (Just not their pool).   Okay.  We’ll deal with that.   🙂

STEP 6)  Go back to PARIS, pack up the apartment in MONTMORENCY amidst huge tears – BECAUSE (why even put “because” in there) –  we really really loved our little 65 sq meter one bedroom apt. Even the guardian was so sad to see us leave.  We gave him big hugs and a “bonus” for all that he’s done for us.

We  leave PARIS for the last time.   I want to say goodbye to Mary our Boulangerie wonder woman – but can’t turn the car around with all the traffic.

Step 7)  OUR RENTAL CAR – is positioned towards the Mediterranean and now we DRIVE south towards CASSIS with a MUTE GPS!!!!!!    How can I drive if  the GPS doesn’t tell me where to turn and where to go?

It’s IMPOSSIBLE.

Step 8 )   THis is where the RED BULL and copious amounts of  Expresso’s  start to take kick in  – and we  drive into a city where NO MAN HAS EVER GONE _(meaning – NO ONE IS SUPPOSE to DRIVE IN PARIS, least of all TOURISTS, – as PARIS is NOT the city for cars – especially tourist cars – BUT – we had no choice. )    WHY?  Because of the INFERIOR GARMIN GPS.

(forgive miss-spellings – no corrections – I have limited WiFi and have to rush constantly)

STAYED TUNED FOR  “THE APARTMENT” – DRIVING IN PARIS –   STAGE THREE