Many of you have been asking for pics of our new place here in the Paris suburbs. So, here is a brief selection plus a short description. (Also look under French Notes for random comments).
This is a small old farm house, separated from the main house by an informal courtyard. It has its own entrance into the courtyard, which is great, so we are completley independent of the main house. It’s a narrow building with 3 floors: the ground floor has dining area, kitchen and bathroom; up fairly steep steps on the side to the next level, which is the sitting room (with double fold-out couch for visitors); then even steeper steps to the top with the main bedroom, which is surprisingly light due to a skylight/window on the roof. Slate tile floors and huge wooden beams ceilings. We are very close to the RER B-line train station at Lozere, which gives us a direct iine into the city—takes about 35 minutes. Rod changes trains in the morning, and gets to the lab in about 45 minutes (that includes quite a long walk at the end)—he’s been catching up on reading in his train time and is very happy!
(that’s me sitting on the step, and a foldable clothes dryer, taking advantage of a bit of sun)
(we have a washing machine but no dryer—many French households don’t have a clothes dryer—and the small old oven doesn’t work so we use it as storage space!)
(from the dining area. The bar-counter dividing it and the kitchen is very useful)
Is the habit of making good use of every bit of available space a typically French thing? My friends in Le Havre have their ‘home office’ in the space under the stairs where I usually store my junk!
And, they only have one room downstairs which serves as kitchen, lounge and dining room. But, it’s still comfortable and stylish, and they never seem to get in each other’s way.
I think it must be, Keith. All the places we’ve seen also maximize every bit of space. So far, Rod and I are not tripping over each other, but we’ll see what happens when our kids come to visit!!
Susan G wrote me:
“Your house in Paris looks quite charming and the gardens you posted pictures of look beautiful. I like what you said about the grafitti and although you seem to think it distracting and not pleasing, you put it in an ‘art’ category all of its own. I guess that’s what makes your writing so enjoyable—-you report on what yoou see and seem to find beauty in everything”.
Thanks again Susan. I appreciate the comments. Vivienne
Hello Rod and Viv,
Am enjoying your website and finding out about your experiences in France. Look forward to seeing China on there soon! A French friend just told me about a great area to try some very French restaurants in Paris it is called La Butte aux Cailles (the hill of quails I think!) near metro station Corvisart. Big shared tables and traditional French food.
take care, love Rebecca, Phil, Maddy and James.