So...there's a great place in the 10th that I just looked at. 19 rue Bichat, if you want to look it up. It has a lot going for it:
Totally redone, can throw in couch/bed and chair, will do that free
American landlords (English-speaking, therefore)
Wood floors
Windows facing east, down a perpendicular street so morning light
little balcony
first etage (second floor by American count)
elevator in the building, not that I would need it much
storage for bike if I have one
near Canal St. Martin, super up-and-coming neighborhood, think Williamsburg in Brooklyn
Can cycle along canal, also run
Walk across canal and through park to Gare de l'Est, one stop away from my RER D train to work
Also near Republique, cool and happening place
Organic market weekly around the corner
Enclosed quad nearby (old hospital quadrangle)
Real bathtub
Owners want to make neat community, have cocktails every week or month or something on the top floor, lots of other expats, two other CNRS researchers
Utilities included, that includes cleaning
I'm the guy's first choice because he thinks I am cool (well, I am)
Cons:
American landlords = not really the authentic Paris experience?
100 EUR more than I was originally looking to pay (but all this stuff included, plus still 2/3 of my LA rent)
Street itself seemed to have a lot of young men hanging around...maybe that's a good thing?
And oh yeah, speaking of men, my best friend here now, J, Irish boy, lives in the 5th and I really enjoy hanging out with him and his friends. But should that really factor in, or not?
Please advise! Need to decide by tomorrow morning. Now going to apt in the 5th on the 6th etage (7th floor) without an elevator. Am I crazy?
1 comment:
Well, the list of pros is longer than the list of cons, and it sounds like a really nice apt! (I doubt having American landlords would detract very much from the Paris experience. And lack of a language barrier can be crucial if things somehow go awry, if something breaks, whatever)... The one 'con' that made me wonder a bit are those young men hanging out in the street. Do they look like nice young men that you'd like to perhaps hang out with, or not so much? ;)
-e.
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