tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91662678725143169142024-03-13T02:04:57.442-07:00Postcards from Paris and ProvenceA celebration of life in FranceLove of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-24227756186197866092010-11-21T13:47:00.001-08:002010-11-21T14:06:32.951-08:00Heaven in the 7th, part III<p>Veni.</p> <p>Vini.</p> <p>Bought-i. And we are now excitedly under contract to purchase a Parisian apartment.  Can we please just call it a flat?  I know it’s pretentious, but it’s so much nicer!</p> <p>Now there is a very nice little French law that allows you to get out of your contract for up to eight days after you have signed your “Promesse” to purchase in the notary’s office. Although I’ve been feeling pretty good about this apartment, there is one person I’d like to have look at it before I let the eight days elapse.</p> <p>Ever since we’ve thought about buying an apartment in Paris, I’ve kept close tabs on the apartment rental market in Paris. We’ve stayed in a lot of hotels and rented apartments from a lot of agencies, and although there are many good ones I can recommend, my personal <a href="http://www.parisperfect.com/apartments-for-rent-in-paris.php">favorite Paris apartment rental agency</a> is Paris Perfect. Every time we’ve stayed in a <a href="http://www.parisperfect.com/apartments-for-rent-in-paris.php">Paris Perfect apartment</a>, everything from the quality of the apartments to the locations, the views, the amenities and the service have been, well … perfect. I’ve always thought that Madelyn, the co-owner of this agency, has a great eye and great judgment about investing in Paris apartments, and so my next step is to get her opinion.</p> <p>I know Madelyn from way back, when we first started looking for an apartment almost three years ago. We had found a jewel of an apartment in the 7<sup>th</sup>, which we were planning to buy. Unfortunately, the stars did not line up in our favor this time around, when everything from the economy to the exchange rate turned against us, and we had to, regretfully, step out of it. When the apartment showed up on the Paris Perfect website, I knew that it had gone to the right person. They did a fabulous transformation from ugly duckling to beautiful swan, and I knew that if anyone could help me determine if my little duckling in the 7th was the right purchase, Madelyn could.</p> <p>Before and After:</p> <p>Here are the pictures of the one that got away, as we saw it when it was for sale,  followed by Paris Perfect’s beautiful transformation.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTRiyXCXI/AAAAAAAAAbU/lb_ZY2NBRb0/s1600-h/Akillerview3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="A killer view" border="0" alt="A killer view" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTRxhIvlI/AAAAAAAAAbY/KsPuWEQZbVQ/Akillerview_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="326" height="429" /></a> </p> <p>Before we get started, let’s just show you why we were even considering this apartment:  A killer view in a killer location, in the heart of the 7th.  With this picture, the before and after didn’t change,  which is why it’s always about location, location, location!</p> <p>Now, for the magical transformation:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTSBiSwPI/AAAAAAAAAbc/ntgZO8uOihI/s1600-h/June20080693.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="June 2008 069" border="0" alt="June 2008 069" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTStV-23I/AAAAAAAAAbg/BLusbusMOqk/June2008069_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="315" height="394" /></a> </p> <p>Before</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTSizYlRI/AAAAAAAAAbk/uxVGJPM1IUU/s1600-h/ClairetteLivingroom3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Clairette Living room" border="0" alt="Clairette Living room" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTS4YeyxI/AAAAAAAAAbo/EsMiE0tFUIc/ClairetteLivingroom_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="309" /></a> </p> <p>After – love how they kept the idea of the closets, but made them more open, keeping them functional but with a greater feeling of space.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTTAIe-OI/AAAAAAAAAbs/NSaFudKRGJE/s1600-h/LR3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="LR" border="0" alt="LR" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTTT50G2I/AAAAAAAAAbw/14DTQs0XZm0/LR_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="291" /></a> </p> <p>And of course,  a big Louis Philippe mirror does wonders for any room, especially with a chandelier reflected in it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTTiqHVUI/AAAAAAAAAb0/xO11ig-hSlE/s1600-h/Clairettefireplace3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Clairette fireplace" border="0" alt="Clairette fireplace" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTUPlgqeI/AAAAAAAAAb4/yMuxDeLoX-I/Clairettefireplace_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="448" height="341" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTULklATI/AAAAAAAAAb8/l0NFXKkUqMU/s1600-h/LR23.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="LR 2" border="0" alt="LR 2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTUlwf6OI/AAAAAAAAAcA/CaPIrqhAsrA/LR2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" height="484" /></a> </p> <p>A little corner of the living room gets a precious little desk and chair.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTUyiEZtI/AAAAAAAAAcE/aUO2HTaFUpc/s1600-h/lClairettecornerofLR3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="lClairette corner of LR" border="0" alt="lClairette corner of LR" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTVDy1mbI/AAAAAAAAAcI/7wG0rBQit1Q/lClairettecornerofLR_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="267" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTVSvZ3rI/AAAAAAAAAcM/O20LNsEoZlA/s1600-h/BetterviewofLRandDR4.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Better view of LR and DR" border="0" alt="Better view of LR and DR" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTWGtV3vI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/y1b-sMv_IAc/BetterviewofLRandDR_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="515" height="355" /></a> </p> <p>The windows were already a great feature of the apartment, but what a beautiful place to put the dining room table!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTWZwNOAI/AAAAAAAAAcU/017AXXiYtz4/s1600-h/ClairetteDining4.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Clairette Dining" border="0" alt="Clairette Dining" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTWrfqKmI/AAAAAAAAAcY/CH88PF7582A/ClairetteDining_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="514" height="392" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTXIfityI/AAAAAAAAAcc/d-G9jHKYtIo/s1600-h/Diningroom3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Dining room" border="0" alt="Dining room" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTXaQS-WI/AAAAAAAAAcg/NYF2OesXTHk/Diningroom_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="497" height="340" /></a> </p> <p>One of my favorite features:  The afternoon light pouring in to the living room.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTX44jJNI/AAAAAAAAAck/-6XOrJ0ASFk/s1600-h/Clairettesunpouringthrough3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Clairette sun pouring through" border="0" alt="Clairette sun pouring through" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTYC7Mz1I/AAAAAAAAAco/3tKY70kq8fs/Clairettesunpouringthrough_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="511" height="388" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTYcS8O0I/AAAAAAAAAcs/sd0J4ZXCNfI/s1600-h/Bedroomclosets3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bedroom closets" border="0" alt="Bedroom closets" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTYpnxImI/AAAAAAAAAcw/6VfDfgg5jDE/Bedroomclosets_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="539" height="369" /></a> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTY8Lst2I/AAAAAAAAAc0/1ydGlbUuj6w/s1600-h/Clairettebedroomclosets3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Clairette bedroom closets" border="0" alt="Clairette bedroom closets" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTZlRBZjI/AAAAAAAAAc4/zeX_bN8aJpk/Clairettebedroomclosets_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="521" height="396" /></a></p> <p>In the bedroom, they cleverly transformed one of the walls in to a wall of closets, creating storage (a most precious Parisian commodity) while keeping it good looking.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTb9CdDSI/AAAAAAAAAc8/Y1FmAuzk09A/s1600-h/Bedroomgood3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bedroom good" border="0" alt="Bedroom good" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTc3PgRPI/AAAAAAAAAdA/pavZhVtbe14/Bedroomgood_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="544" height="372" /></a>  They had to shift some walls around to have put the bed against this wall – and it sure was worth it.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTdhK9SlI/AAAAAAAAAdE/_KUQ9QEZWHU/s1600-h/clairettebedroom3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clairette bedroom" border="0" alt="clairette bedroom" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTeDoUi-I/AAAAAAAAAdI/EuPfP_JsKIA/clairettebedroom_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="542" height="412" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTewJukNI/AAAAAAAAAdM/I7JEVIhhHN0/s1600-h/Bathroombestone4.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Bathroom best one" border="0" alt="Bathroom best one" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTfk8l8hI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/EDTaYED2PBs/Bathroombestone_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="499" /></a> </p> <p>Bathroom transformations are always some of the most dramatic, and this one is no exception.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTfrXcGYI/AAAAAAAAAdU/HjBSMCDY8HQ/s1600-h/Clairettebathroom3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Clairette bathroom" border="0" alt="Clairette bathroom" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTgYfK7GI/AAAAAAAAAdY/zO5pXnUQwBs/Clairettebathroom_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="275" /></a> </p> <p>The kitchen had good little bones to begin with, but badly needed the facelift it received.  Vive la difference!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTgY0K2qI/AAAAAAAAAdc/hh3mWXFKXbU/s1600-h/Kitchenbest3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="Kitchen best" border="0" alt="Kitchen best" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTgpt6fGI/AAAAAAAAAdg/Rh0ASnnasqo/Kitchenbest_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" height="275" /></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmThGCk90I/AAAAAAAAAdk/NcWsh_32UjI/s1600-h/clairetteKitchen3.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="clairette Kitchen" border="0" alt="clairette Kitchen" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TOmTheJEDGI/AAAAAAAAAdo/GmA8rJwpF-U/clairetteKitchen_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="328" /></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>So, what do you think?  Can my little duckling be transformed in to a swan?  I’m pretty sure it can, but just to be sure, I’ll see what Madelyn has to say.  Stay tuned!</p> <p>Ta ta,</p> <p>A.</p> Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-86653470221817749632010-10-08T14:14:00.001-07:002010-10-08T14:34:08.918-07:00Heaven in the 7th<p></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Je4BFuOI/AAAAAAAAAW8/pBEE6K-aOxQ/s1600-h/ParisStamp%5B3%5D%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="ParisStamp[3]" border="0" alt="ParisStamp[3]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JfPjdgyI/AAAAAAAAAXA/qvYQxRkBPGU/ParisStamp%5B3%5D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="159" height="244" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After my big loss of Le Sublime, I took a little break from trying to find the perfect Paris pad. I tried to ignore the barrage of emails, with pictures of seductive floors, enticing moldings and 19<sup>th</sup> century stone facades. I tried not to click on google maps for a daily walk up and down the streets of a neighborhood. I avoided some of my favorite French websites and didn’t try to hone in on buildings from the sky, at different angles, to measure the angle of the sun at various times of the day. I tried not to focus on Paris and instead kept busy with a multitude of other projects, with the gallery, trips to Provence, and of course, my little family. And I was successful at it … until this photo popped up in my inbox.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JfcMQbNI/AAAAAAAAAXE/mcLdty5kBgY/s1600-h/Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Sept%2020%20to%2027%202010%20075%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Copy of Copy of Sept 20 to 27 2010 075" border="0" alt="Copy of Copy of Sept 20 to 27 2010 075" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jf_HwySI/AAAAAAAAAXI/ESKZ_X9_FIM/Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Sept%2020%20to%2027%202010%20075_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="423" height="322" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Followed by another one, that just clarified the location for me.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JgD9_5jI/AAAAAAAAAXM/R8Na4O4BbKc/s1600-h/Realtor%20view%20cropped%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Realtor view cropped" border="0" alt="Realtor view cropped" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JgYxesjI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/fF0hPNVQxTU/Realtor%20view%20cropped_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="441" height="305" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some people might think, what’s the big deal? So you have a view of the Eiffel Tower? What makes you think this is a great apartment?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But you see, I’ve been doing this for almost three years! I know this neighborhood inside and out. I can look at this photo and tell you that the apartment is within a stone’s throw of the rue Cler, one of the most bustling and colorful market streets in Paris. I know that it’s around the corner from the rue St. Dominique, home of about six fabulous restaurants, most of which are owned and run by that new prince of cuisine, Christian Constant. I know the buses that run up and down the street and I love the metro stop, which is a five minute walk away. I’ve walked the short stroll to the Seine river, and to the Champ de Mars, and know that from this location, my puppy will get the most scenic work out that she’s ever experienced. </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jg9eBO1I/AAAAAAAAAXU/3dl9-KOt-68/s1600-h/Champ%20de%20Mars%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Champ de Mars" border="0" alt="Champ de Mars" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JhOzJJ8I/AAAAAAAAAXY/8yneCeEp1oQ/Champ%20de%20Mars_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" height="418" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And although I’m not an haute couture kind of gal, I certainly like the idea of being just minutes from the avenue Montaigne, even though I’ll probably never set foot in Chanel, Dior or Christian Lacroix.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jhe5MYGI/AAAAAAAAAXc/roceGx-jV0s/s1600-h/WWL16L%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="WWL16L" border="0" alt="WWL16L" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jhq1PavI/AAAAAAAAAXg/kJ7W8ZOagyE/WWL16L_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="415" height="316" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Without even looking further, I know that this apartment is in “my” hood. Oh dear. These don’t come up very often. I may just have to pursue it.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jh_09bxI/AAAAAAAAAXk/8KEJ6bUrUBk/s1600-h/IMG_8943%20%5B800x600%5D%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_8943 [800x600]" border="0" alt="IMG_8943 [800x600]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JiMbu9NI/AAAAAAAAAXo/k-WLlMKNaOI/IMG_8943%20%5B800x600%5D_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="438" height="333" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JicQ6-iI/AAAAAAAAAXs/p2pX1FXwbDQ/s1600-h/IMG_8944%20%5B800x600%5D%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_8944 [800x600]" border="0" alt="IMG_8944 [800x600]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jit-heTI/AAAAAAAAAXw/U2_cvBtOo-Y/IMG_8944%20%5B800x600%5D_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="412" height="538" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JjNdP7oI/AAAAAAAAAX0/W2YOGOcAzj4/s1600-h/IMG_8952%20%5B800x600%5D%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_8952 [800x600]" border="0" alt="IMG_8952 [800x600]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JjXmDGlI/AAAAAAAAAX4/G75WfJ4D-88/IMG_8952%20%5B800x600%5D_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="399" height="525" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And then I catch a glimpse of the floors! “My floors!” I’m in trouble now …</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JjvC7aQI/AAAAAAAAAX8/L5MZJDA5ECg/s1600-h/Floor%20detail%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Floor detail" border="0" alt="Floor detail" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JkDvvD9I/AAAAAAAAAYA/-RfOWmX1gOg/Floor%20detail_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="428" height="325" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">From the floors and the moulding, I can tell that it’s a Haussmann style building, probably built a little before the turn of the century (1890’s). I’m pretty sure that it’s on the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor, which is not my favorite, but I do see advantages to not being up high, especially since I’ve had experience with Parisian elevators. And, this apartment is on a very wide street, so there’s nothing blocking the sun from pouring in, which is another check in its favor.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JkZ8a63I/AAAAAAAAAYE/GRGd-Ra78s8/s1600-h/Sunshine%20cropped%5B7%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Sunshine cropped" border="0" alt="Sunshine cropped" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JkrmRUiI/AAAAAAAAAYI/m5hY4I5NmtQ/Sunshine%20cropped_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="369" height="475" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I read the description and the size and realize that it’s perfect. At 800 square feet, it’s just enough to be a small two bedroom, which is exactly what I’m looking for. There’s only one bathroom, but that can probably be remedied. And the pictures of the kitchen are definitely not what I’m looking for. But that too, is a cosmetic fix. I’m starting to hyperventilate, just a little.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JkzNZJvI/AAAAAAAAAYM/6b4NIT1HMHs/s1600-h/Front%20hall%20detail%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Front hall detail" border="0" alt="Front hall detail" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JljBaDiI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/DlsSMt9AOus/Front%20hall%20detail_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="324" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It’s time to look at this building from the sky, measure the sun and walk to the nearest bakery. I see that it’s on a large courtyard, so I figure that the bedrooms, surely located in the back, will actually get some good light. I look at the angle of the sun and figure that in the summer time, the front of the building will have sun pouring in from early afternoon to sunset. </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jl1Ln7cI/AAAAAAAAAYU/xHWKTmNXb2M/s1600-h/Realtor%20outside%20cropped%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Realtor outside cropped" border="0" alt="Realtor outside cropped" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JmNILx3I/AAAAAAAAAYY/_raBBpMU2No/Realtor%20outside%20cropped_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="437" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I get out google maps, and sprint around the neighborhood, counting the number of restaurants, gourmet shops, pharmacies (my personal favorites!), and yes, even veterinary clinics. I visit some of the local dress shops, antique stores and art galleries that dot every street. I look at the florists, the hair dressers, the shoe repair shops, the cheese shops, the wine stores, and start counting the bakeries and take out gourmet shops, until my stomach begins to rumble. I ensure that there are no restaurants downstairs whose odors could penetrate the apartment. And I count the number of buses that all stop within a five minute walk. By the time I finish my tour, I am panting, exhausted and exhilarated. And ready to call the realtor. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jma4KDVI/AAAAAAAAAYc/sEYSWsfJMmo/s1600-h/contact7%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="contact7" border="0" alt="contact7" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jmto2mWI/AAAAAAAAAYg/BZoGUM_HZNs/contact7_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" height="368" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JmwwqoQI/AAAAAAAAAYk/d2XUYdq8FnE/s1600-h/4_1246711633_2_the-rue-cler-market%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="4_1246711633_2_the-rue-cler-market" border="0" alt="4_1246711633_2_the-rue-cler-market" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JnKVn1OI/AAAAAAAAAYo/-Mzxpn_zfik/4_1246711633_2_the-rue-cler-market_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="328" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JnWUUB6I/AAAAAAAAAYs/gO0gRG2sZtY/s1600-h/IMG_1616%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_1616" border="0" alt="IMG_1616" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JnrP5c5I/AAAAAAAAAYw/VgyBPpjPpws/IMG_1616_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="440" height="335" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-Jn6IM7SI/AAAAAAAAAY0/nGmgx8BGo6A/s1600-h/IMG_1146%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="IMG_1146" border="0" alt="IMG_1146" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TK-JoNnlArI/AAAAAAAAAY4/7yeO8GpsdAA/IMG_1146_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" height="526" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But what if this one turns out to be sold? Can I bear another loss? Can I take my poor readers through another roller coaster ride? Will I finally find my little slice of heaven in the 7th?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I have no choice. This apartment speaks to me. I’ll make the call and hold my breath. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Stay tuned!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tata,</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A.</span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-52984457830960369492010-10-03T15:03:00.001-07:002010-10-03T15:19:08.508-07:00Happy Reflections<p> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9mMhg0OI/AAAAAAAAAVo/d8GivRo22xs/s1600-h/No%20such%20thing%20as%20too%20much%20basil%5B8%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="No such thing as too much basil" border="0" alt="No such thing as too much basil" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9mU-5B5I/AAAAAAAAAVs/TD9KeKZxr4Y/No%20such%20thing%20as%20too%20much%20basil_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="351" /></a> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#0000ff;">At the market preparing for our group – no such thing as too much basil!</span></p><p>I am in France right now with Linda on a gallery trip to Provence and it’s one of the most fun trips we’ve ever had. I know, that’s a dangerous thing to say since we never want to play favorites and of course we love all our children equally! But what makes this trip so special is the camaraderie of the ladies in this group whose deep bonds of friendship date back to college days. They know each other so well that the jabs are flying constantly while the laughter is contagious, and Linda and I are spending half our time doubled over in stitches. Perhaps there is a little wine flowing in the evenings, but all in all, it’s such good fun.</p><p>One of my favorite parts of this trip is that for at least one guest, it is her first trip to France. Seeing it all through her eyes is like reliving it and appreciating it for the first time.</p><p>We’ve got a great system of helpers on our trips, the main one being the ever adorable and so fashionably footed Christophe, our driver. Today, taking a little side trip to the train station with Christophe, I learned that his motivation for guiding people around France is the same as ours – which is the joy you get for playing a part in showing people the unexpected, whether it’s the first time they’ve seen it or not.</p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9mpjQI1I/AAAAAAAAAVw/2U_j0x4-daI/s1600-h/chris%202%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="chris 2" border="0" alt="chris 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9m45k7bI/AAAAAAAAAV0/p14Pijo5qnQ/chris%202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a></p><p></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9nO8wI6I/AAAAAAAAAV4/s2P745MJ06Q/s1600-h/chris%203%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="chris 3" border="0" alt="chris 3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9nWEmtGI/AAAAAAAAAV8/NCezrTE8yVg/chris%203_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="174" /></a></p><p></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9ngBxBPI/AAAAAAAAAWA/V-ATvOE0nVs/s1600-h/chris%204%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="chris 4" border="0" alt="chris 4" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9nzDazkI/AAAAAAAAAWE/tPEL4xTC6H8/chris%204_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="199" /></a></p><p></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9oXjO-LI/AAAAAAAAAWI/bbzwdmWwPu8/s1600-h/Christophe%201%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Christophe 1" border="0" alt="Christophe 1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9oilNR6I/AAAAAAAAAWM/qu85a3rAC1U/Christophe%201_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="156" /></a> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#0000ff;">The Fashionable Feet of Christophe</span></p><p>Christophe was a pilot in a previous life who took clients on circuits over parts of the marvelously varied Provence countryside. He said that the holidays were a busy season for him with many people offering his plane trip to their friends or families as a very special Christmas present. His favorite clients were the skeptics, like the farmer who was born and raised on his land and thought that nobody could teach him anything new. He described the farmer arriving begrudgingly to the airport, reluctant to get on a plane because he’d seen it all and knew the land thoroughly from the ground. And then slowly, as Christophe guided the plane over all the familiar territory, the farmer became mesmerized and enchanted by the countryside below, seeing it for the first time from a completely different perspective. By the time he finished the trip, Christophe said that the farmer was enchanted and beguiled by the beauty and the experience. Christophe said he loved that kind of client, and was so excited to appreciate it all over again through someone else’s eyes.</p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9o3rAMEI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/-PpOK6HKmS0/s1600-h/chris%20face%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="chris face" border="0" alt="chris face" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9pPeaUBI/AAAAAAAAAWU/HxiYql3LfSY/chris%20face_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></a><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#004080;">The fabulous and fashionably footed Christophe</span></p><p>I could really relate to this. The ladies on the trip often say, “Don’t you get tired of doing the trips and taking people to the same places every day?” and my answer is a resounding no! With each new group I get to see it through their eyes and appreciate it all over again, reliving it for the first time. Like Christophe, I sometimes even get a skeptic, someone who expects all French people to be rude and a tad anti-American. I try not to say anything, and just let the week unfold. And then little by little I get to hear each night about some random act of kindness or some unusual quirk that happened during the day. As the week evolves, I usually find that they discover something new, not just about the French but about themselves as well.</p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9pQI-tiI/AAAAAAAAAWY/QDU12wzmFUU/s1600-h/Ladies%20cropped%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Ladies cropped" border="0" alt="Ladies cropped" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9pggOFEI/AAAAAAAAAWc/DmColbE14LE/Ladies%20cropped_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="445" height="227" /></a></p><p></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#004080;">Our ladies of the week</span></p><p>In some ways it reminds me of life the gallery, when clients come in and admit their fear of buying art or of appearing uneducated by asking the wrong question. If there is one thing we have strived for, it is to make that person feel comfortable in our gallery. We hope they come away from their visit knowing that there are no right or wrong answers, that art is subjective, and that they should buy what speaks to them personally for whatever reason. We love it when that person comes back to the gallery, having enjoyed the process -- and the paintings.</p><p>And so it goes with these trips. If we can succeed in showing you things you’d never experienced before and opening your eyes and all of your senses to appreciate something new and unexpected, not only have we done our “job” but you will have given us an equal amount of pleasure.</p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9pzhWUlI/AAAAAAAAAWg/xN1q3eWI4TI/s1600-h/On%20top%20of%20the%20world%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="On top of the world" border="0" alt="On top of the world" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9qBrB78I/AAAAAAAAAWk/ogkT_qKIh68/On%20top%20of%20the%20world_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="449" height="336" /></a></p><p></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#004080;">New friends, on top of the world!</span></p><p>And that’s the case with our trip this week, and what a pleasure it has been! All I can really say is thank you to this tremendous group of women, who have given us the opportunity to see the beauty through their eyes and have taught us all again about the power of friendship, laughter and the deep bonds that connect us all together. Merci mesdames, for the week and for the happy reflections.</p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9qS5vn2I/AAAAAAAAAWo/882eOQPDA78/s1600-h/Ralph%20Lauren%20Model%5B7%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Ralph Lauren Model" border="0" alt="Ralph Lauren Model" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TKj9qnRBYPI/AAAAAAAAAWs/e5x_zeTjMFc/Ralph%20Lauren%20Model_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="400" /></a> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#004080;">Our beautiful Ralph Lauren model, and her reflections</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></p><p align="left">Tata,</p><p align="left">A.</p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-59106446332256063462010-09-11T18:06:00.001-07:002010-10-03T15:17:48.183-07:00From the Sublime … to the Ridiculous. Paris Apartment, Part X<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4wYjniwVKNDZ9fLvZ7rENUeg3eUcK1xYOG-TwfWUjZeH7gPtphj3QePc_w95y-silU3rNJxyjEfvFZ68gBdLlDPbP9BGWEffE95lOSXcxzOMHJ6ohyphenhyphen2QEtUxpZ0cPZlIY_38M1p6eJM/s1600/ParisStamp%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 193px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 299px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523946403299772306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4wYjniwVKNDZ9fLvZ7rENUeg3eUcK1xYOG-TwfWUjZeH7gPtphj3QePc_w95y-silU3rNJxyjEfvFZ68gBdLlDPbP9BGWEffE95lOSXcxzOMHJ6ohyphenhyphen2QEtUxpZ0cPZlIY_38M1p6eJM/s320/ParisStamp%5B3%5D.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;color:#3333ff;"> (Part two of a two part blog about the buying the sublime apartment in Paris)</span> <p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“It sold.” Her voice sounded so drained of its usual contagious energy, I thought she just might pass out on the phone. “It sold from under us.”</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I felt like I had been hit in the stomach. I couldn’t believe my ears and I kept hoping I’d heard her wrong. Of all the exciting things I had dreamed my agent would tell me in the morning, the <em><strong>sublime</strong></em> apartment selling from under me was not one that I even considered, especially after all the assurances that it was mine for the taking. “How could this happen? “ I shrieked, “I thought we were the first?”</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“We were the first with Robert,” she told me, “but another agent got the keys too. He brought an offer with him and it was accepted on the spot.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And thus we plunged from the sublime to what I think of as the ridiculous way the real estate market works in Paris.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First off, the fact that there is no multiple listing service means that realtors are all competing against each other. And therefore it behooves the seller to list their apartment with more than one agent. So you never know until it happens whether another agent will undercut you in your offer. And as a result, there is no winner here: Not the buyer, the seller or the agent.</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And then the whole Parisian pricing structure has completely mystified me from the very beginning. If the market is as hot as it is, and if the good properties sell for full price before they even go on the market, why don’t they just raise the prices? Instead, they group properties by “Arrondissement” and determine that all apartments in one arrondissement will sell for 10,000 euros per square meter, while another neighboring arrondissement can fetch up to 12,000 euros. But what if, like the sublime, you’re in the 3<sup>rd</sup> arrondissement, which is typically about 2,000 less than the 6<sup>th</sup> or 7<sup>th</sup>, but you’re in a great location next to the Place des Vosges, and your apartment has great bones, and is highly desirable? Wouldn’t you price it higher than the going rate, if there is more demand for that type of apartment? And what if your apartment sells to the first buyer even before it officially goes on the market, for full-price? Wouldn’t that possibly imply that it was underpriced?</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I was so deflated by the loss of the sublime that I couldn’t think of anything else for days. Don’t get me wrong: I knew that this wasn’t a life sentence, or anything remotely as significant. I’ve always known that my idea of buying a pied-a-terre in Paris is a complete luxury, but it has been my dream for years, and I’ve made a lot of concessions to achieve this dream. So losing the best one that came my way was a huge loss. Nothing too serious, I realize, but still … enough hurt and sadness and loss that it has taken its toll, and a long while to recover. </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And then I started wondering about the whole price thing. Perhaps I was the one who was ridiculous here, because hadn’t I agreed to pay full price for a shabby, dusty, dirty apartment that needed to be renovated from scratch and was a <em>third floor walk up</em>? What if, for sake of argument, I took the money I was about to throw at something sight unseen and spent it on a house that I could actually see in Atlanta? What kind of house would that buy me in Atlanta? And that led me to a very interesting comparison. Who’s being ridiculous now?</span> </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnPbtzFYI/AAAAAAAAATY/BPbIx2TbmaA/s1600-h/L1030264%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="L1030264" border="0" alt="L1030264" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnQHGs6VI/AAAAAAAAATc/Gtcp1YVhWdE/L1030264_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="434" height="326" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Le Sublime: Trash filled, one bedroom, needing a major facelift</span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnRdBmpWI/AAAAAAAAATg/N7tJOvhN3tU/s1600-h/3980798_0%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="3980798_0" border="0" alt="3980798_0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnSNSPHGI/AAAAAAAAATk/3HskF8obpJI/3980798_0_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="440" height="324" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And what the same dollars would buy today in Atlanta</span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnSqBLx0I/AAAAAAAAATo/jUQ4iXRf0iA/s1600-h/4016326_0%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="4016326_0" border="0" alt="4016326_0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnTj6e2-I/AAAAAAAAATs/xXWdNu7qB64/4016326_0_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="455" height="305" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnUxGwksI/AAAAAAAAATw/g1p9H9JsetU/s1600-h/3875915_0%5B1%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="3875915_0" border="0" alt="3875915_0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnVcxWr8I/AAAAAAAAAT0/mdMxF0LovFM/3875915_0_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" height="312" /></span></a></p><br /><p align="center"><br /> </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnVx4A2JI/AAAAAAAAAT4/1J33tz2A4pw/s1600-h/4036578_0%5B1%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="4036578_0" border="0" alt="4036578_0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnWkGu4JI/AAAAAAAAAT8/EmLVxf7X4X4/4036578_0_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="463" height="348" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnXbiRJOI/AAAAAAAAAUA/2InbNILYUy4/s1600-h/4048511_19%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="4048511_19" border="0" alt="4048511_19" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnX2721sI/AAAAAAAAAUI/DW3iCEYfzt8/4048511_19_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="472" height="355" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><p align="center"><br /> </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnYQBjy3I/AAAAAAAAAUM/Zwerz55oQAQ/s1600-h/4088587_0%5B1%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="4088587_0" border="0" alt="4088587_0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnZJCcmDI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/MRSjiLIfxpw/4088587_0_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="470" height="313" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The kitchen at Le Sublime</span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnahMQG8I/AAAAAAAAAUU/aNJhxWDYOXQ/s1600-h/trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_4%5B1%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_4" border="0" alt="trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnbL6fdAI/AAAAAAAAAUY/_BNjHfgvX_0/trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_4_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="288" height="396" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The kitchen at the Atlanta equivalents</span><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnbu7lAbI/AAAAAAAAAUc/O5JeFJYWo4w/s1600-h/4016326_33.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" title="4016326_3" border="0" alt="4016326_3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnb7zK-MI/AAAAAAAAAUg/LZ5l1XuFe4s/4016326_3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="470" height="315" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><p align="center"><br /> </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwncbC01TI/AAAAAAAAAUk/GX9lHnWpJd4/s1600-h/4048511_23.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" title="4048511_2" border="0" alt="4048511_2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnds7BVcI/AAAAAAAAAUo/Pc927Y9ZMpQ/4048511_2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="481" height="362" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The 17th century beams at Le Sublime</span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnd9wYyiI/AAAAAAAAAUs/Ou_oqv35Pyg/s1600-h/Sublime63.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" title="Sublime 6" border="0" alt="Sublime 6" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnefO9m0I/AAAAAAAAAUw/3hert6gLkHw/Sublime6_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="389" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The beams in Atlanta</span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnevgn4sI/AAAAAAAAAU0/nk0xS6urWd4/s1600-h/4104443_43.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" title="4104443_4" border="0" alt="4104443_4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnfK7T7QI/AAAAAAAAAU4/R-F-L4RjQ3g/4104443_4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="507" height="337" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The 10 foot ceilings of Le Sublime</span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnfQoEhEI/AAAAAAAAAU8/4YIuKzL_oh8/s1600-h/L10302623.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" title="L1030262" border="0" alt="L1030262" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnf6xeJXI/AAAAAAAAAVA/g0buwztWmaQ/L1030262_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="516" height="388" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The 20 foot ceilings in Atlanta</span><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwngOpsxiI/AAAAAAAAAVE/wE_wEJPKUEQ/s1600-h/4088587_53.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" title="4088587_5" border="0" alt="4088587_5" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwngt2_9lI/AAAAAAAAAVI/rwsFdjygwCg/4088587_5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="541" height="360" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The “back yard” view from Le Sublime</span><br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnhBs6hyI/AAAAAAAAAVM/X7NHz2MU4-g/s1600-h/trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_24.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" title="trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_2" border="0" alt="trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnh0MIh_I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/uAVG6zdDvok/trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_2_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" height="494" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The backyard of Atlanta</span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwnieJ3mrI/AAAAAAAAAVU/blGRJBCPB5Q/s1600-h/4079888_43.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px" title="4079888_4" border="0" alt="4079888_4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIwni0ik6_I/AAAAAAAAAVY/6GJKnKmrcCw/4079888_4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" height="310" /></span></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">All Atlanta photos courtesy of Atlanta Fine Homes</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This house, located on one of the nicest streets in the fanciest neighborhoods of Atlanta, really spoke to me (and I’ve always had a soft spot for a pool, especially onethat you can just walk out to from the main floor). And I can hear all my French friends questioning my sanity for even considering a dusty, noisy 3rd floor walkup apartment in a creaky, 17th century Parisian building in the 3rd Arrondissement, over a pristine house in perfect condition on Valley Road in Atlanta. </span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here we sit in beautiful sunny Atlanta with more houses on the market than ever before and with surplus inventory for years to come. And in Paris, I can’t even be the first bid, even when I’m ready to pounce with a fulltime offer before the apartment goes on the market. Is there something wrong with this picture? Have we indeed gone from the sublime to the ridiculous?</span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">This whole game has not been about price but about realizing a long-time dream. So no matter how beautiful a house might be in Atlanta, or Phoenix or Dallas or Boston, it’s not what I’m going after right now. In many ways, this exercise has helped me with a dose of reality. Maybe it’s time to relax a little, and let things follow their course. <em><strong>Le sublime</strong></em> wasn’t meant to be, but maybe it was meant to slow me down. Was it really worth my getting so worked up and upset over something as basic as … an apartment? Surely, there will be others. And surely, I need to get a grip on reality. Maybe even get my priorities refocused. </span></p><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I think I’ll take a break for a while, to smell the coffee, consider my priorities and be appreciative of the things in life that really matter. Like my <em><strong>sublime</strong></em> family, my friends, and my gallery. </span></p><br /><br /><p>Tata,</p><br /><br /><p>A.</p></div>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-13586437059583256202010-09-08T12:02:00.001-07:002010-09-08T12:07:34.455-07:00Hunting for the Paris Apartment, part IX: From the sublime …<p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdskmaThI/AAAAAAAAAR8/Ot-h2SBCcgo/s1600-h/ParisStamp33.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="ParisStamp[3]" border="0" alt="ParisStamp[3]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfds29wT8I/AAAAAAAAASA/XtRMqkpR358/ParisStamp3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="112" height="171" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I got a call from my agent. “I’m on to something,” she said, “and it is <b><i>sublime</i></b>. As soon as it comes on the market, you’ll want to act immediately.” </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdtC-HaEI/AAAAAAAAASE/dnfxlxmA_E8/s1600-h/Sublime44.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="Sublime 4" border="0" alt="Sublime 4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdteikjCI/AAAAAAAAASI/oQN07FPqQPY/Sublime4_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="245" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I know, I know. Paris property is so hot that the good ones go even before they even come on the market. In fact, if it appears on the internet, it usually means that it’s overpriced or undesirable, because everything else sells to a long list of private buyers. I was lucky on this one, though. My agent assured me that she would be the first to see it as soon as the selling agent had the key.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdtlzDC1I/AAAAAAAAASM/Nlg1C1xuDok/s1600-h/trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_34.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_3" border="0" alt="trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdt-i4XCI/AAAAAAAAASQ/YGne_K5nHFg/trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_3_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="310" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The few photos she sent had me jumping with excitement, and I immediately googled the area, counting the steps from the chunky old front door to the sumptuous Place des Vosges. I flipped out over the high ceilings, the elegant 17th century building, the gorgeous beams and floors, the four-paned windows and the rustic wall beams that are the signature of so many buildings in the beautiful Marais. Through google, I ogled the view from the windows, measured the distance across the street, visited every storefront on the rue de Turenne, and eyeballed the angle of the sun. I imagined the dirty floors cleaned up and decorated sumptuously in the style of the Marais and in keeping with the building’s pedigree: Formal Louis XV mixed with some modern glam to reflect building’s the austere 17<sup>th</sup> century elegance and its rustic complement.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We didn’t have the key in hand but this apartment already had the key to my heart. I was falling in love with the <strong><em>sublime</em></strong>. In my mind, it was mine and I was dreaming of its facelift:</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfduOVqrfI/AAAAAAAAASU/rHW8B8Rmqs8/s1600-h/Sublime14.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="Sublime 1" border="0" alt="Sublime 1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfduR9poBI/AAAAAAAAASY/538-qCXhRzE/Sublime1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="470" height="354" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Would the living room be transformed from this to the beauty, below? </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfduhyObnI/AAAAAAAAASc/La8uZV2SlfE/s1600-h/sublimereno4CourtesyHaveninParis3.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="sublime reno4 Courtesy Haven in Paris" border="0" alt="sublime reno4 Courtesy Haven in Paris" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdvCGumcI/AAAAAAAAASg/wL7yvBVld_A/sublimereno4CourtesyHaveninParis_thu.jpg?imgmax=800" width="491" height="329" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Photo Haven in Paris</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdvT4dSVI/AAAAAAAAASk/jKN0Qu9N6Fk/s1600-h/L10302647.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="L1030264" border="0" alt="L1030264" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdvvnvjfI/AAAAAAAAASo/nSG7OVrkUVg/L1030264_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="466" height="351" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Would the rough hewn wall beams above morph into the elegance below? </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdwN1diWI/AAAAAAAAASs/9WZP2hTdwGE/s1600-h/AudreyBio87383.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="AudreyBio-8738" border="0" alt="AudreyBio-8738" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdwcXh4NI/AAAAAAAAASw/2qeA4_WE7_A/AudreyBio8738_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="473" height="301" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Photo, above, Haven in Paris</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdwm7lnSI/AAAAAAAAAS0/1N-X3Q3_WeM/s1600-h/Sublime33.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="Sublime 3" border="0" alt="Sublime 3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdwhWqZII/AAAAAAAAAS4/ICRyUcmEegA/Sublime3_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="449" height="338" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> And would the bedroom through the doorway (look how small the door is compared to the high ceilings!), end up like this: </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdxPBHRBI/AAAAAAAAAS8/s4WqqZJLSWc/s1600-h/_MG_73433.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="_MG_7343" border="0" alt="_MG_7343" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdxGmkv6I/AAAAAAAAATA/gRnz6yLj2Fc/_MG_7343_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="452" height="303" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Photo (above) Haven in Paris</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdxbAee3I/AAAAAAAAATE/iq8R3a2Y4Tw/s1600-h/trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_43.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_4" border="0" alt="trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdxkb1sGI/AAAAAAAAATI/YTiB4KjlsFY/trans21_4_202_468_9820_1_4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="285" height="392" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> And finally, would the sweet little kitchen gain soft sophistication, like this?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdxzclKyI/AAAAAAAAATM/_RjgT3QXL38/s1600-h/lesublimekitchen6.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TIfdyexacbI/AAAAAAAAATQ/haDuFVqVlk8/lesublimekitchen_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="311" height="411" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Photo Haven in Paris</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">“So when are you getting the keys?” I asked, barely able to contain my excitement, after decorating every imaginary room, and trying to hide my growing impatience. “Soon,” I was assured. “Don’t worry; you’ll be the first.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When my agent called on Friday evening to say that she was getting the keys the next day, I was just about ready to burst. It’s unusual for a Parisian realtor to work on Saturdays, but mine is American and she does things a little differently. “I’ll call you from the apartment,” she said, at 11 p.m. her time. “I promise! I’ll be there when you wake up.” We agreed to a full-price offer, sight unseen, because I knew that this one was worth it, and it was the only way to secure the first bid.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When the phone rang at 8 a.m.on Saturday, I’d already been out for a walk with the dog and a workout at our clubhouse. I had eaten a full breakfast and read the entire N.Y. Times. I was starting a load of laundry and working on my taxes, just to keep myself from bursting with anticipation. One of the things that I’ve loved about my agent is that she gets it like I do. She sees the beauty in the old and knows just how to transform it. No wall is too solid and no task is too daunting for her. Every detail is important and we can spend hours on the phone discussing the door knobs, coat hooks or the shape of an oval window. I knew she’d give me a full report and I couldn’t wait for all the nitty gritty details: Were the floors all gorgeous? Were the beams aged to perfection? What about the courtyard? What were the common areas like? How high were the ceilings? Where was the bathroom? What was the angle of the sun?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And of course the question I was most anxious to have answered: When will the <strong><em>sublime</em></strong> soon be mine?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Stay tuned for next week, “From the Sublime … part deux”</span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-37031134371828958592010-08-23T10:10:00.001-07:002010-08-24T06:31:31.505-07:00Herringbone Envy – Hunting for the Paris Apartment, Part VIII<p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THPI8KcSCII/AAAAAAAAARo/Jpq10TGELBI/s1600-h/ParisStamp%5B3%5D%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="ParisStamp[3]" border="0" alt="ParisStamp[3]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THPI8WKImjI/AAAAAAAAARs/pfR_3r0P_eU/ParisStamp%5B3%5D_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="114" height="174" /></a></p><p></p><p>Today I’m excited because I’ve found an apartment that’s got my favorite floors. I know, that’s not much to get excited about but I really love these floors. To me, the herringbone style scream “Parisian” more than anything. In French, these floors are called “Pointes d’Hongrie” and I find them to be as yummy as Pierre Herme macaroons and as gorgeous as a Chanel tweed suit. I would be crazy enough to buy a Parisian apartment just because of these floors.</p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrV0vvfLI/AAAAAAAAAQc/chLAwVyP1Ig/s1600-h/Herringbone13.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="Herringbone 1" border="0" alt="Herringbone 1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrV5OmZmI/AAAAAAAAAQg/of9JXJle3to/Herringbone1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" height="445" /></a></p><p></p><p align="center">My favorite herringbone patterned floors, called “Pointes d’Hongrie”</p><p>Pointes d’Hongrie are not actually considered to be as classy in real estate terms as Pointes de Versailles, which are the 17<sup>th</sup> century equivalent, and as the name indicates, the gorgeous parquet floors that grace the Palace of Versailles. </p><p> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrWEnnCiI/AAAAAAAAAQk/ABGirY8HgGc/s1600-h/parquet_versailles11004402743.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="parquet_versailles-1100440274" border="0" alt="parquet_versailles-1100440274" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrWYI9zjI/AAAAAAAAAQo/MuGCIKitrv4/parquet_versailles1100440274_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="481" height="427" /></a> </p><p align="center">The Parquet de Versaille (Courtesy of Atelier des Granges)</p><p> </p><p>By comparison, Pointes d’Hongrie show up in buildings that were constructed in modern times, the mid to late 1800’s. But to me they are the quintessentially Parisian floors you’d find in a gorgeous big old Haussmann style building, flanked by 200 year old plane trees on the Boulevard St. Germain. Usually, along with the herringbone floors, you’ll get nice ceiling moldings and a good ceiling height, solid oak doors with the porcelain oval shaped handles and at least one fireplace with mantel. All I really want is an apartment with these features, in a nice neighborhood, with no vis a vis, facing south! That would be perfection.</p><p>At first glance, this apartment may have it all. It’s a two bedroom, one bath, separate kitchen (immediately I think to put the kitchen in the living room and you’ve got a second bath), with the classic “parquet, moulure, cheminee” which are the trifecta of Parisian apartments. The address says, “St. Germain, near Cluny,” which means the beautiful Cluny museum in the much coveted 5<sup>th</sup> Arrondissement. It is a little misleading because of course the St. Germain that we all covet is the area near the Eglise St. Germain, better known for the Cafe de Flore, Cafe des Magots, and the brand new Ralph Lauren boutique. </p><p> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrWyp0nQI/AAAAAAAAAQs/-k5NvqrfW6M/s1600-h/ClunyMuseum3.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="Cluny Museum" border="0" alt="Cluny Museum" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrW-Z9qZI/AAAAAAAAAQw/obi3fiGu4AU/ClunyMuseum_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="276" /></a></p><p></p><p align="center">The Cluny Museum, Paris</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The “Cluny” designation could be good or bad. If you’re too close to the Sorbonne, the value goes down because of al l the students in the area. If you’re too close to Boulevard St. Michel, it’s extremely touristy, and, I have it from a good source, the number one area for pickpockets in Paris. But there is a little section between Boulevard St. Germain and the Seine River that is quieter, with fewer students, fewer tourists and lots of great restaurants and hidden little squares. Plus, it is the epicenter of historic Paris, very close to Notre Dame, with charming buildings and unfortunately, skyrocketing prices.</p><p>I only have two pictures of this apartment and despite the fact that the price is more than I want to spend, I’m interested because it could be in that coveted little location and it’s a high floor, with elevator. But really, for this apartment, it’s all about the floors. I just love them!</p><p> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrXzQXTqI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/AnjQ1kwzjmw/s1600-h/Herringbone23.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="Herringbone 2" border="0" alt="Herringbone 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrYFBeMpI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/KHjvIjgNQfg/Herringbone2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="340" height="452" /></a>One of two pictures of the apartment, and all I have to go by </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="left">And even though I have so little to go by, I can already imagine what these floors will look like when I’m finished with them. Sanded, with only a natural matt stain, polished to perfection, with that wonderful subtle beeswax smell. I can already fantasize about how these floors will come out, like in these gorgeous apartments from Paris Perfect’s site:</p><p align="left"> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrYJWVYxI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/sSXNMKrcTX4/s1600-h/large_950540839-1237292484-03-CRW_7075%5B1%5D%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="large_950540839-1237292484-03-CRW_7075[1]" border="0" alt="large_950540839-1237292484-03-CRW_7075[1]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrYe5o88I/AAAAAAAAARA/NmsgazrNMes/large_950540839-1237292484-03-CRW_7075%5B1%5D_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="508" height="382" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrYtmWhUI/AAAAAAAAARE/A-aUcbK3Mrg/s1600-h/large_962173410-1236808688-cote-06-051211%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="large_962173410-1236808688-cote-06-051211" border="0" alt="large_962173410-1236808688-cote-06-051211" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrY36B4dI/AAAAAAAAARI/21J8o0dOyTg/large_962173410-1236808688-cote-06-051211_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="512" height="385" /></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrZL-D0LI/AAAAAAAAARM/Q_KVku64CeQ/s1600-h/large_950540839-1237289025-cote-08-051211%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="large_950540839-1237289025-cote-08-051211" border="0" alt="large_950540839-1237289025-cote-08-051211" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrZQ75ybI/AAAAAAAAARQ/kop_TfyZSDU/large_950540839-1237289025-cote-08-051211_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="499" height="375" /></a></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"> </p><p align="left"> </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrZv_TrxI/AAAAAAAAARU/KhtHpOfeY30/s1600-h/large_962173410-1236808699-cote-06a-051211%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="large_962173410-1236808699-cote-06a-051211" border="0" alt="large_962173410-1236808699-cote-06a-051211" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrZza_jeI/AAAAAAAAARY/A4Y2mNZuvfk/large_962173410-1236808699-cote-06a-051211_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="505" height="380" /></a> Photos courtesy of Paris Perfect</p><p align="center"> </p><p>I call the agent to get more information and he is very cagy about the specific location but says it’s close to the Cluny metro stop. I urge him to tell me which way it faces, which will determine if it’s on Boulevard St. Germain (facing South but noisy) or a side street. He says it faces South East, and the bathroom and kitchen are on a courtyard. So the bedrooms face the street, I ask? Yes, but it’s a small street, he answers. Aha, that narrows it down. It’s not on the Boulevard St. Germain (nice, but noisy) or the Boulevard St. Michel (luckily!). He tells me a little more about the apartment, but nothing I don’t already expect, such as the kitchen and bathroom need to be redone. I thank him and tell him I’ll be back in touch. And then I head to Google maps for my morning exercise.</p><p>Armed with one picture that shows the building across the street, I narrow it down to two little streets that run off the Boulevard St. Germain with buildings that face Southeast. So then I get out my French site, Pages Blanches, and start looking at the buildings in 3D to figure out which one has that rounded dormer, as in the picture. After lots of straining and manipulating of my computer screen, I narrow it down to two possibilities, but then I see that to the right of the dormer, there is a wall and a new building. Aha! I’ve figured it out … it’s on the rue de la Harpe. </p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKrae2_XxI/AAAAAAAAARc/V9rwBa9RwhU/s1600-h/RuedelaHarpe3.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto" title="The Latin Quarter, Paris, France" border="0" alt="The Latin Quarter, Paris, France" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/THKratxNL3I/AAAAAAAAARg/FffT7ngMeN8/RuedelaHarpe_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="480" height="321" /></a></p><p></p><p> </p><p>Rue de la Harpe strikes a familiar bell and it’s not necessarily a good one. I’m not sure why, so I revert back to google maps and start “walking” up and down the street again. It’s very touristy and there are a ton of restaurants, so I realize it’ll be noisy. Heart sinks a little. At one end of the street is the beautiful old Church of St. Severin, one of my favorites in Paris, where Francois Espinasse, the brother of our artist Jean Michel Espinasse, is the organist. That’s pretty cool but probably not a reason to buy an apartment down the street. So I turn around and head back up the street towards St. Germain, stumbling over the tourists and imagining the ruckus at midnight. And then it hits me fair and square: McDo! There is a McDonalds on the corner of Boulevard St. Germain and rue de la Harpe! This time, I put on my proverbial running shoes on and bolt down the street as fast as I can, leaving my favorite floors and my trusted google maps in the dust.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Stay tuned: Le sublime is lurking around the corner …</p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-27159897962782899952010-08-13T06:26:00.001-07:002010-08-13T06:45:30.297-07:00Hunting for the Paris Apartment VII - Hurt by the Spam Filter<p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Most Thursday afternoons, I get a little reminder on one of my Paris real estate websites that there are new listings “by owner” that fit my search criteria. I always feel pretty excited when this email pops up, because it’s a chance to jump on an opportunity before it is exposed to the masses. And I always feel ever so slightly smug that in this very competitive real estate jungle, I may be a half step ahead of my competitors who don’t speak French and don’t know about the “by owner” sites. I read these ads with relish and respond immediately if I see an ad that interests me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">One week, I didn’t get the ad on a Thursday, but instead it popped up on Friday evening, and was entitled, Week Ends’ Summary. I thought, “That’s odd – I don’t remember ever getting the ads yesterday,” and so I casually perused them, only to have my heart stop. There was an ad for an apartment on the Avenue de la Bourdonnais (already established earlier as one of my favorite avenues in Paris), fourth floor, elevator, with … you guessed it … a great view of the Grande Dame. As if that wasn’t enough, the four pictures in the ad confirmed my greatest suspicion: This was the perfect apartment in the perfect location. By now very familiar with this neighborhood, I could tell that exactly where it was situated, and figured out not only what it looked out over (Princess Caroline’s apartment across the street), but what building it was in.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH2eV8_5I/AAAAAAAAAOo/AFooTDPOQ3E/s1600-h/Bourdonnais%201%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: inline; HEIGHT: 199px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Bourdonnais 1" border="0" alt="Bourdonnais 1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH2-cXLFI/AAAAAAAAAOs/1xfs85Xkoz0/Bourdonnais%201_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> Gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower across Avenue de la Bourdonnais</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH3B3RrhI/AAAAAAAAAOw/aAWKRiyoCy0/s1600-h/Bourdonnais%20IV%5B2%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 278px; DISPLAY: inline; HEIGHT: 200px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Bourdonnais IV" border="0" alt="Bourdonnais IV" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH3STnmfI/AAAAAAAAAO0/9_PKZAORgEE/Bourdonnais%20IV_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The Building that houses royalty across the street, to the left</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH3piZkoI/AAAAAAAAAO4/hPVSlTJy5wM/s1600-h/Bourdonnais%20III%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 215px; DISPLAY: inline; HEIGHT: 254px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Bourdonnais III" border="0" alt="Bourdonnais III" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH3yZOiAI/AAAAAAAAAO8/ldgOtc5Qkq4/Bourdonnais%20III_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Typically Parisian Haussmann architecture</span> </p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH3ylmweI/AAAAAAAAAPA/OjIiyGMCzfw/s1600-h/Bourdonnais%20II%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 313px; DISPLAY: inline; HEIGHT: 206px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Bourdonnais II" border="0" alt="Bourdonnais II" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH4JP06YI/AAAAAAAAAPE/p-NBRC5SQ7Q/Bourdonnais%20II_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Photos that stopped my heart, on the By Owner site</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">There was one problem: It was 6 p.m. in Atlanta and midnight in Paris, and I didn’t think I’d make a great impression if I called the owner at that hour, no matter how excited I was. So I sent an email, spent the evening walking up and down the avenue (courtesy of Google maps!), and when I’d exhausted myself and calmed my nerves enough, went to bed and set my alarm for 4 a.m., so I could call bright and early Paris time.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Unfortunately, I was 24 hours too late, and the apartment was already sold. Bereft, and more disappointed than I’d been in years, I tried to figure out how I’d missed this one, since I was sure I’d been one of the first. And that’s when I found the original email, stuck in my spam filter, 24 hours earlier. I should have suspected that when I didn’t get it on Thursday, it might have gone in to spam. Had I seen it earlier, I would have jumped on it immediately and just maybe, I would have been the first offer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">When you have a disappointment like this, someone will inevitably pop up with, “It wasn’t meant to be.” It’s never much consolation at the time, but I have found it to be true – at least in this case. The new owners did a wonderful renovation job and it looks like a beautiful and very happy apartment. (Interestingly, since it’s available for rent, maybe I’ll even rent it some day.) Their renovation is so wonderful in fact that it has given me lots of ideas and inspiration for my own renovation, whenever that will be. </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH3piZkoI/AAAAAAAAAPI/YIdMGLMJz2M/s1600-h/Bourdonnais%20III%5B6%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Bourdonnais III" border="0" alt="Bourdonnais III" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH3yZOiAI/AAAAAAAAAPM/K-awdkPtPrs/Bourdonnais%20III_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="437" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><em>Before:</em></strong> Look carefully at the before and see what the new owners did with the after</span></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH4yjAuhI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/r1WU43hBvKA/s1600-h/large_230428350-1237466747-05-CRW_7356%5B1%5D%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="large_230428350-1237466747-05-CRW_7356[1]" border="0" alt="large_230428350-1237466747-05-CRW_7356[1]" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH5D0ya2I/AAAAAAAAAPU/_8_8LJqi510/large_230428350-1237466747-05-CRW_7356%5B1%5D_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="444" height="334" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><em>After:</em></strong> They replaced the radiator with a beautiful mantel</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH5RNkToI/AAAAAAAAAPY/zGyO1ewJVds/s1600-h/large_230428350-1237466693-04c-DSCN3241%5B1%5D%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="large_230428350-1237466693-04c-DSCN3241[1]" border="0" alt="large_230428350-1237466693-04c-DSCN3241[1]" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH5hTi7nI/AAAAAAAAAPg/l_Tt52KQsH8/large_230428350-1237466693-04c-DSCN3241%5B1%5D_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="313" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">And added sumptuous decor</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH6PxoRKI/AAAAAAAAAPo/rqL_iCg8Lb8/s1600-h/large_230428350-1237466729-05b-CRW_7244%5B1%5D%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="large_230428350-1237466729-05b-CRW_7244[1]" border="0" alt="large_230428350-1237466729-05b-CRW_7244[1]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH6X0Q_6I/AAAAAAAAAPs/iw7eH7xXzb4/large_230428350-1237466729-05b-CRW_7244%5B1%5D_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="444" height="334" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">This is just the kind of inspiration I need for my dream apartment!</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH6vQTrqI/AAAAAAAAAPw/vWreVsULfOU/s1600-h/large_591861208-1268044276-Paris%20apartment-rental-french-style-2-bedrooms%5B7%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="large_591861208-1268044276-Paris apartment-rental-french-style-2-bedrooms" border="0" alt="large_591861208-1268044276-Paris apartment-rental-french-style-2-bedrooms" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH7DCj5kI/AAAAAAAAAP0/KsYlIE5DExE/large_591861208-1268044276-Paris%20apartment-rental-french-style-2-bedrooms_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="479" height="360" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><em>Before:</em></strong> And if you look carefully at the back of the apartment</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH7RlVQdI/AAAAAAAAAP4/CqoteLE9CX4/s1600-h/Bourdonnais%20II%5B9%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="Bourdonnais II" border="0" alt="Bourdonnais II" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH7i20N4I/AAAAAAAAAP8/xmcny3sZ9oo/Bourdonnais%20II_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="436" height="328" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">You’ll see that they closed off the door to the study,</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH8EiT6CI/AAAAAAAAAQA/NLYTsj4byKk/s1600-h/large_591861208-1268046668-Paris_apartment_for_rent_French_Provincial_style%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="large_591861208-1268046668-Paris_apartment_for_rent_French_Provincial_style" border="0" alt="large_591861208-1268046668-Paris_apartment_for_rent_French_Provincial_style" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH8u-EPlI/AAAAAAAAAQE/A8YhJDVIHNo/large_591861208-1268046668-Paris_apartment_for_rent_French_Provincial_style_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="438" height="330" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">which makes the dining room feel bigger</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH8zfoutI/AAAAAAAAAQI/Sw8jMVyi1bg/s1600-h/large_198441175-1238533193-09-CRW_7444%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="large_198441175-1238533193-09-CRW_7444" border="0" alt="large_198441175-1238533193-09-CRW_7444" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH9bCIHBI/AAAAAAAAAQM/nwfS28iOfqE/large_198441175-1238533193-09-CRW_7444_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="346" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">And added a beautiful bedroom behind those doors.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH9pVb4SI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/lxWQd5vTxjA/s1600-h/large_749094741-1245586758-P1050294-watermark_resized%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-TOP: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT: 0px" title="large_749094741-1245586758-P1050294-watermark_resized" border="0" alt="large_749094741-1245586758-P1050294-watermark_resized" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TGVH9zcAksI/AAAAAAAAAQU/3N9QQeZ6zxw/large_749094741-1245586758-P1050294-watermark_resized_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="450" height="301" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Tada! The piece de resistance.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Although I didn’t know it at the time, and it wouldn’t have stopped me from buying this apartment, I have learned that probably the most important thing for me, equal to or even greater than location and view, is light. By that I mean preferably southern exposure, or in Paris, because it stays light so late in the summer, west is good too. That’s because the weather in Paris can be disappointingly dreary, but when it’s nice and sunny, it’s just gorgeous. I find myself wandering around on sunny days and looking up and coveting those western or southern exposed apartments that are bathed in sun. So although this dreamy apartment does have one beautiful window facing west (from which there is the million dollar view), the others all face north. That wouldn’t bother most people, but it would bother me. At the time that I lost this apartment, I felt hurt and deceived by my overly protective spam filter. Now I’m thinking it just wasn’t meant to be. And so the hunt -- for the perfect southwest facing apartment with gorgeous floors and killer view of the Eiffel tower, in the 7th arrondissement -- continues. Stay tuned for “Herringbone Envy.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Tata,</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">A.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">PS: All photos of the after shots, courtesy of Paris Perfect.</span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-19738393795981272702010-08-02T08:59:00.001-07:002010-08-04T12:20:14.251-07:00Hunting for a Paris Apartment VI - How (not) to make an offer<p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">If truth be told, I started writing this blog with the overly optimistic title, “How to make an offer.” But unfortunately, a couple of days into the offer process I realized I'd have to change it to, “How NOT to make an offer,” as I stumbled along making mistakes at every turn. I guess this is what it’s all about: learning to perfect the tricky process of pursuing the dream. I’m happy to share the good with the bad, and hoping that anyone who is accompanying me on this journey will benefit from learning about both. So this is what happened …</span></p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrPOviV_I/AAAAAAAAANM/tKCBAT-WG-k/s1600-h/CroppedviewfromLR7.jpg"><img title="Cropped view from LR" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Cropped view from LR" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrP-m07II/AAAAAAAAANQ/UANi_AFxtck/CroppedviewfromLR_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="143" height="296" /></a></span> </p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Although I've been trying other neighborhoods in Paris, I keep coming back to the familiar 7th arrondissement, yearning for a view of the Eiffel Tower, and a fabulous food fix on the rue Cler. So when a listing with this image popped up on my radar, I jumped at it. In fact, knowing the competitive Paris real estate market, and realizing that I would lose it if I didn’t make a full price offer immediately, I did that – even though the price seemed a little high. However views like this don’t come around very often, and so I figured it was worth it, even though it was priced too high for the size, location (and I later learned, architectural style). I knew that this was not a charming older apartment with high ceilings, moldings and lovely floors. But this one had a secret weapon in addition to the killer view: A small terrace and the possibility of a roof garden! So when I weighed that against the price, it seemed like a fair trade, and I reassured myself that this was the right move. </span></p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrP9JNGlI/AAAAAAAAANU/3OgziVzsnOU/s1600-h/3520011585176b15.jpg"><img title="3520-01-1585176-b[1]" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="3520-01-1585176-b[1]" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrQd0fQ1I/AAAAAAAAANY/trR5emPkyJ0/3520011585176b1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="379" height="285" /></a></span> </p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrQZIngDI/AAAAAAAAANc/mFcHr-jmGxg/s1600-h/153universiteDavid3.jpg"><img title="153universiteDavid" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="153universiteDavid" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrQ8ZE9II/AAAAAAAAANg/vo1mVmAtfZ4/153universiteDavid_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="354" height="332" /></a></span> </p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">I didn’t have much to go by with the pictures of the interior, which were boring and nondescript. But all I needed was a floorplan to figure out that this could be turned into a great little mid-century modern apartment with dark high gloss floors, a sleek little hi-tech kitchen, a nice little balcony and a sexy spiral staircase leading to an imagined roof garden. That was enough for me: My offer was accepted and I hopped on the next plane to visit the apartment and seal the deal. </span></p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Here was the first and probably costliest mistake: if I had honed my google map skills and studied the information available (for free!) on the internet, I would have known before purchasing the plane ticket that this apartment was not for me. I would have realized, first off, that this part of the rue de l’Universite is not the charming “Rue de Loo” that Julia Child lived on and raved about. I would have figured out that most of the apartments surrounding this one were actually towering over it, so that even if we had been able to put in a roof garden (a big if, of course), we may have ended up sitting in a proverbial fishbowl. I would have noticed that there were actually higher buildings between this apartment and the Eiffel tower, blocking the view from all but a sliver in the living room. And finally, I would have known that buildings built in the 1960’s are less valuable than the pre-1900’s so that the price I had quickly agreed to was at least 10% too high for the area.</span></p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">But this was my first offer, and I was still learning the rules. So imagine my surprise, after I had spent a small fortune on a plane ticket and hotel accommodation, and thought I was going to find this:</span></p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrRepvL1I/AAAAAAAAANk/QZzT52coK4I/s1600-h/3520011585176a15.jpg"><img title="3520-01-1585176-a[1]" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="3520-01-1585176-a[1]" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrRnHozUI/AAAAAAAAANo/Oglf5t8Miz4/3520011585176a1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="405" height="537" /></a></span> </p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p align="center" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">But actually in reality, the view looked like this:</span></p> <p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrR8YN2NI/AAAAAAAAANs/-L9fsH3netE/s1600-h/ViewfrominsideLR5.jpg"><img title="View from inside LR" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="View from inside LR" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrRxA7mbI/AAAAAAAAANw/wynB5sjawpI/ViewfrominsideLR_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="435" height="327" /></a></span> </p> <p align="center" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">It was a little better from the balcony but still not what I had bargained for:</span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrSBlOfCI/AAAAAAAAAN0/AKuAi-QFw9k/s1600-h/ViewfromLR5.jpg"><img title="View from LR" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="View from LR" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrSaCp-2I/AAAAAAAAAN4/-qGXRyuQ8pY/ViewfromLR_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="442" height="332" /></a></span></div><p style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p align="center" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Although probably would have quite stunning at night, when the Eiffel tower does its scintillating show.</span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrSqjS9sI/AAAAAAAAAN8/nTDuPdKq5vA/s1600-h/ViewNorth4.jpg"><img title="View North" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="View North" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrS8grznI/AAAAAAAAAOA/IOlnmF0EvtA/ViewNorth_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="464" height="349" /></a></span></div><p face="trebuchet ms"> </p> <p align="center" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">View to the North</span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrTAJ96KI/AAAAAAAAAOE/RwkA6jTH3XY/s1600-h/Pictures0074.jpg"><img title="Pictures 007" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="Pictures 007" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrUD0UqgI/AAAAAAAAAOI/4qQAhY1HRvs/Pictures007_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="469" height="353" /></a></span></div><p face="trebuchet ms"> </p> <p align="center" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">View South</span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrUdDQxcI/AAAAAAAAAOM/yXX2z_YJwVM/s1600-h/CopyofBuildingtotheSouth.jpg4.jpg"><img title="Copy of Building to the South.jpg" style="border-width: 0px; display: inline;" alt="Copy of Building to the South.jpg" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrUruxYYI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/0yo3Z8uuJnY/CopyofBuildingtotheSouth.jpg_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="462" height="347" /></a></span></div><p face="trebuchet ms"> </p> <p align="center" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">View East</span></p> <p face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:85%;">Don't get me wrong: This is a nice apartment, and someone will be very happy living there because it’s in a safe, convenient location, and the building is well kept and completely quiet (for which people pay a huge premium in Paris). It's just not the right apartment for me. This was my second attempt at falling in love with a “newer building” and I realized from this mistake how much I value that Louis-like antique charm. It all goes back to my first real visit to Paris when I was fourteen, and we stayed at the Hotel du Duc de St. Simon. Something about the windows, the floors, the hardware, the narrow hallways, the molding and the views: That’s my fantasy and I’m sticking to it!</span></p> <p face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:85%;">Meanwhile, as I was stumbling along in the buying process, I had a little panic attack as I desperately needed to get out of my signed and accepted offer, for which I had already wired a significant sum of money. But luckily for me, French law is very much on the side of the buyer, and there are several “outs” before you actually have to commit. At this point, all I had committed was a big faux pas, which cost me nothing more than a plane ticket, a hotel room and several people's wrath. With little more than a letter of apology, I could walk away from the deal free and clear. </span></p> <p face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrUysL2jI/AAAAAAAAAOU/O6keABDtgZM/s1600-h/rc-1%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="rc-1" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="rc-1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrVPHEnsI/AAAAAAAAAOY/BdlZl7P1A5M/rc-1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="461" height="347" /></a></span> </p> <p face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:85%;">And walk is quite literally what I did, for the rest of my stay in Paris. I figured that if I was “stuck” in Paris for a few days, I would spend the time productively, familiarizing myself with every nook and cranny in the neighborhood. So for three days, I walked up and down the streets, taking in the architecture, the cafes and shops and the views, measuring the exposure to sunlight (yes, I do this!), the distance from the Metro, and the proximity to the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. I covered every square inch of every street that runs East of the Eiffel tower, South of the Seine, and NorthWest of Les Invalides. I have immersed myself in the the good, the bad and the ugly, and I knew just where I want to live, which, in fact, is just right around the corner. ...</span></p><p face="trebuchet ms"><span style="font-size:85%;">Stay tuned for “Hurt by the Spam Filter” – next week! </span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrVRoUXMI/AAAAAAAAAOc/ALmaqSZj6wU/s1600-h/Rue%20Cler%5B9%5D.jpg"><img title="Rue Cler" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Rue Cler" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TFbrVrh8T2I/AAAAAAAAAOg/8lSSbkbzrAg/Rue%20Cler_thumb%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="377" height="503" /></a></span> </p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Tata,</span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> </p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">A.</span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-60645907960869117792010-07-20T18:42:00.000-07:002010-07-25T09:04:37.686-07:00Hunting for a Paris Apartment Part V<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJuIDWOBHQinOoyepSVGB11v2S-4i5KvV3b7HBlgFrK5Qx1Sf0-A6TKUuyUMeXBJtSLdb_HeIa-qjmWAXUblKr6fCajVERqRavd0bEwrxpY-_CZ-IfIwHxNhf2_RqNPugctRT96q0cEE/s1600/From+the+outside+ile+st+louis.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJuIDWOBHQinOoyepSVGB11v2S-4i5KvV3b7HBlgFrK5Qx1Sf0-A6TKUuyUMeXBJtSLdb_HeIa-qjmWAXUblKr6fCajVERqRavd0bEwrxpY-_CZ-IfIwHxNhf2_RqNPugctRT96q0cEE/s320/From+the+outside+ile+st+louis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493574294362152274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The Quai Bourbon, on the Ile St. Louis<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">Heaven on the Ile St. Louis</span></span></div><br />I’ll say it right upfront. This is one of those situations where thank goodness I didn’t buy the apartment; not because it wasn’t great but because I could never have done as good a job with it as the people who ended up buying and renovating it. My guess is that the buyers were not American, because if they had been, their renovation costs, already quite significant, would have been astronomical, given where the dollar was at the time of this purchase. But whoever they are, I am happy for them and congratulate them on their exquisite taste and spectacular renovation of what was once a very ugly duckling apartment. <p> </p> <p>After scouring my favorite arrondissement (the 7<sup>th</sup>) for several months, and coming up with little or nothing, I decide to branch out into unfamiliar territory. I knew that I couldn’t go wrong with the Ile St. Louis, that little island of paradise that sits next to the Ile de la Cite (home of Notre Dame and lots of other marvels), smack in the oldest part of Paris. So when an apartment came up that overlooked one of the most stunning private courtyards of Paris, where the famous and somewhat maligned Camille Claudel had lived, I figured this could be my entrée into a different part of town. And of course the real estate listing didn’t need much to lure me, since the Ile St. Louis location and 4<sup>th</sup> floor with elevator were trophies in themselves.</p> <p> </p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0VzffR0fI/AAAAAAAAAIg/h-eGI8wOcK0/s1600-h/Quai%20de%20%20Bourbon%20Courtyard%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Quai de Bourbon Courtyard" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="Quai de Bourbon Courtyard" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0Vz_YAIXI/AAAAAAAAAIk/_Sw51EzV8Lc/Quai%20de%20%20Bourbon%20Courtyard_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="184" height="244" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The stunning courtyard, where Camille Claudel once lived</span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>What I actually found was a handsome set of heavy doors on the Quai de Bourbon, leading to one of the most gorgeous courtyards I’d ever seen, with a very average stairwell, and an acceptable elevator to a cramped apartment under the eaves of a 17<sup>th</sup> century “hotel particulier” in a terrible state of disrepair, with no view and a fairly high price. But then again, this was the Ile St. Louis. And although there was no view, which is usually the prize on the Ile St. Louis, the small windows did get good light, with Southwestern exposure. The ceilings were low but I was told that we could have access to “les combles” which is the much prized attic space that allows for the top floor resident, if voted and approved by the co-proprietors of a building, to break through the ceiling and have access to the attic or rafters. Of course, getting the permission is just half the battle. The other half is financing such an expansion, which can be significant.</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V0Ex0WkI/AAAAAAAAAIo/7PhPr7gWtkg/s1600-h/December%20January%202008%20008%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="December January 2008 008" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="December January 2008 008" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V0vutXpI/AAAAAAAAAIs/-AqKxPrlL7E/December%20January%202008%20008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="184" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;">V<span style="font-size:85%;">iew from the apartment, overlooking other stunning apartments and the courtyard</span></p> <p> </p> <p>The apartment was a great size – around 800 square feet – and would have worked well as a small two bedroom. But with the dollar still in freefall, and the state of the economy in major upheaval, it didn’t seem like the right time to take on a project of such magnitude and risk. It would have been fun to live in this building and to share a “cave” with some of the leading and oldest champagne families of France, as well as other distinguished co-proprietors . But I wasn’t sure that I could just love the Ile St. Louis. Nice place to visit, but where do you do your grocery shopping? And pharmacy? And public transportation? And where can you have a cup of coffee without being surrounded by tourists? Could you really have a life there or is it a transient community of wealthy absentee landlords mixed with short term renters? And how would my Scurry deal with four flights of stairs if the elevator ever went out?</p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V01JSjhI/AAAAAAAAAIw/qDhQtILMV6k/s1600-h/December%20January%202008%20010%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="December January 2008 010" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="December January 2008 010" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V1RHBQEI/AAAAAAAAAI0/c4PKDBREgQQ/December%20January%202008%20010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="184" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The study – windowless, dark and foreboding</span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V1owpeVI/AAAAAAAAAI4/ycRflRpkX7k/s1600-h/Quai%20de%20Bourbon%20before%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Quai de Bourbon before" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="Quai de Bourbon before" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V2OppXKI/AAAAAAAAAI8/I-l2RgtkmM0/Quai%20de%20Bourbon%20before_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="184" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The living room, with its old fashioned wall paper</span></p> <p> </p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V2Fpp2BI/AAAAAAAAAJA/eyf-Dmn6Buw/s1600-h/Quai%20Bourbon%20bedroom%20before%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="Quai Bourbon bedroom before" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="Quai Bourbon bedroom before" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V2mQ8hAI/AAAAAAAAAJE/pFOY7BT38tI/Quai%20Bourbon%20bedroom%20before_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="184" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The master bedroom: Wait til you see the after on this one!</span></p> <p> </p> <p>It was easy to justify all the reasons why I <b><i>didn’t</i></b> want this apartment, since it would have been a very hard sell with my better half (“Big Guy”) if I really <b><i>did</i></b> want it. So I let it go, without too much further thought, knowing that in the connubial arena of picking one's battles, this one would be tough to win. Luckily for the apartment, and the building, someone with exquisite taste, and a very adequate budget won their battle and got the prize, and what a wonderful marvel they turned it in to! Enjoy the photos. And know that my little search for the perfect pied-a terre is far from over. So if you're enjoying the ride, come along with me as I consider, next week, “How to make an offer.” </p><p><br /></p><p>Ta ta,<br /></p><p>A.<br /></p> <p> </p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V27bj3qI/AAAAAAAAAJI/eTbVa62x1q4/s1600-h/AudreyBio-8686%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="AudreyBio-8686" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="AudreyBio-8686" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V3ZC0AYI/AAAAAAAAAJM/GUjSySPpy_w/AudreyBio-8686_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="157" height="244" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">The new front hall; floor was added and ceiling beams were revealed</span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V3s4f2XI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/2AqVBhlaFig/s1600-h/AudreyBio-8688%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="AudreyBio-8688" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="AudreyBio-8688" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V3-FACgI/AAAAAAAAAJU/aTMj0Mg3kBc/AudreyBio-8688_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">View of the living room and dining room; the wall was taken down to the studs and the beams</span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V4eMRh9I/AAAAAAAAAJY/gILhX7OV60c/s1600-h/AudreyBio-2-2%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="AudreyBio-2-2" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="AudreyBio-2-2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V4eikHpI/AAAAAAAAAJc/IyCXkEag5r4/AudreyBio-2-2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">View of the living room from the master: fireplace was added</span></p> <p> </p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V47a2FQI/AAAAAAAAAJg/AYQqC3ODZoc/s1600-h/41-chambre-bis%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="41-chambre-bis" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="41-chambre-bis" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V5EMcMkI/AAAAAAAAAJk/SFpO4krhnbk/41-chambre-bis_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Master bedroom, with new beams and floors</span></p> <p> </p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V5SuYRyI/AAAAAAAAAJo/V3EkPVjSfWU/s1600-h/AudreyBio-8733%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="AudreyBio-8733" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="AudreyBio-8733" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V5iGwLsI/AAAAAAAAAJs/kn0-0thi2n0/AudreyBio-8733_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">View of the master bedroom from the living room</span></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V5xGDpWI/AAAAAAAAAJw/fZGh2HyGdrw/s1600-h/AudreyBio-8698%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="AudreyBio-8698" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="AudreyBio-8698" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V6GwtCJI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/cXVfgjSIwag/AudreyBio-8698_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">View of the living room from the dining room; again, that used to be a wall</span></p> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V6rcwwoI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/u2JXyFmCzYQ/s1600-h/AudreyBio-8818%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="AudreyBio-8818" style="border: 0px none; display: inline;" alt="AudreyBio-8818" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1VMT9tPgiJs/TD0V63xpwFI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/17KEy_xJyjw/AudreyBio-8818_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="244" height="164" /></a></div><p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;">What was once the dark and foreboding, grasscloth cloaked study – now a spectacular second bedroom</span></p> <p> </p> <p>All before photographs, with apologies for their quality, are by me! All after photos, courtesy of Haven in Paris.</p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-39395518191001251722010-07-08T08:59:00.001-07:002010-07-25T09:00:07.537-07:00Hunting for a Paris Apartment IV<p align="center"><em><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Postcards from Paris…</span></em><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15j3Qp2Ty0BWAWPmr-wReIX_nl4vdLB8wCRyeeJmOlHklNYHRUtoWroyyP4hy6z7ChdE6rr9v5DNBZV5IfIYW7sgbU9V-q59Jw6I33TXgcxvnJ5nKSeY1s2TxWCBHt-YQd413EsHDfbOn/s1600-h/Eiffel%20Tower%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Eiffel Tower" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Eiffel Tower" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYK4-bG-AI/AAAAAAAABwg/NexLSP3ds30/Eiffel%20Tower_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="365" height="278" /></span></a><em><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >The crown jewel of Paris</span></em><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >With no multiple listing service and realtors competing against each other, plus a shortage of inventory and sky rocketing prices on top of a painfully unfavorable exchange rate, it can be very daunting looking for an apartment in Paris, even if you speak the language and think you know your way around the internet. Or so I've learned the hard way.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >There are a several buyers’ agents out there, but they typically charge a very hefty fee for their service and I have been determined to try to beat the system and do it on my own. I've found several “by owner” sites on the internet and learned that their prices are as high and sometimes higher than the realtors, but at least they offer more inventory, since many of the realtor sites just offerthe same, tired and inferior apartments over and over.</span></p><br /><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Not only have I pored over the for sale listings, and subscribed to dozens of listing sites, but I’ve also read through all of the apartment rental sites to determine what makes a perfect rental apartment, if I want to rent it when I'm not there. For example, an elevator is absolutely essential if the apartment is on the 2<sup>nd</sup> floor or above. Personally, I like the exercise and enjoy going up several flights of stairs to be as high as possible (which in Paris is usually the 7<sup>th</sup> floor unless you are in one of those rare “modern” buildings, which could go as high as ten or fifteen). But most people don’t like to lug their suitcases up more than one floor, so an elevator is essential. </span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >That rules out many apartments in the older Arrondissements, like the 5<sup>th</sup> and 6<sup>th</sup>, because those 17<sup>th</sup> century buildings often cannot accommodate elevators. And some of the elevators in the newer, “Haussman” style apartment buildings are so tiny and scary, I wouldn’t be caught dead riding in them. But an elevator is that prized possession that is essential in a rental, and it automatically jacks up the price by as much as 100,000 or even 200,000 euros in some prime buildings.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >And then of course rule #2 is that you need to be in an old building, preferably 1900’s or before, but preferably with high ceilings. 1930’s buildings have recently come into favor with realtors, but Americans who rent apartments in Paris are really looking for the quintessential Parisian experience, and that is the Haussman like apartment with French doors, parquet floors, fireplace, molding, a bedroom overlooking a courtyard and a living room facing a tree and café lined boulevard. Rule #3 is, a view.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYK6I968qI/AAAAAAAABwk/jgW-I8-d-Z4/s1600-h/Eiffel%20Tower%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Eiffel Tower 2" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Eiffel Tower 2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNQL_6kvwVlhyQXemACWNKL00JFj6qpBM1rhEsAd_clAshJz4qh4cJHJlLSbV_21MNAT9KV3r688Zvlb8SdDKRlOQYdHb-PGXisEVHWCKlnILmQw4mxj0Yn9VhvNganmrAQeQleyEjdb4/?imgmax=800" border="0" width="390" height="297" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> Photo</em> c<em>ourtesy of <a href="http://www.parisperfect.com/" target="_blank">Paris Perfect</a>, View from “Champagne”</em></span></span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Some of the rental agencies think that a view is the most important feature in a rental, especially if there is a view of a coveted monument or, perhaps the greatest of all, the quintessential Paris landmark, the sparkling <em>Grande Dame</em>: the Eiffel Tower.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >So imagine my excitement when one of my favorite agents, a woman who owns one of the best rental agencies in town, sent me an urgent email with an apartment whose views were so distinctive and amazing, I could barely hold myself back from excitement. This is it!! Look no further!! On one side, there was a sweeping, in-your-face view of the Eiffel Tower. On the other side, a view of the Paris skyline and the golden dome of the Invalides. And all along one side of the apartment, there was a large and wide terrace, with enough room to seat two tables of six – an almost unheard of commodity in Paris.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYK76cPwuI/AAAAAAAABws/QYbtv09gafU/s1600-h/Eiffel%20Tower%20at%20dusk%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Eiffel Tower at dusk" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Eiffel Tower at dusk" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2CUhIMAkjcd7aMv-CrC40gOjUHbdnFmh8WzZX3WRuovKvy3coZTdzBdYAYch-tVVjzGMHsaxo8DeGF_hWCn2fk9I14iPRGrvoVnu4spUyTxP9-VwP7Ky1eGTIpIgn7LlfK9DmdojZWMI/?imgmax=800" border="0" width="387" height="294" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>The Eiffel Tower at dusk</em></span></span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYK-F6ge8I/AAAAAAAABw0/pJFDhtsLyds/s1600-h/Rooftop%20view%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Rooftop view" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Rooftop view" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1QuHmh75zXemH9vVitDvw7lHOId-bnsECNdlG56gLZMMsRfMRH9R48NNDg_z3mWX7kp48Wu_j20eEI_EzfSkSPoEmMXgG3TkM7Qaq2A2lyCFX0jb2qli_UbTfqEHTsvQVYXDYJUT-uD_/?imgmax=800" border="0" width="381" height="290" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>The golden dome of the Invalides shimmering in the distance</em></span></span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLAhnB78I/AAAAAAAABw8/TpnomCOujXE/s1600-h/Rooftop%20view%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Rooftop view 2" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Rooftop view 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLBh_zyjI/AAAAAAAABxA/OF4Yuu6gXno/Rooftop%20view%202_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="382" height="291" /></span></a><em><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > Oh la la, La Paris!</span></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLDNKVfAI/AAAAAAAABxE/4pEVUjsJFBI/s1600-h/Rooftop%20view%203%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Rooftop view 3" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Rooftop view 3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLEKNkJJI/AAAAAAAABxI/XvXZtwbe_TU/Rooftop%20view%203_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="377" height="287" /></span></a></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >The apartment had been purchased by an English couple but for some reason they pulled out at the last minute (the French law is rather forgiving in this way), and so it had recently come back on the market, and my agent was sure that it would sell quickly.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >An amazing view is a precious commodity in Paris. A private terrace is an even more precious commodity. So imagine having an apartment with views to die for AND a huge terrace from which to enjoy them! It sounded like a dream come true. Plus, I really trust and respect this agent, and if she says it’s a good apartment, then I know that it is.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNwZJp46ptsibE9DIfDl5ux50QxNiBaKFSPFHU_5fIAzYDrm8av1F1Z4z_HgGSnrjT-4YgD29D2BX1VyYvWENYXnNWGY7uuJTOdnvmX9bIOj3uC8YBeUVyFXgDft_U0sADY1PJP8wsLm0/s1600-h/Charming%20patio%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Charming patio" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Charming patio" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLHGUyZMI/AAAAAAAABxQ/q2mA5swZ5tg/Charming%20patio_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="389" height="296" /></span></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><em> A little oasis in the city</em><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >.</span></span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLInFW4CI/AAAAAAAABxU/UJt8z2UJHZI/s1600-h/A%20place%20to%20catch%20some%20sun%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="A place to catch some sun" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="A place to catch some sun" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLJnIMesI/AAAAAAAABxY/V3IDsXlIuz0/A%20place%20to%20catch%20some%20sun_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="390" height="297" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>The perfect spot to relax and soak up some sun.</em> </span></span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLLPxfLMI/AAAAAAAABxc/Q1ikfOHEIuQ/s1600-h/A%20place%20to%20dine%20al%20fresco%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="A place to dine al fresco" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="A place to dine al fresco" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg52dEatnGomf0KgEUBqhkvsxn9rRvOc4z0Ap3nGhUD51X9YzvgJasvFNuLHOj_Oy3-LoKEoNQG75tANVoo4a0HCZf0MjbiiAlt0qcqb3FfS165273CLAzOlIYEndM6r9LC8S-TG77JGInT/?imgmax=800" border="0" width="387" height="294" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>Dining al fresco with a view of Paris…perfection.</em></span></span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLONqGkcI/AAAAAAAABxk/N7ixcX_6kxM/s1600-h/Meandering%20blooms%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Meandering blooms" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Meandering blooms" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKs1ScAVDhDxqDkr2W_M3ljAqTo6Vd-TsioE-9__wfwhZz8tvfuDzNIw0yOnJ2vw6f6Nuo4O04YoisPqHHVQX_KCiQu8i7ZaGqt7DUcCd6LPyZSLpMf_M9s7cTG_rpTnobm-1YhGMx7uE/?imgmax=800" border="0" width="385" height="293" /></span></a><em><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > Flowers mingle with view of the cityscape</span></em><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >But as I started examining the pictures more closely, I realized that the floor was prefab parquet, the architecture was 1960’s boring, and the neighborhood was so-so. I actually sort of welcome an ugly interior, because it’s more of a challenge and more satisfying to transform it. And I even welcome the challenge of turning a boring 60’s modern apartment in to a beautiful 21st century modern mixed with antiques and a little glam. But the common areas of the building and the outside are a different matter.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLQ_V93yI/AAAAAAAABxs/ePYbCQyKaJ4/s1600-h/Living%20room%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Living room" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Living room" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLShf68_I/AAAAAAAABxw/x0DTQapgKMk/Living%20room_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="377" height="287" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>Lots of potential here!</em></span></span></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLUGqXAQI/AAAAAAAABx0/U665KbCz2xE/s1600-h/Kitchen%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Kitchen" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Kitchen" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLVJ724BI/AAAAAAAABx4/QctQHBgr-wE/Kitchen_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="383" height="291" /></span></a><em><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > The kitchen: not great, not terrible. At least there are windows!</span></em><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I got out my trusted Google maps and walked up and down the street, looking for restaurants and quaint little shops. Although the 7<sup>th</sup> arrondissement in general is my favorite, and the whole area is known to be safe, bourgeois, and very appealing, the immediate surrounding this apartment were not, and the street and apartment building were downright disappointing. </span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Although I welcomed the challenge of an inside renovation, I knew that nothing we could do could change the outside of the building or the lobby. I was also surprised that my favorite agent had suggested this to me, since she was the greatest proponent of buying “old.” But she insisted that the view was worth it and although she agreed that old would be better, and this one lacked charm from the outside, the apartment itself would be highly rentable. </span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLV8PxeVI/AAAAAAAABx8/yiC4foDvoR0/s1600-h/Entry%20gates%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Entry gates" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Entry gates" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSguNsq5TZn0oVUVTqN9Ji4jJQrdXkv6mDkQjxgYalsefRaVJa8oXGLZDgj_QPn7oqdjhr6CtrjCTRMseYIX6ZOCNbZ3yipLv3UVDFy7mXPl3DhyZVx3-BFOEW-KdfZ-KfZZ5ux1DXbEHM/?imgmax=800" border="0" width="383" height="291" /></span></a><em><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > The rather foreboding entrance ...</span></em><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLX0Ny1TI/AAAAAAAAByE/znYSwv5HbCQ/s1600-h/Entrance%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Entrance" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Entrance" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLZGCxnKI/AAAAAAAAByI/VjA5V-LyY6w/Entrance_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="287" height="377" /></span></a><em><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > Not quite the entrance I have been dreaming about ...</span></em><br /><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLZ3xBikI/AAAAAAAAByM/rARIPMNs_O4/s1600-h/The%20building%20facade%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="The building facade" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="The building facade" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TDYLaSBqy_I/AAAAAAAAByQ/apHE1zN4Rec/The%20building%20facade_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" border="0" width="283" height="372" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>What happened to architecture in the 1960's?</em></span></span><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >And that’s when I realized that although renting was part of our purchase decision, I didn’t want it to be the only driving force. I would be living there too, and I needed to love it and feel comfortable. The last thing I ever wanted to do was to apologize for the building that we were buying in to. I already knew that this was going to be a game of give and take, but I didn’t think I could take the bad with the good on this one. So we nixed it, and moved on. No regrets, except maybe that unbelievable view. Luckily, there was an exciting opportunity that popped up on the horizon … stay tuned for “Happiness on the Ile St. Louis.”</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Tata!</span><br /><br /></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >A.</span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-43012370327771082412010-07-03T18:56:00.001-07:002010-07-09T13:41:47.632-07:00Hunting for a Paris Apartment III<p align="center"><em>Postcards from Paris ... Having a Crush</em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEo_E7YRI/AAAAAAAABnE/0hCX_1PChgg/s1600-h/ParisStamp%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="ParisStamp" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="186" alt="ParisStamp" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEpcRvpdI/AAAAAAAABnI/Qtj-tWmylgs/ParisStamp_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="126" border="0" /></a> </p><br /><br /><p>Looking for a Paris apartment has its challenges, especially if you are not <strong>in</strong> Paris. To begin with, there is no MLS service that lists all of the apartments. All the real estate agencies work for themselves and will only show you their listings. Sometimes a seller will list their apartment with several different agencies, and sometimes you will see multiple ads for the same apartment, at different prices! </p><br /><br /><p>Having lost our first love, the “<a href="http://theartfullifestyle.blogspot.com/2010/06/hardly-any-regrets.html" target="_blank">Bourdonnais</a>,” I started to pay more attention to the rules of the Paris real estate market, and tried to learn the ropes, even from a distance. I learned to fine-tune the location within Paris, and subscribed to the notion that an investment apartment had to be in one of the single digit arrondissements, preferably the 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th. </p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEqP-EEPI/AAAAAAAABnM/plDn0EWsRKA/s1600-h/Rue%20de%20Verneuil%20sign%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Rue de Verneuil sign" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="301" alt="Rue de Verneuil sign" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoErTsCEpI/AAAAAAAABnQ/WrrsAJoA4s4/Rue%20de%20Verneuil%20sign_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="393" border="0" /></a> </p><br /><br /><p>I learned to differentiate between the low and high end real estate agents in the 7th, and figured out which rental agencies catered to the high end American clients who could <em>(hopefully)</em> eventually rent my apartment. I figured out all the various ways to view apartments over the internet and got my morning exercise by virtually walking up and down the streets of Paris with Google maps, practically salivating over a virtual croissant in a neighborhood bakery.</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEsTaIVFI/AAAAAAAABnU/Hj8uBaa1iEc/s1600-h/Rue%20de%20Verneuil%20street%20view%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Rue de Verneuil street view" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="297" alt="Rue de Verneuil street view" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEs70tTZI/AAAAAAAABnY/eAFeqXJdQGk/Rue%20de%20Verneuil%20street%20view_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" border="0" /></a> <em>Rue de Verneuil in the 7th, as seen on the street view from Google maps. Helpful…un peu.</em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQd-HGZ4avD3cvEnieWXHlzdei_vNh5OTLkw5wFDgwIwVVXRzO-Qifg3Y2RKBddAViY6ekMHzpXMXEY56KNpnfqF82-nrba-J27DKjncVHpE5fONGohXFiDwL1k3ibwl5OnoUTZk8Kdsc/s1600-h/Rue%20de%20Verneuil%20shops%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="SONY DSC" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="388" alt="SONY DSC" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEuLoWJjI/AAAAAAAABng/tVB5EQBLrNI/Rue%20de%20Verneuil%20shops_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" border="0" /></a> Shop fronts along Rue de Verneuil</em></p><br /><br /><p align="left">Doing everything long distance was a tough challenge, especially when there were so many bad apartments to weed through. But when this little charmer came up on my radar, again thanks to Cecil Jones, of <a href="http://www.justfrance.com/" target="_blank">Just France</a>, I pounced on it.</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTvcz0cDraFKyoq-iRkB-yMMg7YmKbcwa4Tbnyg7B6pskFoxdpmQhUvwhluhXgvHxIm1BeZ8rbN9W0gm2ELlW4_844vwcBYONoRzjwr0auIEN8cJ9hbO-t4HQ_l-H169SCjCRGPwNYDhX/s1600-h/Building%20exterior%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Building exterior" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="441" alt="Building exterior" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEvCEQy9I/AAAAAAAABno/mBkERSZNHAc/Building%20exterior_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="300" border="0" /></a> <em>The exterior – oh-so-promising! The facade is elegant white limestone – so chic, so Parisian. But what’s hiding inside?</em></p><br /><br /><p align="center">I had a little crush on the apartment from the get-go, mostly because of its stellar location but also because it had good bones, and some irreplaceable old fashioned charm in the bedroom and dressing area. I could just envision the elegant petite dame who had probably lived there for most of her life. <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEvl_9QtI/AAAAAAAABns/yc_FOza92qk/s1600-h/Blue%20bedroom%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Blue bedroom" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="434" alt="Blue bedroom" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEwNF0TuI/AAAAAAAABnw/NgESCWDh6e8/Blue%20bedroom_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" border="0" /></a> <em>Perhaps where the elegant petite madame laid her head to rest every night…?</em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEwhtZrqI/AAAAAAAABn0/OjepHoUym-w/s1600-h/Blue%20bedroom%2C%20closet%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Blue bedroom, closet" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="444" alt="Blue bedroom, closet" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoExLTIdmI/AAAAAAAABn4/i1jMF4nebMs/Blue%20bedroom%2C%20closet_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" border="0" /></a><br /><em>Oh dear. A closet fit for a…petite madame with a petite wardrobe.</em> <em>Hhmmm.</em></p><br /><br /><p>Its location in the totally crush-worthy “Carre des Antiquaires” part of the 7th, behind the Mus<em>é</em>e d’Orsay, is definitely “le top” in Paris terms. The streets are small, elegant and charming and lined with mostly white limestone 17<sup>th</sup> century buildings that house high end art galleries and antique stores, along with a few marvelous restaurants and fancy gourmet shops, all just steps away from the Seine and a puddle jump from the exquisite Tuileries gardens. </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoExpBp27I/AAAAAAAABn8/DxSwlJy3ccQ/s1600-h/the%207th%20Arrondissement%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="the 7th Arrondissement" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="300" alt="the 7th Arrondissement" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEyS26U5I/AAAAAAAABoA/vBGEf_E2ais/the%207th%20Arrondissement_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="394" border="0" /></a> The scene in the 7th</em> </p><br /><br /><p>Plus, the building had a sweet courtyard and the most rare and precious commodity of all, especially in a 17<sup>th</sup> century building: An elevator! But for the most part, it needed to be redone from scratch and it had the fatal flaw of facing north, which you’ll come to learn is my ultimate bugaboo.<br /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPNF1NU88PXETsE6rFHNj_QSr0cSnO0V7Sy0h9s-Uqs6jI-aKGAjAjts8rEZNr0MfnlVF4zJnw5U8wzZA4be8f0AZcN389eUrQJJXikjj6Aff-CxLwum7KFBaYV9VQBUkSB0Q1XQK8VeJ/s1600-h/Living%20Room%202%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Living Room 2" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="300" alt="Living Room 2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEzSIr5lI/AAAAAAAABoI/gwGqrsMEHe4/Living%20Room%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" border="0" /></a> The “grande” salon <em>has such charming touches – the antique fireplace, original moldings, and large windows (which must have curtains, unfortunately).</em></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoEz0-T3fI/AAAAAAAABoM/SH5eJ3SJn24/s1600-h/Living%20Room%201%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Living Room 1" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="303" alt="Living Room 1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE0QcMlAI/AAAAAAAABoQ/rpUtGix3st0/Living%20Room%201_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="399" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE03AUQFI/AAAAAAAABoU/xbyyAwLNQ2I/s1600-h/Living%20%26%20sitting%20rooms%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Living & sitting rooms" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="316" alt="Living & sitting rooms" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE1YDQwzI/AAAAAAAABoY/L0d4oPC2xCE/Living%20%26%20sitting%20rooms_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" border="0" /></a> <em>View from the grande salon into the petite salon</em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE11wep4I/AAAAAAAABoc/CnmADHoNdNI/s1600-h/Kitchen%201%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Kitchen 1" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="280" alt="Kitchen 1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-akxydE6wtZRFledAK7sGnmO5zvjJu_7FfyZHalHWeBTKJytQUIium_aVeRzYzfeuIa88fVohYiM90lrZrLpfyDhJ14RboorDMq2dN1mJonhB4XYVcR2uirXy-oMblx1YUyJgfDnbr-nR/?imgmax=800" width="412" border="0" /></a> <em>The kitchen…oh mon Dieu! But nothing new wallpaper & appliances can’t fix. The layout, however, is a wee bit trickier to change.</em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE27z4oZI/AAAAAAAABok/jIN5XXTmlsQ/s1600-h/Kitchen%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Kitchen 2" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="280" alt="Kitchen 2" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE3RnqF8I/AAAAAAAABoo/jq_0EumvjA4/Kitchen%202_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="411" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE3x2ZC3I/AAAAAAAABos/F9a0z4HPAm8/s1600-h/Bathroom%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Bathroom" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="432" alt="Bathroom" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE5Js2ihI/AAAAAAAABow/scHdN9DpoZI/Bathroom_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="328" border="0" /></a> <em>La toilette…in need of a little update, don’t you think?</em></p><br /><br /><p>Through Cecil, I found a wonderful young man who was a part-time architecture instructor at the Sorbonne, who visited the apartment and sent me his opinion, along with a few more pictures. He gave the location the expected high <strong>A</strong>, the courtyard a<strong> B</strong>, and, much to my dismay, the apartment a <strong>C+.</strong> Why? Because of the layout, the north facing windows and the shallow depth of the courtyard, ensured that it would always be dark.</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE5m9s1wI/AAAAAAAABo0/OwOHR4-d50Q/s1600-h/Looking%20up%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Looking up" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="310" alt="Looking up" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQ_1K3X-uvMFAA-biGCsw4V_O98lqO5x20S6lFoBL4GibbJgriGUPDuIUDE5tP8znrPe_BYL9KlSbMw87Q3wYmbxEHVG98TZkey0mdbhfnVLIf_XFi7gcxszoYNXuMj7K5Zcc9cAbJBux/?imgmax=800" width="408" border="0" /></a> Looking up from the courtyard – Voila! The sky! (way up there…) And such large, charming windows that face the (shady) interior. Who needs natural light, really?</em></p><br /><br /><p>I didn’t want to give up easily, so I studied the pictures and layout in the greatest detail and -- you’ll get used to this, I am a design nerd -- went to bed each night with pencil and paper trying to manipulate and stretch the layout to yield a viable two bedroom, two bath apartment. (I’ve since learned to stay away from apartments that are too big to be cost effective one-bedrooms but are not big enough to be viable two bedrooms.)</p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE66J7m_I/AAAAAAAABo8/0hF4rqU0NPI/s1600-h/Verneuil%20floorplan%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Verneuil floorplan" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="214" alt="Verneuil floorplan" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TCoE7ON_RjI/AAAAAAAABpA/EtedqCXXJDA/Verneuil%20floorplan_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="402" border="0" /></a> Try and try again, nothing can undo the northward orientation or lack of 2nd bedroom. Phooey!</em></p><br /><br /><p>But I had to wonder. Although it had many charming characteristics, and a neighborhood that was <em>le plus ultra</em>, even the most extensive redo wouldn’t turn this apartment into a fabulous pied-a-terre because the courtyard, although pretty, was only just so so and the apartment would always be dark. I had a little crush on this apartment , but no matter how hard I worked at it, I couldn’t turn it into the love of my life. </p><br /><br /><p>I haven’t give up and know that it’s out there, for sure!<br />Stay tuned for “Holy Moly, What a View” …</p><br /><br /><p>Tata!</p><br /><br /><p>A.</p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-75285801933941489722010-07-03T18:51:00.000-07:002010-07-09T13:40:16.524-07:00Hunting for a Paris Apartment, II<p align="center"><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Postcards from Paris… Hardly any regrets</font></font></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfInl8hAII/AAAAAAAABXw/TnSb7fRoa2o/s1600-h/ParisStamp%5B4%5D.jpg"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"><img title="ParisStamp" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="142" alt="ParisStamp" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijrel0myY6CbmvbgR27b3t_QSQnVs94eb6uswwOj0YF1izL1OYnB4wrSRG_KOQLcZc4m5nVAxHq4_sTcJMvVeaZ5dvUtX7VeV-65XzA2JcqdhJEoW-Vkr37jBijxODjNAB_-R0zMDqzFQ4/?imgmax=800" width="97" border="0" /></font></font></a><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> </font></font></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">It was probably a sign and we probably should have taken it. But one of the things that I’ve tried to learn during this apartment hunt business, is to have no regrets. So instead, let’s just say that this first apartment got away and probably did so for a good reason.</font></font></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">When unforeseen travel cancellations “forced” us to return to Paris for a night, we were able to schedule a last minute visit to the Bourdonnais apartment I had just heard about. At the time I thought, “This such a good story – one of luck and timing and stars lining up – maybe this will be the perfect apartment.” The irony is that a couple of years later with lots of lessons learned, I realized that this probably was close to the perfect apartment. But oh well. No regrets.</font></font></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Here are the images of my first love, number one. It was a charming two bedroom apartment (O.K., in all fairness, bedroom number two was a pass-through, but if you craned your neck and looked up the airshaft, it did have a fabulous view of the tippy top of the Eiffel tower), just off of the Avenue de la Bourdonnais, in the swanky 7</font></font><sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">th</font></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> arrondissement of Paris.</font></font></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglcl2t-zC20aWtc_0a5-Jvw09rIjnZlS4HMYoMpjpb1L13t9PLb8SiPolmT5qWtptjGHXLVdg0jnhKfpnJNU0UogsiaE5uVudSF8Z1yYQ3MnJ5MAY1tx1c5NwcYQXUPJUF1x7TJQeZankz/s1600-h/Chardonnay-terrace%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Chardonnay-terrace" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="322" alt="Chardonnay-terrace" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfFwnmqwUI/AAAAAAAABWA/2hjvB7qT2Gk/Chardonnay-terrace_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="421" border="0" /></a><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> The terrace – perfect for enjoying your morning croissant.</font></font><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> Image via </font></font></em><a href="http://www.parisperfect.com/apartments-for-rent-in-paris/chardonnay.php" target="_blank"><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Paris Perfect</font></font></em></a><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">.</font></font></em></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Since it was love number one, I missed a couple of things that in retrospect, I’ve learned are highly desirable and hard to come by:</font></font></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">1. It was in great shape and really didn’t need to have anything done to it</font></font></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">2. It was on the fifth floor with a balcony. You’ll learn, as I did, that the fifth floor of a circa 1900’s building is a very desirable floor because it often has a “balcon filant” or wrought iron balcony that stretches across the front of the building. Sometimes there is just enough room for a small bistro table. (OK, small caveat – I’m afraid of heights and not sure that I’d ever dare set foot on the balcony – but it is a nice idea and a great feature for resale, as well as a wonderful prop for photographs.)</font></font></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfFxRMR49I/AAAAAAAABWE/EsVmSAcLiWE/s1600-h/Dining%20al%20fresco%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Dining al fresco" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="367" alt="Dining al fresco" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfFxx5u1DI/AAAAAAAABWI/dh4F7iQotaY/Dining%20al%20fresco_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="279" border="0" /></a><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> </font></font></p><br /><br /><p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfFyWJwTuI/AAAAAAAABWM/Y1VepmIWah0/s1600-h/Avenue%20view%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Avenue view" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="300" alt="Avenue view" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcw9Zc9C7Tualyd0KZtTAu024AQsW-XW8RqBsR3tO21RoY4RoiripUq_UiTKC_Gtu09dDX5SyMcY5ZV4axSOWSDjyCycV8twrsfShqzTSXP_ecchAyQFE6DWaTpiVNKxFhjJ-tM4vSapjY/?imgmax=800" width="393" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">3. It faced south, and therefore was bathed in sun all day long, which is quite the valuable commodity in a Paris apartment. (OK, another small caveat – the view across the street was of an ugly school, but the view to the side was amazing.)</font></font></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">4. Something else I didn’t realize was that Love #1 had all of the coveted architectural elements that are Parisian favorites and the cornerstone of every chi chi real estate listing: “Parquet, moulures, cheminee” – meaning the original parquet floors (note that these are the highly desirable “pointes d’hongrie” floors) , moldings and fireplace.</font></font></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfFzzCrTeI/AAAAAAAABWU/aRdFKdC-640/s1600-h/Living%20Room%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Living Room" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="293" alt="Living Room" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF0qLOmBI/AAAAAAAABWY/J6Umo94wCn4/Living%20Room_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" border="0" /></a><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> Gorgeous floors & molding</font></font></em><img title="Living Room 2" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="270" alt="Living Room 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF1IABASI/AAAAAAAABWc/9p3S7xGdrqE/Living%20Room%202_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="396" border="0" /> </p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF1ZnsIGI/AAAAAAAABWg/uOUJeiMBxfs/s1600-h/Fireplace%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Fireplace" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="304" alt="Fireplace" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF16ORO8I/AAAAAAAABWk/VOtPon0zxkk/Fireplace_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="400" border="0" /></a><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Original fireplace</font></font></em></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">5. The inside was beautifully furnished, with a combination of nice antiques and attractive decorative elements. The palette was light and bright and complemented the architectural elements of this circa 1900’s building.</font></font></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF2twyALI/AAAAAAAABWo/tHEKPz8etIY/s1600-h/Kitchen%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Kitchen" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="387" alt="Kitchen" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF3PkqLgI/AAAAAAAABWs/fLQxgUbw_Xo/Kitchen_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="302" border="0" /></a><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">A small but updated kitchen</font></font></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF3uKnFGI/AAAAAAAABWw/V2FYOxdzmVM/s1600-h/Bedroom%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Bedroom" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="281" alt="Bedroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1IyuxC7JLgIz-XrjuK5dIAoau5ozNP7zUK_AEePTiNOL0SvGv1dxbFVgyHFlY6gPIYzyQtJvUlmPaU7LO_pv7UinGcj03Y1yhPTmjyeZA4yhlgvRLb_inPDNNYkklv8vNPi7ZbS2HW4xG/?imgmax=800" width="409" border="0" /></a><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF4a-GuDI/AAAAAAAABW4/F5RI3VNF3Y0/s1600-h/Bedroom%202%5B4%5D.jpg"></a></font></font></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF4a-GuDI/AAAAAAAABW4/F5RI3VNF3Y0/s1600-h/Bedroom%202%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Bedroom 2" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="311" alt="Bedroom 2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF4vvmxZI/AAAAAAAABW8/m2awzoJV8_4/Bedroom%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" border="0" /></a><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Bright, comfortable bedrooms</font></font></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF5HTeBNI/AAAAAAAABXA/VXsNgMxYIIs/s1600-h/Bathroom%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Bathroom" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="389" alt="Bathroom" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF5-83xEI/AAAAAAAABXE/vjluD6ymT1c/Bathroom_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="274" border="0" /></a><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">La toilette – clean & efficient</font></font></em></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">6. Last but certainly not least, location location location. Although some may argue that the swanky 7</font></font><sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">th</font></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> arrondissement is not the most exciting in Paris, because it is a little more residential and not as central to the hubbub of activity, it has long been one of my favorites. If you’re going to be in the 7</font></font><sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">th</font></font></sup><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">, you either need to be close to the Rue Cler (a famous and fabulous market street), or with a view of the Eiffel Tower. This one had the view.</font></font></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF6VWlzbI/AAAAAAAABXI/8ekJgP3W32k/s1600-h/View%20of%20the%20Eiffel%20Tower%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="View of the Eiffel Tower" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="347" alt="View of the Eiffel Tower" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TsdBmkbo2a00BSiLof7oJICguvuWd2WG9lx-i_YJOO8ybZmsG5SEah4Ca-q98oO3HJar_wzYwOeprsELetRABKc7zfEMY02b0Vq_GGvav15odvOAxOKTww-o2srJxFSTJVKx3T2dmB6q/?imgmax=800" width="308" border="0" /></a><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> </font></font><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">C’est magnifique!</font></font></em></p><br /><br /><p><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">This apartment got away from us, since we didn’t act fast enough and didn’t realize at the time what a great and rare product it was. New owners came in and made some changes , including painting the small bedroom blue, adding a swag over the master bed and giving the living room a decidedly blue palette. But the essentials of the apartment, and what I fell in love with – the floors, the location, the light and the view – haven’t changed a bit.</font></font></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"></font></font><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">The second bedroom/reading room</font></font></em><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF7g29eWI/AAAAAAAABXQ/BVDTRa5_HmA/s1600-h/Second%20Bedroom%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Second Bedroom" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="284" alt="Second Bedroom" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF8YIwEJI/AAAAAAAABXU/FKxnzpgTQJ4/Second%20Bedroom_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="374" border="0" /></a><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> Master bedroom</font></font></em><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF8yBwwvI/AAAAAAAABXY/kG_aG6K4aO8/s1600-h/Master%20bedroom%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Master bedroom" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="287" alt="Master bedroom" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF9b9ClrI/AAAAAAAABXc/isfXHnjVk3w/Master%20bedroom_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="377" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"></font></font><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Open floor plan- dining & living room</font></font></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmEba1sn_ytTfnaRHQftBFew5bYbqmoXdGrb7LVAKE3wJXlIapAksnjtu0Uu-fkSw9bzAph89KmmwimLoo3Id_O4SMpWBgdOPU4fE9_gA3_4By0pdW-NUTtwpJmHOcBCRFy8rnhf8ZEhF/s1600-h/Dining%20Room%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Dining Room 2" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="293" alt="Dining Room 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF-YqMeBI/AAAAAAAABXk/GN9IWvl8qt0/Dining%20Room%202_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF_AX7jzI/AAAAAAAABXo/i1XcRgwc9sg/s1600-h/Dining%20Room%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Dining Room" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="293" alt="Dining Room" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBfF_rYlQhI/AAAAAAAABXs/2biaDcKc2L8/Dining%20Room_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" border="0" /></a><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small"> </font></font><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">All photos courtesy of </font></font></em><a href="http://www.parisperfect.com/" target="_blank"><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Paris Perfect</font></font></em></a><em><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">.</font></font></em></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Oh well, I let it get away. Bye bye love #1. With “Hardly any Regrets,”, the hunt continues. Stay tuned for next week’s, “Having a Crush.”</font></font></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">Tata!</font></font></p><br /><br /><p align="left"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="'trebuchet ms'"><font class="Apple-style-span" size="small">A.</font></font></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-31717044760836967572010-06-17T19:56:00.000-07:002010-07-09T13:39:35.604-07:00Happy Campers<p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The year we lived in Provence, we had a silly little expression every morning, when we would open our shutters to clear blue sky, bright sun and the scent of lavender oozing from every corner: “Oh just another boring beautiful day in Provence,” yawn, yawn.</span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdsyI0mGVHDsDeZlwp6s9Yvj3tkNgvBOdSE4R5ly00O9dSqIp1UM7UP-qdxlCFTRIfzHeR9YD5rfaB4nkyu5bKPxrSOJ0hKj96qBvON6v4bJoD4ciGLgQi9XOISp_H7W3fKVc_xNsDAga9/s1600-h/Provence%5B1%5D.jpg"><img title="Provence" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="251" alt="Provence" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBuzrORD0BI/AAAAAAAABaA/y-KGvbN_WcY/Provence_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="321" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> So that’s how I feel about the trip that we just completed at Les Murets with six fabulous, dynamic and beautiful women, mostly from Baltimore: “Oh just another wonderful week with a sensational group of incredibly fun women,” yawn yawn.</span></span></p><p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQJgIhvtI/AAAAAAAABaE/dQidQNTG1Zw/s1600-h/Lovely%20Ladies%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="Lovely Ladies" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="333" alt="Lovely Ladies" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQKbBVjZI/AAAAAAAABaQ/H1qIJddExmY/Lovely%20Ladies_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="374" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I never doubted for a second that this would be a great trip but I don’t think I ever suspected it to be THIS much fun. Looking back on my emails from the group’s ring-leader, Ann from Baltimore, it’s pretty clear that it had all the right ingredients from the start. Then when you add six women who not only travel well and get along, but are all equally fun and interested in new experiences, and you throw in some delicious long lunches, some exquisite shopping and lots of exploring by a chauffeur driven van, followed by long dinners with a “sampling” (in case my insurance broker reads this) of delicious, sulfite-free wine, you’ve got the makings of a pretty wonderful week and the essentials for lifelong friends.</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I’d like to introduce you to my new found friends:</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQLC39phI/AAAAAAAABaU/-JPgRAJqjKg/s1600-h/May%202010%20012%5B3%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img title="May 2010 012" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="360" alt="May 2010 012" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQLtEaOOI/AAAAAAAABaY/0cx_g77BpC8/May%202010%20012_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></p><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Je m’appelle Laurie, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">with a wonderful contagious laugh.</span></span></i></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQMRROnEI/AAAAAAAABac/CtuYxLNKCf8/s1600-h/Sandra%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="Sandra" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="367" alt="Sandra" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQM0b9I8I/AAAAAAAABag/vRm6mKCpU_o/Sandra_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Sandra, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">who embraced every experience with a sparkling joie de vivre.</span></span></i></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQNhwZa5I/AAAAAAAABak/J0X49tlhXzg/s1600-h/Cheryl%5B7%5D.jpg"><img title="Cheryl" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="364" alt="Cheryl" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQOLzlxJI/AAAAAAAABao/kCduXVUfWdc/Cheryl_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="279" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Cheryl, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">whose dry wit had us all bursting at the seams.</span></span></i></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQO5ztoGI/AAAAAAAABas/b4qn728Ytus/s1600-h/Karen%5B7%5D.jpg"><img title="Karen" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="359" alt="Karen" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-8hTCgI11s29cAlRlVxv5LAXrMtuUWy8VoWzDMfCGVgSe1KrbjPpVFz5ygSC09AHIoAqckbGsEUpqbkdygtSKlZxzGeoF21MqG73X5nXv6722qNWtyJK0oA9QSCq8Df8_MfIzacF6b8F/?imgmax=800" width="275" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Karen,</span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> whose quiet dignity certainly belied her ability to attract men with onions.</span></span></i></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQQIT9VuI/AAAAAAAABa0/e0MCEWWxYw0/s1600-h/Denise%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="Denise" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="383" alt="Denise" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQQgXfi_I/AAAAAAAABa4/VU0Ufh9XHtE/Denise_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="313" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Denise, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">whose dramatic storytelling had us on the edge of our seats.</span></span></i></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQRpVYjjI/AAAAAAAABa8/eyw9uBz6BHc/s1600-h/Mme%20Ann%5B7%5D.jpg"><img title="Mme Ann" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="361" alt="Mme Ann" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQSK4ZVdI/AAAAAAAABbA/KSDaCrfOM48/Mme%20Ann_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And of course Ann, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">the ringleader and culprit, who knew just what she was doing when she brought us all together.</span></span></i></p><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~~~</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Like all of our trips, this one had a bit of culture, a lot of shopping, a ton of dining, and a sampling of exercise (and wine!).</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here we are in some of our favorite Provence haunts:</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQTUFhOZI/AAAAAAAABbE/Z6vsUjXTqvY/s1600-h/May%202010%20016%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="May 2010 016" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="398" alt="May 2010 016" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQUL9s_II/AAAAAAAABbI/ABTuqZpNbfo/May%202010%20016_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="307" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Laurie, in the garden of Bonnieux where they filmed one of her favorite movies, “A Year in Provence.”</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcRf59md7Zhcw4i67_Udyev-PttZkxm6-_U3xhY709YEUI96sFjZUjzczUU0FpYaIQ0pLnV4MCry6EGmZYkKN4UBHI5NbihhKYSYCfMNgOqGJ2BxJuYLlySKsKkzMxGh89_RIJQ83RbwT/s1600-h/Laurie%20&%20Karen,%20Cassis%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Laurie & Karen, Cassis" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="334" alt="Laurie & Karen, Cassis" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQVSQ7wPI/AAAAAAAABbQ/VoebZS_ugcA/Laurie%20%26%20Karen%2C%20Cassis_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Laurie and Karen in Cassis, overlooking one of the Calanques.</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQWvO9H0I/AAAAAAAABbU/Giub034K2xg/s1600-h/Hiking%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Hiking" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="275" alt="Hiking" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQXNhQnyI/AAAAAAAABbY/HmOU7gp8K98/Hiking_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="361" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> The group, minus Karen (whose leg is being tended to by two well-meaning would-be doctors using half an onion on her open bite wound), hiking up to the church in Oppede.</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQYNZqMkI/AAAAAAAABbc/xnJOJBDsoKg/s1600-h/Karen%20%26%20the%20drs%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Karen & the drs" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="297" alt="Karen & the drs" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQYmh3lYI/AAAAAAAABbg/m2DU8HFcwb0/Karen%20%26%20the%20drs_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Karen, with her would-be doctors (who are plotting her cure).</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOBVlf4jm2eP54woFv6EWKPD0AlIemtoWxldan5TPSqUTq9k_K2WH6yHDLsQFteKKW4ex2VNB1N8I-S2Y8quVDOhmVqd_uGNWzbglF8NOHqeSdXDQwQp1aUdUIcvVyYQsb0z1XHSN_Ii6/s1600-h/Laurie,%20Denise,%20Sandra%5B3%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img title="Laurie, Denise, Sandra" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="278" alt="Laurie, Denise, Sandra" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQZ-hwJGI/AAAAAAAABbo/-GgvgUYFX-A/Laurie%2C%20Denise%2C%20Sandra_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" border="0" /></span></span></a></p><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Laurie, Denise and Sandra, windswept in Cassis.</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQaiFAUdI/AAAAAAAABbs/oqstr64E9Ng/s1600-h/Ann%2C%20Karen%2C%20Cheryl%5B3%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img title="Ann, Karen, Cheryl" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="294" alt="Ann, Karen, Cheryl" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQbEjOKpI/AAAAAAAABbw/Omon0Xto6ic/Ann%2C%20Karen%2C%20Cheryl_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></p><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ann, Karen and Cheryl, windswept in Cassis.</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2touRC6Z7v7j3S1DBxN1TRV15jmGAYkjgC5H8fSNIFC2rDQnDnP63yoLb9qR7JHlNBVFnW79450ZLFJp13jKwtWLmQbUVev1YvWdp0MZyeUDm9q83j-lOrtNcLnmGHt6alnXQ4yF7Hx3/s1600-h/Laura%20a%20la%20bistro%5B3%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img title="Laura a la bistro" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="354" alt="Laura a la bistro" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQcVimppI/AAAAAAAABb4/G0cU9xKN2nk/Laura%20a%20la%20bistro_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="309" border="0" /></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></p><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Laurie, at the Bistrot du Paradou, who is smiling because of …</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQdcfWvnI/AAAAAAAABb8/W1z-Ic35Dvw/s1600-h/Cheese%21%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Cheese!" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="268" alt="Cheese!" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQd5pni6I/AAAAAAAABcA/4zwHuibwNbI/Cheese%21_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">… the cheese platter! (OK, there was another reason too, but we’ll keep that private).</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzx3eBsgbktFkMbiS2F7HbN-W-fIiOLesDsBQiAO4K4vnyvZUE5IgkHQ53oMOfsN03voI1CyvhMTO3MwivKoJS4AkOcITJklArEJxuu__qsGWDeGrnnstM8fni1BNz2Y_EQVOtfFhTkNs/s1600-h/Ann,%20La%20Mirande%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="Ann, La Mirande" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="323" alt="Ann, La Mirande" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0njxXkVtf9NHp9yhSVFpYWpCgn81A4fPe6iYiHXYU0SkhpoV1NkN41jMiq3dGJe0nVX28ZptVm-LxWqxGIBE9sHfBZ-GVPEA0UEuG4hiwdT3PqwXBxxSy08WaYH58s10SJLhq99az2pAV/?imgmax=800" width="367" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Ann, in the gorgeous garden at La Mirande, following the tour of the Palais des Papes in Avignon.</span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~~~</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">These were my commentaries. Now let’s hear what they had to say …</span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“I loved being with women who were intelligent and whose sole purpose was to embrace a new place …and I also liked dancing! However, I could have used not being locked in the toilet – twice!”</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQgYOLi6I/AAAAAAAABcM/10dkAEimCNI/s1600-h/May%202010%20147%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="May 2010 147" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="270" alt="May 2010 147" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQhHELJrI/AAAAAAAABcQ/hohKdb7spzc/May%202010%20147_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="352" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“As much as I liked all the villages, I loved the dinners, sitting outside, getting to know people and looking at everyone’s finds ….”</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_JDqrlEKyRC0DruY4JyLd0DhfNH1YDA4PbjT7Q3CYF47InJWloEefe781HuPMnn6HozMJ2sbM1TbX5ymzCcgmMM-yTk9P0LomKVvY8Vx6javG4Fv7t5S_Ghjh9vAIAq71WvgnQlI2nSBR/s1600-h/Sandra%20La%20Mirande%5B7%5D.jpg"><img title="Sandra La Mirande" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="359" alt="Sandra La Mirande" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwumALrPLWONWE92BNzi5ZGaLQStoMSgYv60rD2uQlW_pAQUBxgASVLNc_Dik4Mp5JCNOLaa9vzgn466AuSIYSKeECrV-gSFcdc7ojQAyI2i-W5PctNhjpzxx5CWfWk7yeSX5dqYflEADw/?imgmax=800" width="315" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“I’m a planner and a researcher and this is the first time that I said this is it, I’m not doing it this. I’m so happy that I didn’t do any research because everything you did was what I would have picked it. I couldn’t have done it no matter how much research I’d done. It was perfect. “</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNVCN0aZtRDoArbMu_-5Feu_LKVUGjebRjT2nx0VVk2_sQSL8xGKSLGzFFyb7iXFO8CCv0ORnETdZOTbHMQNCvMBmRbwt7sB7Q68EJKWa_Fv5ev8quM5LVIeUvBU_l0iHvPrHJkB1iAhi/s1600-h/May%202010%20525%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="May 2010 525" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="363" alt="May 2010 525" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQjm9dl0I/AAAAAAAABcg/Wwc3RFVSpY4/May%202010%20525_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="276" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“I’m not a planner when I travel and that’s what I wanted to do. I really wanted to do it this way, and not plan a thing. Also, I feel like I’ve been living inside a painting. The light and this house and all the little villages and markets and cafes, I’d read about and kind of pictured. But when you go and see it in real life, it’s like Oh wow, they really captured it. It hasn’t even changed. Oh, and I loved the long dinners and lunches too!”</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQkg2PSEI/AAAAAAAABck/VnPSz_jp75E/s1600-h/May%202010%20422%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="May 2010 422" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="337" alt="May 2010 422" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQlajfyYI/AAAAAAAABco/7TdPcWWwKhU/May%202010%20422_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="388" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“I have to say that it is your heart and soul that has made this trip so comfortable.”</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dF9l7CbckvsjN7-l4yUSMWK82Jicj-9c8cwNVTwkvtYPpVRhY41uv8lcAUuySuAP9FXMOw641rdmDm16YcQG4qEI4mMZ6D7avm4maBt4tDBR8qVILmvyQxLFfuVz7uS0myEMEbO7or7m/s1600-h/clip_image032%5B3%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBuz1mNuFjI/AAAAAAAABcs/z6oGNceoFec/s1600-h/clip_image032%5B1%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img title="clip_image032" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="266" alt="clip_image032" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBuz2NqR6UI/AAAAAAAABcw/zS-LMOmh3V4/clip_image032_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="256" border="0" /></span></span></a></p><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“My whole goal on this trip was to have no preconceived notions. I loved that I was able to recognize where we were, after spending so much time looking at the topography and picking out landmarks. And I loved just being present and opening up my senses. For me, it was all about the experience of the walls, and the smells, and look, and being open to it. It really made the trip so multi dimensional and comfortable. I loved it.”</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhyphenhyphen6_dGxATMDRM_DJkpZAZnueWPrmLjdpSatn79ZP82ZyMYM8Vt7iCgK7vCwOV8j-RUiCNJMH1NRV4tCVCFiNf3mMSAhdi3XAF2ZuNiCDl8r22FZ0HKlb0AG6q8hiDS91kM25zzqqrOU0/s1600-h/clip_image034%5B3%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"></span></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBuz2RkXoaI/AAAAAAAABc0/QqBw983K7ZU/s1600-h/clip_image034%5B1%5D.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img title="clip_image034" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="286" alt="clip_image034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp4MAlFntjD8n1vrJGaSNjUft0Za_jUiA68nVrQvWluCvznk2qLXU2UDe-Tgws0zSkanOixWb52ugNNszxzFLRkAJhJMa2VWCXDNDJsjKAhYq2kRh2jhqkzM4sFsEORjjMAv_3G5CRtrl/?imgmax=800" width="219" border="0" /></span></span></a></p><p align="center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“I really liked having different one-on-ones with people and being a part of such a wonderfully dynamic and independent group.”</span></span></p><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~~~</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I think these three photographs pretty much sum up our trip:</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQnthDtjI/AAAAAAAABc8/l30-aH3PiII/s1600-h/May%202010%20021%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="May 2010 021" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="370" alt="May 2010 021" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQoK0WZnI/AAAAAAAABdA/NnoFndamQMM/May%202010%20021_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="321" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Christophe, our fearless driver, struggling with all the cameras, after a delightful lunch in Lourmarin.</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganYi_SEHVBYSCgWunTEcscwcYPU1IuIIamMoO449IH6QnxJXsSMc-Pf-IwPXJ0epe408s5UQPFXqa7cf_eouUPpbSZLQAaMIqe_16b7u7I-o4HR-3D0mYwjMzRu5klWsQLFWHLQl9I1y3/s1600-h/May%202010%20020%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="May 2010 020" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="307" alt="May 2010 020" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQpQOiQWI/AAAAAAAABdI/KJLnhMDvHlo/May%202010%20020_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="339" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">…preparing for the final beauty shot …</span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TBvQrO1NIpI/AAAAAAAABdM/ACwSrGnpoi4/s1600-h/May%202010%20005%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="May 2010 005" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="328" alt="May 2010 005" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9KpEGX9uD_t9G8wGuO0ECmJA8ekO6UPCiyGXt_GnDqgdgcuo5sOOQxIKfGMUf-onnh-DedMGQ_petEhHP6hS9Aq4AHu8obzSKhyphenhyphen1NEil-vPGoKCksdNSBYiovF6xTfoNAEJEfmjvaYpF/?imgmax=800" width="350" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">… and Ta Dah! “Happy Campers” says it all!</span></span></p><p></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Tata!</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A.</span></span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-3885735518048213412010-06-10T18:50:00.000-07:002010-07-09T13:34:28.885-07:00Hunting for an Apartment, I<p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Postcards from Paris</span></em></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5QN29K1JTTays-I0pnDwq2jO9edZ13UkRKYqQAfnTJuFc17w2dtk_ESJna1qsgwSA9HQkmpy14NEMlRa_DfCRt9NM3g_HPf9zbLQuUZKu1zPrmvVUZ7D5wKvhQaonVlcWJyB8nXxqBsq/s1600-h/ParisStamp%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="ParisStamp" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="121" alt="ParisStamp" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYS7KrYUI/AAAAAAAABHw/KX-9x6ri-KQ/ParisStamp_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="81" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I haven’t always loved Paris. In fact, when I was growing up in Geneva, Switzerland, where everything was pristine and perfect and remarkably clean, I used to think we were slumming it a little each time we drove in to France. </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYVewMQyI/AAAAAAAABH0/2vDadtnLRqs/s1600-h/Geneva%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Geneva" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="231" alt="Geneva" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYXso2RUI/AAAAAAAABH4/WKWNRyjlcdQ/Geneva_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="361" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>Geneva, Switzerland</em></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The first time we visited Paris, when I was quite young and it had still not gone through its many renovations and clean ups, I thought it was a big, crowded and unkempt city, not unlike my unfortunate view of the rest of France. So when my friend Muffy invited me to spend a week with their family in a hotel in Paris, at age fourteen, I didn’t exactly jump with joy. I had heard the Swiss “jokes” about France, about how things didn’t work properly, or nobody was ever on time, and people in France certainly didn’t have pristine houses like ours in Switzerland. I couldn’t understand the attraction to Paris, but I was willing to give it a try.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYZYrsqFI/AAAAAAAABH8/YG96-7OM7h4/s1600-h/Paris%20France%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Paris France" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="357" alt="Paris France" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYbUpaDMI/AAAAAAAABIA/xFrGvSOLuWo/Paris%20France_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I remember being so pleasantly surprised when we settled into our comfortable rooms at the Hotel de St. Simon, where the walls were padded with silk toile, the courtyard was beautiful, the rooms were elegant and spotless, and the geraniums in every window were as healthy and happy as their Swiss counterparts. </span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEvF5H8Sk5W4hEsUnH29h0OjfgcKdbiCwrP2f7HH_5SxMs4zaOggE8pz8Q2XCI-94anZw_LdSe5BAZpfE6hkrHIr6-N0DxaEWjW4IAs1qNEkBBfUl6g4JtdG2jX3SqtQqA4Z1OR2B7a7A/s1600-h/Paris%20Geraniums%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Paris Geraniums" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="398" alt="Paris Geraniums" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYhHXYNpI/AAAAAAAABII/daMxphS-Yr8/Paris%20Geraniums_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="305" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Soon we were navigating the metro, visiting the newly opened “ Drugstore” on the Champs Elysees (where you could listen to your favorite music with headphones), and sampling a few wonderful restaurants and stores in our neighborhood. I tasted Croque Monsieurs for the first time, and ate so many croissants that a part of me turned to butter. </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYjVKeTfI/AAAAAAAABIM/h34s36VhZKI/s1600-h/Croissants%5B7%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Croissants" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="337" alt="Croissants" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYmAnDB4I/AAAAAAAABIQ/hjpVpAOPKVE/Croissants_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">We walked through the Tuileries gardens, were introduced to the Louvre and “Jeu de Paume” museums, and were mesmerized by the Bateaux Mouches on the Seine and their miniature counterparts in the pond of the Luxembourg Gardens.</span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Tuileries Gardens</span></em></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE594RWsnhQiu8C-plCaWAFJbAJVmtb0f-QfOF2zUmc8ngFI0scK160MA_0uE3Mh3ncyHkRRPwU-Huzf-RBn_M-4sZrk2Tmq7W7jlul6beXG5VceHFmRc6FHRF91lekcnOTN9Mdv-2qxaW/s1600-h/Tuileries%20Gardens%202%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Tuileries Gardens 2" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="288" alt="Tuileries Gardens 2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bUZTD_mlyyYH5bH5vhh3xkPvf7IBAi8hQknpty2xsidlehgDimPeAMhOz6kS-ImTwEEfSxFsJdqWm5hH751Qwq_Fi63wYOnu3AAi3cn96fjro7CHJRtdP6OvIrP0HkNA5DLm-a_ntx_n/?imgmax=800" width="378" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Un bateau mouche on the Seine</span></em></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Bateau Mouche, Point St. Michel" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="291" alt="Bateau Mouche, Point St. Michel" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYv_kdAEI/AAAAAAAABIc/W_BGVhJOQjw/Bateau%20Mouche%2C%20Point%20St.%20Michel_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" border="0" /></span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Luxembourg Gardens</span></em></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAYy8NawfI/AAAAAAAABIg/sQtIRSHm_do/s1600-h/Luxembourg%20Gardens%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Luxembourg Gardens" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="278" alt="Luxembourg Gardens" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbt-IN_TpcCduRQkJTjcu1sR5jLObsKEdcq_gehJnHQpD6Oaj89JNRQtY8q74m8ZPXLwVvrpEB4_PjuFw42A7811RiL4YQWSNm1dvLYfWn0_dw6HGMhg0zswZEmydJh4-JJvWTTEYEm8H/?imgmax=800" width="406" border="0" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><em><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAY5KEWUOI/AAAAAAAABIo/ZN3rNEi1KIM/s1600-h/Luxenbourg%20Gardens%20fountain%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Luxenbourg Gardens fountain" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="316" alt="Luxenbourg Gardens fountain" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQVkSOvLNTuxTf-kDY-Olk-_n_5g_UEdi_VArShK27NIhU0zZdB5ylaIsW_dXb2pykdxVD4PI_T56ulNrXG9_oYcl3QHVf2odKYDttbl5r3M_d0USDXJ_L0JZpsO6YoGxXw9AsHxdZVUmc/?imgmax=800" width="415" border="0" /></span></a></em></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I loved the long, wide tree lined boulevards, like St. Germain, Raspail and St. Michel. </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZBQSkZ7I/AAAAAAAABIw/BGxP3JJfo0s/s1600-h/paris-saint-germain-des-pre%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="paris-saint-germain-des-pre" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="292" alt="paris-saint-germain-des-pre" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZD_-1u3I/AAAAAAAABI0/wpxgwsZ0xwE/paris-saint-germain-des-pre_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>St. Germain</em></span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZI1XTlxI/AAAAAAAABI4/-_FJxy19y7Y/s1600-h/St.%20Raspail%20Market%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="St. Raspail Market" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="316" alt="St. Raspail Market" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvdF8r3V2Gmlg8SHnKyycz9WxJ92IViOsOat_le8xZRi824Vke7HILuM-GB4KQsz7TvXkAkHmWU0_ayQKpw_VmQBHBuEYpeSxLeWPYhT24QjTU-QJFv5-Qf0irTOmm7zZChgNw5N93dDw8/?imgmax=800" width="414" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>St. Raspail Market</em> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I loved the magnificent stone buildings and began to discern the differences between the old medieval Paris and the more recent 18<sup>th</sup> and 19<sup>th</sup> century city, with its Haussmann influences. </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZQCpjK7I/AAAAAAAABJA/3wQZqUJeEHs/s1600-h/Hausmann%20Style%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Hausmann Style" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="441" alt="Hausmann Style" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZTBaIIvI/AAAAAAAABJE/j_3GniHCLN4/Hausmann%20Style_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>Haussmann architecture in Paris</em></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I was fascinated by the beauty of the architecture, the scroll work on the balconies, the massive doors and the intricate gates that led to enchanting cobblestoned courtyards.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZX4YhJiI/AAAAAAAABJI/koq9msOSLds/s1600-h/Paris%20Balcony%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Paris Balcony" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="317" alt="Paris Balcony" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZa8YrEhI/AAAAAAAABJM/b74tJt4CRbE/Paris%20Balcony_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="388" border="0" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The perfect spot to enjoy your morning cafe & croissant</span></em></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZd3W0grI/AAAAAAAABJQ/Ok_E6sIdnZ4/s1600-h/Parisian%20stone%20house%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Parisian stone house" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="425" alt="Parisian stone house" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZi4McIuI/AAAAAAAABJU/m7yJrGrZwkM/Parisian%20stone%20house_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="298" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZolCPLxI/AAAAAAAABJY/98O_BmVYmCA/s1600-h/Paris%20Gates%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></p><p align="center"><img title="Paris Gates" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="273" alt="Paris Gates" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZsMDIpGI/AAAAAAAABJc/Gtb4hwUCur8/Paris%20Gates_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="392" border="0" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZva47IXI/AAAAAAAABJg/2X_gs82qQiM/s1600-h/Parisian%20Courtyard%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Parisian Courtyard" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="438" alt="Parisian Courtyard" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZyodWjcI/AAAAAAAABJk/aiEIZU76wCc/Parisian%20Courtyard_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>A secret garden within the city</em> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I remember feeling safe and grown up and independent, where Muffy and I could maneuver the metro on our own, visit Montmartre and have our portraits sketched, run to Notre Dame to catch the end of an organ concert and sample our first decadent chocolate macaroons, at Dalloyau on the rue de Grenelle. </span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBuZusm_uGxSjVX1SITjA2POW5C9QIr7CUI8e4z_6q9cV9KOti49nrIqqSuwqqnFG87KmrofZUqFFVUSSgI2Ja0Kp6hyphenhyphenBqLZjcmQDxYeRoPjJrNcD4rMNGUPJnahd8HhhUC1nmS9S4ycY/s1600-h/Dalloyau%20Shop%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Dalloyau Shop" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="353" alt="Dalloyau Shop" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_ur_5MPJYP0J6B0lra6y24GhtED3fJ-ueiR2UNz0hRAfOFyN4TRexvIkBfmAJY4HjtbBDFA7kq5uhrS8RJTJWpMc-Cp3UAcrNIm1VRYc2Y1Ihm-FIona58boad7eOotzuX1hU_5V4Osn/?imgmax=800" width="271" border="0" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZ6dTABwI/AAAAAAAABJw/kv6OvmFFo0E/s1600-h/Chocolate%20Macaroons%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Chocolate Macaroons" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="216" alt="Chocolate Macaroons" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAZ8xgvbSI/AAAAAAAABJ0/3TYI72Gpfzc/Chocolate%20Macaroons_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="312" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Chocolate macaroons…trés delicieux!</em> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I learned to become a café regular, sitting on the terraces of the big wide boulevards, mastering the delicate art of flirting with the waiter and doing my best to look older and sophisticated. I remember slowly falling in love with the city of Light and thinking that someday, some time, I’d want to live there.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAaAjRbPQI/AAAAAAAABJ4/6XlJVc_oPfQ/s1600-h/Paris%20Cafe%202%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="The Latin Quarter, Paris, France" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="442" alt="The Latin Quarter, Paris, France" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAaFYpQvxI/AAAAAAAABJ8/CRoj0tk2WZ4/Paris%20Cafe%202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="323" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">That dream has never died, and to this day, I have been doggedly pursuing it, with somewhat more ambition and urgency than ever before. Fortunately, with the wonderful job I have (and very understanding business partner), along with my incredibly supportive and adventurous family, this dream may be slowly turning in to a reality.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/TAAaH7yOOWI/AAAAAAAABKA/rbgmIAtGZS0/s1600-h/Parist%20at%20Sunset%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Parist at Sunset" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="402" alt="Parist at Sunset" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMefBkJCCWZOleJJWKKi2MMq1Sjh5Ue5GnULESdzgCvFV4HRqOzL2JsB96pjXd9VnAkEttIrrneXN8b8dWhthgdVpZdcBegEqhx-MOYUA-vmAB-eQlhe-LZ9tvJjfEiLyzHAwD5v33z4Md/?imgmax=800" width="402" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">This is the beginning of a series of blogs on finding an apartment in Paris, an adventure which has taken me back to my favorite city dozens of times in the last few years, with more adventures in love and heart break than I could ever imagine. Despite all the ups and downs and all arounds, I think this one may just have a happy ending.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Stay tuned …</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Tata!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">A.</span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-66519484217265711292010-05-30T19:54:00.000-07:002010-07-09T13:36:06.749-07:00Healthy Cause<p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Beach Beauties" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="325" alt="Beach Beauties" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw2iI-UB7sQOuRFcpDqywTfImOBZ8pTnPPc0qaJzoaHMaNFonJyRUVhHyJWjqocsCXA9_fM2h2KGKjNyelJFWkxJTc19K97O1TljZaRDTtm6maPiWge6Bm4cUHR5PSpJAulRlKdTo09Meu/?imgmax=800" width="360" border="0" /></span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Ladies on the beach at Cassis</span></em></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Thirteen years ago, during her medical checkup for her fourth birthday, my daughter’s best friend was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. As the friendship matured and we became closer to this sweet girl and her wonderful parents, we learned much more about the life threatening and disruptive effects of this disease and determined that we should try to do something, in our own small way, to help find a cure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">We’re fortunate to have a beautiful property in the South of France, </span><a href="http://lesmurets.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Les Murets</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">, and with the generous help of Delta Air Lines, we were able to offer our house as a live auction item for the </span><a href="http://www.jdrfgeorgia.org/gala.asp" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Juvenile Diabetes Atlanta Gala</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">. We were thrilled that it was very profitable for the cause. But you can’t offer the same thing year after year, so we needed to do something that would spice it up a little.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">I’m not sure how this idea evolved, but I decided to throw myself in to the mix and offer a week at the house, with yours truly acting as the chef, chauffeur, tour guide and bottle washer (although it turns out there is nothing more efficient or helpful in a kitchen than a group of eight women, so I don’t think I ever washed a single bottle!). The week was a terrific success and set a record for any single item raised during the live auction of the </span><a href="http://www.jdrfgeorgia.org/gala.asp" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">JDRF Gala</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">. Equally importantly, everyone bonded nicely and had a great time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Many of the women on the original trip decided they wanted to do the trip again, and of course I was more than happy to oblige. So this year, four of the original group, along with two lovely newcomers, joined me for another trip of a lifetime – and with their generous contributions, they actually surpassed the amount raised several years ago. (All you have to do is attend a </span><a href="http://www.jdrfgeorgia.org/gala.asp" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">JDRF Gala</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">, and your heart will be warmed by the number of generous and committed people who have poured their lives in to finding a cure for this disease.)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">For me personally, this trip has magically turned in to the gift that keeps giving. What started off as a fundraising event for a cause that my family supports very personally, has actually now broadened in to another business venture that is a natural extension for </span><a href="http://www.huffharrington.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Huff Harrington Fine Art</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">. This year, we will lead four trips to Provence, each one with different people and slightly different interests.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Could I have ever asked for more when I originally suggested this trip to JDRF? I don’t think so. Although the JDRF family is the first to wish for its own demise, and of course I agree with that, (for that would mean a cure for diabetes), I have to say that I am enormously grateful to this organization for what it has brought me personally: The chance to share my passion and love with extraordinary people for the benefit of an important cause, and the chance to build another business venture that keeps our gallery growing, happy and healthy. I’d call that a wonderfully American win/win! </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">We hope you enjoy the photos from this special trip to Remember.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">P.S. We still have a few openings for our <a href="http://www.huffharrington.com/tripstoprovence/aweekinprovence.html">October 2 to 9, 2010 trip to Provence</a>. For information, please call the Gallery or visit our website.<br /></span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A Day in Cassis</span></strong><br /></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT02m-v4I/AAAAAAAABFs/bMnPocPxq1Y/s1600-h/A%20Calanque%20in%20Cassis%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="A Calanque in Cassis" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="290" alt="A Calanque in Cassis" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT1l56pYI/AAAAAAAABFw/iiuqigsbeYU/A%20Calanque%20in%20Cassis_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" border="0" /></span></a><em></em></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A Calanque in Cassis</span></em><br /></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT2WUMibI/AAAAAAAABF0/ML3Ch5De1qg/s1600-h/Barbara%20and%20her%20toy%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Barbara and her toy" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="332" alt="Barbara and her toy" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT23tGWHI/AAAAAAAABF4/KQpH4aGannA/Barbara%20and%20her%20toy_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>Ingenious Iphone: Never miss another photo-op</em> </span><br /></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img title="Sally and Terry on the beach" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="352" alt="Sally and Terry on the beach" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT4EoguUI/AAAAAAAABGA/Jdr780sXhAo/Sally%20and%20Terry%20on%20the%20beach_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" border="0" /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>The idyllic Cote d'Azur - a memory that will last forever.</em> </span></span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLeXZ5BVT0suoQZ_7T-DlHnXJjEbIssUkDqmYhzPCdweCWUL5iuBkH57oAMZj9EYC_PGjIH2qPAdoKYYszyaSK3aP2hjXDeCC5aFs7h5pcCclsBPJDK9izgBGU_O52fFJs4hh-UFtyPYQ/s1600-h/Dipping%20her%20toes%20in%20the%20Mediterranean%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Dipping her toes in the Mediterranean" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="259" alt="Dipping her toes in the Mediterranean" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT7AcgX5I/AAAAAAAABGI/i6Cy5xx4O9s/Dipping%20her%20toes%20in%20the%20Mediterranean_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Dipping toes in the Mediterranean</span><br /></span></em></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT74gqLZI/AAAAAAAABGM/r0UWGPg22-k/s1600-h/Vera%20in%20Cassis%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Vera in Cassis" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="352" alt="Vera in Cassis" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT8xli2WI/AAAAAAAABGQ/H_xfjyjN5k8/Vera%20in%20Cassis_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><em>Mediterranean port villages provide the best photo backdrops!</em></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">~~~~</span><br /></span></p><p align="center"><strong><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT-Fl1BQI/AAAAAAAABGU/YHrOrEY4VCo/s1600-h/On%20the%20terrace%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="On the terrace" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="285" alt="On the terrace" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT-s_eK8I/AAAAAAAABGY/PVdTYqLmJ3o/On%20the%20terrace_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" border="0" /></span></a></strong><strong></strong></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Home Sweet Home: on the terrace at </span><a href="http://lesmurets.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Les Murets</span></a></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">~~~~</span></em></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">A Day at the St. Remy Market </span></strong></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">(for more pictures, see our last blog: </span><a href="http://theartfullifestyle.blogspot.com/2010/05/hooked-onorange.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Hooked On…Orange</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">)</span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wT_ohSloI/AAAAAAAABGc/E9FTs65jhVg/s1600-h/A%20vision%20in%20pink%20and%20orange%5B6%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="A vision in pink and orange" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="322" alt="A vision in pink and orange" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wUAJfdHuI/AAAAAAAABGg/e59ngDFmToI/A%20vision%20in%20pink%20and%20orange_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="271" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Dining al fresco – a vision in pink & orange</span></em></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wUAqyd5uI/AAAAAAAABGk/QKXhrQKYpV8/s1600-h/Eggplant%20perfection%20at%20le%20B%20du%20P%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Eggplant perfection at le B du P" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="227" alt="Eggplant perfection at le B du P" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wUBIwj6lI/AAAAAAAABGo/3yVyL2hQ5pE/Eggplant%20perfection%20at%20le%20B%20du%20P_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Eggplant perfection at Ann’s favorite restaurant – Le Bistrot du Paradou</span></em><br /></span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wUCFLVeBI/AAAAAAAABGs/7SjNkQrK-iQ/s1600-h/Molly%20and%20Barbara%20with%20their%20Orange%20Striped%20Market%20bags%5B6%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Molly and Barbara with their Orange Striped Market bags" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="347" alt="Molly and Barbara with their Orange Striped Market bags" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI2tB3HZR2gs0J4LHzfU6cIraub1s6algQFLTZgvV6MX3TR0PfigE6PexwCi0RJXewKajIDjnp5VMgv7L6BceR-8xzwsDo1GKr97oWNX6TBkD9-NpcRyqES2k_2h42aQNWyJdktisYNWj/?imgmax=800" width="264" border="0" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Pink & orange goodies from the market</span></em></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">~~~~</span></strong></p><p align="center"><em><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wUEdPy84I/AAAAAAAABG4/8-LRD38Gi8c/s1600-h/At%20Edith%20Mezard%27s%5B5%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="At Edith Mezard's" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="301" alt="At Edith Mezard's" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wUFrskvrI/AAAAAAAABG8/yRK83XLRnu8/At%20Edith%20Mezard%27s_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">At Edith Mezard’s, from which our delicious candles hail!</span></em></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">~~~~</span></em></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><em>Chappelle Sainte Sixte</em></span></strong></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wUGsTaB8I/AAAAAAAABHA/ICBFLYRzB7M/s1600-h/Our%20ladies%20of%20the%20Wind%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Our ladies of the Wind" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="293" alt="Our ladies of the Wind" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wUHDZJlaI/AAAAAAAABHE/5FSdgyvop20/Our%20ladies%20of%20the%20Wind_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Windblown!</span></em></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wUH-2NciI/AAAAAAAABHI/TzlaQiM2LBE/s1600-h/Terri%20in%20the%20Wind%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Terri in the Wind" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="346" alt="Terri in the Wind" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo26WRA_FtnxMr9GKgSV8h3hzf5XrKM_2lB_x3FhEX63YuwIEaBHhYahsfy2yD3X_eREchKuWSl32Ia2-WXAW-JZR-gEdE75IZQPGwF5NFhmHSOQCa-FGqhv0RAxYrm9-M3Raj2nPq6gbi/?imgmax=800" width="346" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /></span></p><p align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">A vision in blue in St. Hillaire</span></strong></em></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxLnezzTfFcX6VCjbkGoxecnvqs4NztpmvqEivvi-bbYCTMBXDF6TUOV_U0xe515INXX_60BKUjFFQfVHPv46pYw6iJEV3JeCt8n3a8ntG7OQir9QgDIjcBq7XbsS_cPG-K-UkMJ1LZoL/s1600-h/Mary%20Beth%20St.%20Hilaire%5B6%5D.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="Mary Beth St. Hilaire" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="359" alt="Mary Beth St. Hilaire" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsnnHdCMYF0FU6Kxqus2Pi-7J_MKvVnUD-kcm661F-ecfmVhLyHlNpKgH9h0vgKTa6wLaz_n4Hr8aaYmT_XWzlaMFnLsIlpqYIMM-ypjXLBbnjRSeB0AiT_UTkd1LRHC1RTWctJu8kr8-/?imgmax=800" width="273" border="0" /></span></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">~~~~</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">For more information about the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, </span><a href="http://www.jdrf.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">click here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> (national chapter) and </span><a href="http://www.jdrfgeorgia.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> (Georgia chapter). </span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="JDRF_Logo_Colour" style="BORDER-TOP-WIDTH: 0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-LEFT-WIDTH: 0px; FLOAT: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-WIDTH: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-RIGHT-WIDTH: 0px" height="114" alt="JDRF_Logo_Colour" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S_wULBk4fKI/AAAAAAAABHY/49llirp2OBc/JDRF_Logo_Colour_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="290" border="0" /></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Tata!</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">A.</span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-39703031530848182472010-05-10T13:48:00.000-07:002010-07-09T13:49:01.861-07:00Heaven on Earth<p></p><p align="center"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><em>Postcards from Paris...</em></span><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41H7fTq0WI/AAAAAAAAAY4/9i_2AIZYpSU/s1600-h/galerie01-entreerestaurant%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ></span></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41c3lZrzUI/AAAAAAAAAZo/Fd__T6mU_mM/s1600-h/galerie01-entreerestaurant.jpg"><img title="galerie01-entreerestaurant" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="galerie01-entreerestaurant" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41H7wL_WGI/AAAAAAAAAZs/K6Arfq14bi4/galerie01-entreerestaurant_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" border="0" height="250" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;" >Entrance to Le Train Bleu Restaurant in the Gare de Lyon, Paris</span><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Anyone who has ever hopped on a train at the Gare de Lyon in Paris has probably been aware of </span><a href="http://www.le-train-bleu.com/" target="_blank"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Le Train Bleu</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">, the venerable restaurant that sits up high over the quays and is decorated to the max in sumptuous 19<sup>th</sup> century rococo perfection. When Huffingtons take the train, it’s usually rush rush rush to a quick and fast connection, with no time to enjoy a croissant, let alone a fabulous four course meal. We’ve peaked into the restaurant, from time to time, and it has certainly piqued our interest. But the idea of actually sitting down to a sumptuous, leisurely meal there has been an elusive dream … <i>until now.</i></span></span><br /></p><p align="center"><img title="galerie06-restaruant" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="galerie06-restaruant" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41H91SI8JI/AAAAAAAAAZw/LIQx3Lns8m4/galerie06-restaruant.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" border="0" height="238" /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">It so happened that on Valentine’s day, this solo Huffington gave herself all the time in the world to make a train connection and decided to indulge herself in a romantic dinner for une, at Le Train Bleu. Reservations were made long in advance just to enhance the anticipation of this magical event.</span></span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><img title="galerie15-plafondrestaurant" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="galerie15-plafondrestaurant" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41c9h_zOUI/AAAAAAAAAaA/0rwX0zNdI-E/galerie15-plafondrestaurant%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="265" border="0" height="360" /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I love my traveling companions and love my big and tall Valentine, but when in France, I have to admit, it’s a wonderful luxury to eat in a fine restaurant <i>toute seule</i>. My luncheon at Le Train Bleu was no exception. The French admire people who take the time to eat and who obviously enjoy a great meal. You will always get lots of attention and respect from the waiter for ordering with care and savoring the food. And if you go so far as to invite the sommelier for a little advice about wine, you will be the darling of the restaurant.</span><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41c_Mlv4WI/AAAAAAAAAaI/gOzDCj8YdSs/s1600-h/shipping%20expenses%20candles%20feb%202010%20409%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="shipping expenses candles feb 2010 409" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="shipping expenses candles feb 2010 409" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41c_fJrG5I/AAAAAAAAAaM/C3p2BujDkcQ/shipping%20expenses%20candles%20feb%202010%20409_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="335" border="0" height="255" /></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><em> My dinner companion, watching over me.</em><br /></span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41H-ztntDI/AAAAAAAAAZI/55ymsfp9pfE/s1600-h/galerie13-restaurant%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ></span></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41H-ztntDI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/ALnZsYtfqEc/s1600-h/galerie13-restaurant.jpg"><img title="galerie13-restaurant" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="galerie13-restaurant" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41H_hI5WjI/AAAAAAAAAaY/aGLBVD29Ms8/galerie13-restaurant_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="378" border="0" height="245" /></a></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I was very comfortable in my luxurious velvet tufted banquette with plenty of room to sit back, relax and enjoy the incredible décor (and snap a few pictures, surreptitiously). I started by ordering a lovely glass of Pommery champagne. When I heard that familiar “pop” (admittedly a sound that makes all of us Huffingtons jump with joy), I knew that we were off to a great start. </span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="galerie14-tablerestaurant" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="galerie14-tablerestaurant" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41IAKdg6PI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/AGWfCPG-jQA/galerie14-tablerestaurant_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="255" border="0" height="358" /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >After that, a little “Amuse Bouche” (the only possible translation would be something like “tickle your appetite” ) of caviar, cucumber and sour cream followed by my first course, a somewhat heavy Saucisse en brioche, which was appropriately rich and delicious. After the champagne and the healthy red wine that followed, my lunch was a bit of a buttery blur, which entailed some wonderful veal in a white sauce accompanied by loads of winter veggies and followed by a sumptuous cheese course that was ripened to perfection.</span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41IBZpuazI/AAAAAAAAAZU/QsHswQpUKrs/s1600-h/galerie09-sallerestaurant%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="galerie09-sallerestaurant" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="galerie09-sallerestaurant" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9KPsJZ3i8YklQmiUdFoTRvPgBBT3TlX_Ey-oKiOHn3X3fEkaHo0fRQQUJnx191_qPBgyResX3809JdD3ZozO2HWujzmvHnegWvRYHdLbo3EWhMlCWrKIRQKEy_S5AqQNzCP1mRB0baMR/?imgmax=800" width="360" border="0" height="231" /></span></a></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >As with many French restaurants, I found the first part of the meal quite speedy and efficient, while flagging down the bustling waiters for my final “<i>addition</i>” was much more of a challenge, almost to the point of a little panic. By the time I rushed to the train, put my bags up and sat down in my lovely solo seat, I heard the whistle blow and discovered that I’d made the connection with just one minute to spare. I know someone wiser might have skipped dessert to avoid this kind of rush, but this little gourmande had to have it all. Mmmmm …</span><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="galerie07-horlogerestaurant" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="galerie07-horlogerestaurant" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41ICqolHhI/AAAAAAAAAZc/u-YRHXnmXFM/galerie07-horlogerestaurant_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="218" border="0" height="306" /></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Here’s a bit of advice to those who want to indulge in this marvelous experience but may not have two leisurely hours to spare: Order the 45 minute menu. My neighbors had it and it looked marvelous. The first course was <i>foie gras</i> (of course) followed by a piping hot <i>Gigot d’Agneau et Gratin de Pommes de </i>terre <em>a la Fourme d’Ambert</em>, which means lamb accompanied by sliced potatoes baked with a delicious bubbly (and marvelously smelly) cheese, followed by a café gourmand, which is always a wise choice because it is one of the few times in France that you can actually have your coffee and dessert at the same time (normally terribly frowned upon in French restaurants).</span><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41dCvSR_dI/AAAAAAAAAag/pSdl-31Q-Nc/s1600-h/shipping%20expenses%20candles%20feb%202010%20415%5B3%5D.jpg"><img title="shipping expenses candles feb 2010 415" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="shipping expenses candles feb 2010 415" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41dDVQguTI/AAAAAAAAAak/mx5j2erVOiA/shipping%20expenses%20candles%20feb%202010%20415_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" border="0" height="250" /></a></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >But regardless if you go quick and speedy, or slow and leisurely, the next time you are in Paris, treat yourself to a grand lunch at Le Train Bleu. The food, the comfy seats, the ambiance and the amazing decor all contribute to making it pretty darn close to heaven on earth.</span><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S41dERjl4LI/AAAAAAAAAao/CRRujrl6Nu8/s1600-h/shipping%20expenses%20candles%20feb%202010%20421%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="shipping expenses candles feb 2010 421" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="shipping expenses candles feb 2010 421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGgprxmZrFh5a0NtAgfAxucZHC_JscNdkUNk5oUTXx2oO3qDWbvBPMMVG-1EZipzDNQzAnR48wqMgmCLS7h9nO_QytWRSqbTyySO8lbcRp_mDdyho6t5p6LtxNecmx01bOyW3qpzpeC4L/?imgmax=800" width="318" border="0" height="244" /></a></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Ta ta,</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >A.</span><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ></span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-60749719727696863002010-05-01T13:13:00.000-07:002010-07-09T13:32:38.455-07:00Huffing it Alone<div align="center"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><em><span style="font-size:78%;">Postcards from Paris...</span></em><br /></span></div><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8diGbD4eoI/AAAAAAAAAuA/o_g27n0FDdU/s1600-h/ParisStamp%5B3%5D.jpg"></a><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJ47SKTSU3CzuSBhqlFH8paMX-ZS_uEPUW-XgQFH1EhboaF26_M58l3pITcDtP90AE4foI21dqpXsT7h51bEZ1KTSpK-FRzHtjmf8DzdjCofwgpgG2YB66mYw2a_ZsHTo4xQmh9ulftjg/s1600-h/ParisStamp%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="ParisStamp" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="ParisStamp" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dnVEILXeI/AAAAAAAAAuc/O8l-fSgRIiE/ParisStamp_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="91" border="0" height="136" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ></span></p><div align="left"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >A Huffington is on her way to Paris, on a solo trip for a few days, and has been musing about the joys of solo travel …</span> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPTrRavspEnoNXHN32CUUgKCB7KaPdhATOb6U-2FZNrudQKj0mit7Wd63in4wHTI87GLorZfM7RRTAu71orBZGz6FgyRo42asPNHUka8yYNqhK1Fm7q7ACnGFUyI3w57thyphenhyphengWARHr_xuT/s1600-h/La%20Femme%20Mysterieuse%2024%20x%2020%5B2%5D.jpg"><img title="La Femme Mysterieuse 24 x 20" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="La Femme Mysterieuse 24 x 20" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dnWHvSYSI/AAAAAAAAAuk/2z4I3Acq2ng/La%20Femme%20Mysterieuse%2024%20x%2020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="201" border="0" height="244" /></a></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPTrRavspEnoNXHN32CUUgKCB7KaPdhATOb6U-2FZNrudQKj0mit7Wd63in4wHTI87GLorZfM7RRTAu71orBZGz6FgyRo42asPNHUka8yYNqhK1Fm7q7ACnGFUyI3w57thyphenhyphengWARHr_xuT/s1600-h/La%20Femme%20Mysterieuse%2024%20x%2020%5B2%5D.jpg"><em>La Femme Mysterieuse</em> by </a></span></span><a href="http://www.huffharrington.com/christie.html" target="_blank"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;" >Lorraine Christie</span></a><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;" ><br /></span></p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >A quick disclaimer before I start: I love traveling with my family, friends and fellow Huffingtons and I’d never trade traveling with them for traveling alone. But having said that, there are times when you either have to travel solo or choose to, and when that happens, it can be a wonderful gift to be relished and appreciated. At least I think so, for the following reasons:</span><br /><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You can spread out in the hotel room and take up as much room as you want</span><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- Especially on those first jet lagged nights, you can toss and turn to your heart’s content, without bothering anyone</span><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You don’t have to worry about running out of hotel shampoo and you can use all the hangers in the closet (and take the top drawers in the dresser)</span><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dgwoAoxYI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/dQpJVy2_ChQ/s1600-h/Hotel%20Room%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Hotel Room" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Hotel Room" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dgxOgFm3I/AAAAAAAAAtU/WnfIK54Y3tE/Hotel%20Room_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="294" border="0" height="230" /></span></a><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You can order room service! Or you can go out and buy your food and wine and make your own little dinner. (Sometimes I order something small from room service, just to get the set up and silverware, and complement that with take out from a local deli or “traiteur.”)</span><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You don’t ever have to say, “What do you want to do today? “</span><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You can go through a museum at your own pace, spending hours in front of a favorite painting, while skipping entire civilizations if you want to</span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73TQLufG777w7xIix2l8qUwFQMLnBWf8Z8nASci7K4T1sltDEUN9IwqevzQ4Isv0rBAmToxUlKPyLXa7ys-kSR5bMs3RFYbbqDk0DWdNDBphL-QbHPoa4-nBnVAWRr_nMcYJQ-Zl3UHvU/s1600-h/Louvre%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Louvre" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Louvre" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dgzaBCzDI/AAAAAAAAAtk/ty1zsQ78TTY/Louvre_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="327" border="0" height="234" /></span></a><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You can try on as many pairs of shoes as you want to</span><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dgz_THYaI/AAAAAAAAAto/xNFY48BkV3c/s1600-h/Shoes%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Shoes" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Shoes" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dg0fU1EDI/AAAAAAAAAts/GKFZsBRwKYo/Shoes_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="230" border="0" height="287" /></span></a><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You can say yes to the whipped cream on the hot chocolate</span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dg06_vXPI/AAAAAAAAAtw/i29IYNV83XQ/s1600-h/Hot%20Chocolate%5B4%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Hot Chocolate" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Hot Chocolate" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYAMpGOsw5UtXmQo1zi_t2-qgQw3-U0bj8IBpJkSg2T3ZAIQiUIEXMY4Z8s0ONvRpbxqwER_Mmj8XlgXhtjcuwXp183EougZnmhn-syKCMD5mtEVnBTpXSuGBkaegZOcFqENMjM4nMIR1/?imgmax=800" width="197" border="0" height="257" /></span></a><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You can wear what you want the minute you step in (or out of) your room</span><br /></p><p align="center"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Jackie O" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Jackie O" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dg2VCmyrI/AAAAAAAAAt8/NHxd9_uQR3U/Jackie%20O_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="209" border="0" height="308" /></span></p><p align="left"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You can eavesdrop on interesting conversations (I heard all about a remarkable 19<sup>th</sup> century female artist – a contemporary of Manet, whom Cezanne worshiped, and who until now has been unknown – but couldn’t quite overhear her name, so she’s still unknown to me!)</span><br /><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ></span></p><p align="left"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You can order however many courses you want without having to synchronize your meal in a restaurant </span></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dgyPhRlJI/AAAAAAAAAtY/Cn_x9OMGHQs/s1600-h/Dining%20Out%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Dining Out" style="border-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Dining Out" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dgyUdWZnI/AAAAAAAAAtc/OxzBoOSCcgo/Dining%20Out_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="299" border="0" height="204" /></span></a><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- You can justify a very expensive restaurant, because dinner or lunch is so much less when it’s just for one. I especially recommend doing this in France – and really all over Europe, I think -- where the restaurants will treat you with very much respect even if you are a woman dining by herself.</span><br /></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >In fact I’ll end with a funny little anecdote. Several years ago, I was traveling alone on Mother’s Day. Never one to feel bereft, I decided to treat myself to a very nice restaurant and hotel for the night knowing that my sweet family would surely approve. I picked the <a href="http://www.aubergedenoves.com/" target="_blank">Auberge de Noves</a>, famous for its fine cuisine (and proximity to the Avignon train station where I had to catch an early morning train), and I ordered a full course meal delivered to my room. </span></p><p align="center"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU3VLtZkXv0g3_BIQQR-Ehc7TkiQyU7nT1Wq0yrtMhFaRmdWRn0UoQuo7adJ2LHK3198BW0uMGQyrrA3BqHsEunRNgAA9B2UwTWaMzTUa8UOXLNnOpMToPUNGBDp3BsMoIk4cL_hM3TWK/s1600-h/Auberge%20du%20Noves%5B1%5D.jpg"><img title="Auberge du Noves" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Auberge du Noves" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S8dsv_Mb51I/AAAAAAAAAus/J0BTZFliXGQ/Auberge%20du%20Noves_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" border="0" height="211" /></a></span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I was prepared to have a glass of ordinary wine to go along with it, but then I changed my mind and called the sommelier for some suggestions. He was thrilled and said it would be an honor, Madame, to match my meal with a perfectly complementary wine. After asking a few questions about what I liked and what I was eating, he brought me a very fine half bottle of Burgundy, a 1998 Saint-Joseph Domaine Courbis, for which I was too embarrassed to ask the price.</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >It turns out that it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had and the wine tasted like liquid velvet. It was perfection. </span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >But after relishing every bite and sip, I started to feel a little guilty about the mysterious cost and worried about the wine bill that would face me in the morning. (And what a terrible downer from Mother’s Day to be doing dishes in the hotel dining room!) It’s fair to say that I lost sleep over it – even though there was nothing I could do. </span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >When I finally checked out in the morning, I quickly perused the bill and braced myself for a horrible shock. But the shock was that this exquisite bottle of liquid velvet cost only $16! If I’d known it upfront, I would have been spared all that unnecessary (and so female) angst and could have just enjoyed the moment. But then again, traveling solo and treating ourselves takes some getting used to and it doesn’t always come naturally. So maybe the final point should be:</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >- Traveling solo is a treat: Enjoy it!</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Tata!</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >A.</span></p><p><span style=";font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;" ></span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-90306226272411965812010-04-20T12:25:00.000-07:002010-07-09T13:37:19.698-07:00Hotels in Paris<p align="center"><em><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >We'll call this little travel series, "Postcards from Paris..."</span></em></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32XxfhlMSI/AAAAAAAAATs/1SGeYxWWvQc/s1600-h/ParisStamp%5B9%5D.jpg"><img title="ParisStamp" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="ParisStamp" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32XxzL1bJI/AAAAAAAAATw/m8S_Qe2TKwk/ParisStamp_thumb%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="116" border="0" height="174" /></a> </p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >People often ask us, since we travel to Paris a fair amount, about where we like to stay. The truth is that we Huffingtons are creatures of habit, and once we’ve established our little hotel routine, with the bakery, the metro, the favorite restaurants and even the hair dressers, it’s hard to try something new. It’s a great feeling to get to know a neighborhood and have people in the “quartier” treat you like a local, even though you live 3,000 miles away! So that’s part of the reason we stick to a very few, and why we’re more than happy to share them with you.</span></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >On this first installment of our favorite three hotels in Paris, here is Ann, reporting live from Le Duc de St. Simon, right off the rue du Bac, in Paris’ tony 7<sup>th</sup> Arrondissement: </span></p><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><br />It is a freezing cold February night, with a dusting of snow on the ground and a hefty wind blowing. But I am happily cozy and warm, in a cocoon-like room, with its pretty padded pink walls and timeless antiques in the lovely and elegant Hotel du Duc de St. Simon. </span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_PloN8lephy00akaT4U_s2TMrFA0qMqu2cahYCKFcFk6TKtUeWkPGLVruG4X_006bEcmlay-Z_Emtgn07Qwmiz5M1RrutME_4VBs2MhxSSYB8YSlhs4HLo2h88WZUzhG_U43KNSMY9nYE/s1600-h/02suite1%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="02suite1" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="02suite1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32XyxiXPUI/AAAAAAAAAT4/zW0-CCig2zM/02suite1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="353" border="0" height="264" /></span></a></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >It’s a hotel I know well and one that comes stacked with years of memories, since I stayed here for the first time for a whole week when I was fourteen years old, and traveling to Paris my friend Muffie and her mother. La Muf and I had room #14, possibly the nicest room in the hotel with its own private terrace. The hotel has changed quite a bit since then, and along with picking up a duchy and a couple of extra stars (it used to be simply called “Le St. Simon,” ) it was renovated from scratch and to perfection several years ago.</span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqZmrWNOWwlfkYwrNpKhZbKMvAdHEZBCeZ_2ZJ194V2F8GEYBDMiS-ziG558WFK-8A1dzEqNZA1qR5-STF-_MzyZ-zFhdcBj-A-FMHf8pUx78XpWpFmUIxN0CcP__mhZ85Cx42Eff7Ctb/s1600-h/Bar%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Bar" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Bar" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32XzsinKBI/AAAAAAAAAUA/tu7SqI0WeKU/Bar_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" border="0" height="249" /></span></a></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Over the years, I’ve stayed in many different rooms: Some of them pink, some blue, some yellow; some small, some medium and some quite large. All of them are warm and elegant, with tufted walls, comfy bathrobes and the most sumptuous Italian cotton sheets, with matching color coordinated monograms depending on which room you stay in (such a nice touch). And all of them have a distinctly elegant feel of being more like a Parisian home than a hotel.</span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzvPaF2gF7oHvqGbXO_GgR-CL_UBN9CsLzk2o_uZWzNfKHY3mH7doeNxYgPejx3wrXDzXWph-yNrx-W-ov0tD8YfyYVXgvusgC86kcc2wnJP5hdJW2tqVmgmKCTc_eQZD29qVGEb5H17q/s1600-h/02classic1%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="02classic1" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="02classic1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X1M6kQ1I/AAAAAAAAAUI/rrHE2FMbREk/02classic1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" border="0" height="260" /></span></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X1g8fspI/AAAAAAAAAUM/HywwqBObkVg/s1600-h/02classic4%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="02classic4" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="02classic4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtEJmV9oGSOQ_aR0iEmeRNTRz1OpOzoZwbFJuiHIKB_qDUZxN2mBjMnBcgORYHpISHbniQbNhRvLZLcGLoFg7qSI9RmTQah53Zj5PM0qu5NDlKXjFINKqyz1MJlRcjVGjgamJKQStiFM5/?imgmax=800" width="259" border="0" height="383" /></span></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X2-xbOjI/AAAAAAAAAUU/kn4uhBGniIY/s1600-h/02superior%20room%204%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="02superior room 4" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="02superior room 4" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X3TQFmrI/AAAAAAAAAUY/ED8cxxaOjSo/02superior%20room%204_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" border="0" height="279" /></span></a></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >So here’s what I love about the Duc de St. Simon: It’s in a perfect location, or as they would say in Paris, “c’est le top top top.” Although it is steps away from the bustling Boulevard St. Germain and the elegant rue du Bac shopping district, as well as the metro and lots of bus lines, it’s quiet and quaint. With its cute little courtyard and few terraces, you could almost imagine being in the country instead of the heart of Paris.</span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X4G8rgkI/AAAAAAAAAUc/XZrWObNJ_C8/s1600-h/02sup2%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="02sup2" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="02sup2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X4gmIOHI/AAAAAAAAAUg/PZS1Pa-OexY/02sup2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" border="0" height="250" /></span></a></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I love the rooms. Yes, they’re small and some may say they’re a little dated now. But I think that like all fine design, they are timeless and have great bones. The walls are padded, the rooms are filled with antiques, the curtains are plush and the windows have the most wonderful hardware!! It’s an elegant combination of heavy iron and solid brass, and when you close the windows and eliminate any potential city noise, they make that satisfyingly substantial “umph” sound that you get with a really luxurious car. Although I sleep with the window open, I love to know that when I close it, in the morning, I’m going to hear the Umph!</span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="02classic2" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="02classic2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X5N_iL8I/AAAAAAAAAUk/mHFZZOIM9rE/02classic2_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="369" border="0" height="266" /></span></p><br /><p>I like the service. It is prompt, courteous and friendly. When you order your breakfast, you don’t have to wait: It comes quickly – and deliciously. On my plane on the way over here, I sat next to a delightful man from Asheville, who said, as he curled up to sleep after many glasses of champagne, “Just a few hours until croissant time!” I thought about him on my first morning of room service, since there’s nothing like the delicious croissants delivered to your room at the Duc de St. Simon: Luscious, buttery decadence at their best.</p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I love the details: The creaky stairs, the narrow halls, the marbleized floorboards and faux painted walls. I love the kilim lined elevator and the beautiful 19<sup>th</sup> century art. </span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X5nf6s8I/AAAAAAAAAUo/ArpxeorHxp0/s1600-h/05home1%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="05home1" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="05home1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X5xy04HI/AAAAAAAAAUs/atbiq6ztnbE/05home1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="254" border="0" height="373" /></span></a></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I really love the luxurious Beltrami sheets which are soft and silky and so welcoming, especially during those first few jet lagged nights, when they stroke and soothe you at 4 a.m. and say, “roll over, night night, go back to sleep now” – and you do!! I love the front desk and the sitting room, which remind me of an imaginary aunt’s house, somewhere near Fontainebleau. </span></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X6hSnVPI/AAAAAAAAAUw/ubMgVQsMXAo/s1600-h/Lobby%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Lobby" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Lobby" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X7Oid6JI/AAAAAAAAAU0/Jncs8zfC5QA/Lobby_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" border="0" height="237" /></span></a></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_x7Wh_ObN1KWTK0o0AoR9ORPBkDKotZNuyDJk_JPi0BL5K9MKJKaWf-aNOFprVb-QSiDZawz82q2ZmbuQUZCjY69nwaYuDttwq2KiNRr_-XgbpPEUtpt6Ap6w-ebgAWolPRQNdMmS0mVL/s1600-h/Lounge%20and%20bar%5B3%5D.jpg"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="Lounge and bar" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="Lounge and bar" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X70p_P-I/AAAAAAAAAU8/E8i4pDC4ZhA/Lounge%20and%20bar_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="206" border="0" height="393" /></span></a></p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I love how the sun reflects against the white buildings surrounding us, and I love the view of the terraces. I love the courtyard , especially in the summer, when it is shaded, flowering and welcoming.</span><br /><p align="center"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><img title="01home1" style="border: 0px none; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" alt="01home1" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S32X8kDwWpI/AAAAAAAAAVA/7Q3n4gO8zwM/01home1_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" border="0" height="329" /></span></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >But most of all. I just love love love that when you walk out the front door and take a few steps down the street, you go from being in somebody’s elegant country house to the heart of the most fun and fashionable part of Paris.</span></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Ta ta, bonne nuit,</span></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >A.</span></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ></span></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >PS: We will mention a couple of other favorite hotels in the next few months. But here is the info on the Duc de St. Simon:</span></p><br /><p><a href="http://www.hotelducdesaintsimon.com/en/index.php"><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >http://www.hotelducdesaintsimon.com/en/index.php</span></a></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >14, rue St. Simon, 75007 Paris</span></p><br /><p><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >PPS: Tell us about your favorite hotels too. But don’t be surprised if we just keep going back to the same ones over and over. Like so many things in life, once you establish that personal connection, everything else pales in comparison.</span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9166267872514316914.post-62939158228324638862010-04-03T18:45:00.000-07:002010-07-09T13:35:14.378-07:00Hiccups at Air France<p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Postcards from Paris…</span></em></p><br /><p align="center"><em><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S5k14aQ7yEI/AAAAAAAAAdg/oJweTf9tFfU/s1600-h/2009-05-29-AirFrance[3].jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="2009-05-29-AirFrance" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: inline; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="147" alt="2009-05-29-AirFrance" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S5k14-OnUxI/AAAAAAAAAdk/aXz8tDxZ48U/2009-05-29-AirFrance_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="216" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"> </span></em><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">It all started several years ago when I was traveling back from Paris to Atlanta. My plane from Marseille was delayed, so I arrived at the gate, panting, disheveled, and utterly panicked that I would miss my flight. I remember the ticket agent putting my boarding pass through the scanner and the machine uttering a little hiccup, as the attendant said (what would become some of my favorite words), “Un moment, s'il vous plait.” She then apologized for the delay and explained that I had been upgraded to Business class, and so they had to reissue a ticket.</span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S5k15ef0txI/AAAAAAAAAdo/JhxrmBQmdi8/s1600-h/AirFrance-BusinessClass[3].jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="AirFrance-BusinessClass" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="233" alt="AirFrance-BusinessClass" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S5k15w1YxNI/AAAAAAAAAds/nu7wNVWAYWE/AirFrance-BusinessClass_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="275" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Moi? Upgraded? Why? I was delighted but I couldn’t help wondering why they’d picked me, the most disheveled passenger, for an upgrade. Of course I accepted it graciously and savored everything from the foie gras, to the fine selection of cheeses, wines, leg room, movies and music. In fact I was so delighted that I did what any well brought up woman would do, after being treated to a fine experience: I wrote a thank you note to Air France.</span><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S5k3mi6pQ_I/AAAAAAAAAd8/a_AUTL8He3U/s1600-h/MerciNote[2].jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="MerciNote" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="137" alt="MerciNote" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_qq6BSqRqNFj0g378Y7cu1XdAm7PJrwd6xaKdOhs_jJTkqFfOeFWXRTX7R8L5WU-TDvSMP4R4_3I_txfQEhChGadm2HbjzwjPZ0HFj9jiTW-vpWJag3hgGaYYvgkTyPdfbBmO6yq7HEB/?imgmax=800" width="185" border="0" /></span></a></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">A few months later, I was again traveling back from France, and the very same hiccup happened at the gate. The funny thing is, I was actually furious with the airline for cutting my connection too short in Paris so that, once again, I almost missed my flight to Atlanta. I arrived at the counter, breathless and poised to complain, when I heard the little hiccup as the agent scanned my boarding pass, and she uttered those welcome words, “Un moment, s'il vous plait,” before delivering the good news.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">The third time it happened, a few months later, I figured the hiccup was Air France’s way of apologizing for their unreasonably tight connections in Paris, and this was their way of making it up to me. I decided then and there that I could deal with that tight connection!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">But the next time it happened, I was traveling the other way, from Atlanta to Paris. This time there was nothing to complain about. And so this time, I figured it must have been a case of mistaken identity, and that for some reason, Air France thought I was a celebrity. Of course I didn’t want to shatter that illusion, so I went along happily for the ride, and tried to be an appropriately modest and low maintenance celebrity. For several years, I enjoyed being upgraded on just about every flight.</span><br /><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">And then they didn’t just upgrade me … they upgraded my whole family. I had never really wanted my daughters to get a taste of business class, but they did, several times, thanks to Air France. A couple of times I got upgraded to First class, because Business Class was full. One time, when I was traveling with my children, they apologized for breaking us up. Not a problem, I told them … my girls would be fine alone in Business. The hiccup at the gate became a wonderful tradition and I was totally hooked as Air France’s most loyal frequent flyer.</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">And then one day, it ended. </span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">It was the first trip I took with Meg, my wonderful business partner. Although I tried not to take anything for granted because I was still sure it was a case of mistaken identity, I did rather cavalierly tell Meg to stick with me, kid, ‘cause we’d probably both get upgraded. But pas du tout. Not a hiccup. Not even a burp at the gate. In fact, not only did we get the back of the plane, but – and this will be an “aventure” for another blog, I’m sure – my passport was stolen on the flight! Poor Meg thought that she was going to ride with me in the front of the plane and instead she rode with me to the Commissariat de Police at Charles de Gaulle airport. </span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">To my regret, at a cocktail party a few years ago, I made the mistake of telling an acquaintance who was very high up at a competing airline that I was the beneficiary of something mysteriously wonderful at Air France, and she was horrified and said, “Well that’s not right – they shouldn’t be doing that.” I’m not sure if there was any connection with this regrettable slip of the tongue or if my demise was simply a result of Air France’s merger with KLM, which happened to coincide with the end of my benefits. But whatever the cause, I have not been upgraded since.</span><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S5k2lW7yHZI/AAAAAAAAAd0/QK97L8QFEZU/s1600-h/AFKLM.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><img title="AFKLM" style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; DISPLAY: block; FLOAT: none; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" height="156" alt="AFKLM" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1DFH7DvaUqo/S5k2lzWPKVI/AAAAAAAAAd4/FZceDGm8r5I/AFKLM_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="207" border="0" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Recently traveling on Delta, where I am a little nobody and never get upgraded at all, I realized that there is something to be said for the level playing field which eliminates that inevitable sense excitement and disappointment. I’m not expecting the hiccup when the machine swallows my boarding pass. I know that I’ll have the seat I was assigned to, and I have learned, over the years, how to make that just fine (enhanced by bringing along some treats from a favorite “traiteur” in Paris and traveling off season, for more legroom …. but that’s also for another blog).</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">But I do miss my old friend, Air France. I don’t know what I did to turn it off. In fact, I don’t know what I did to turn it on. But I will always be loyal to this friend, in the hopes that one day, that surprising hiccup will return. And if anyone from Air France happens to read this blog, please know that you are my favorite airline, and always will be. Even without the hiccup. Santé!</span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Ta ta!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">A.</span></p>Love of Provencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10600424157540343101noreply@blogger.com2