Daily Life in Paris
Bonjour,
After a fast and furious 12 days in Paris, we have a week’s respite to discover life in this new apartment and in the area. Everything is so different, and I have not conceded to the “newness” with ease. But it is a lovely apartment, and we jokingly say that we walk ourselves to death. We were so used to a very tiny space. The kitchen on rue St. Paul was barely large enough for one person to turn around in, and everything was within arm’s reach. Many of you have experienced it in years gone by. Here we have 120 square meters or almost 1300 square feet. That may not sound very big to you, but for Paris, it is huge.
Yesterday, Bernie felt very poorly and spent much of the day in bed. He is some better this morning and tested negative for COVID. He will test again later today. Hopefully, it’s just a very bad cold.
While he was resting, I spent my day catching up on household chores and figuring out all the appliances. Again, I know that sounds crazy, but they are all different from those at home; it takes some trial and error to achieve success. I started laundry mid-morning and did not finish until 9:30 last night. C’est complique (It’s complicated) because of the length of washing time. We do have a “dryer” built into the washing machine, but it does not work as we’re used to so there is drying time on a rack plus time at the Lavomatic for the sheets and heavy duvet covers. I also ran the dishwasher for the first time and have no idea how we got it to start. Bernie came out of hibernation to help, but he has no clue what he did to make it work. Ugh!
I went to a new Monoprix about 10 minutes away by myself without much luck. It was around La Place de la Republique. The police were everywhere which always makes me antsy that a big “manifestation” is about to happen. Several key items that I needed were not to be found so I will go in pursuit of them somewhere else today. One has to think and prepare when you get in the grocery line because it’s a fast process, and they expect exact change. While juggling a purse, you unload and bag all of your groceries yourself, then pay, then get your money and receipt put up, and haul everything down the street. Yesterday, it was raining so I also had an umbrella. Filming me would have made a good movie!
Our apartment is adjacent to a Picard which is a frozen food mecca that Parisians enjoy. My decision for dinner was to go there for a frozen pizza. I picked two different ones so Bernie could choose. That required the oven! Between the two of us, we figured it out, and the cheese/mushroom pizza was delicious accompanied by a spinach salad. Here’s a shot of the oven controls, lest you think me totally stupid…ha!
I fell into bed last night, exhausted from a non-stop day, walking most of my steps inside!!
In pursuit of functionality yesterday, we fought great frustration because there were no instruction booklets, also no emergency information, etc. We think this apartment is not rented very often. There were also no hot pads for retrieving hot dishes out of the oven so we will go to the Bastille market on Sunday and snatch some up for a bargain price.
Eventually, we will figure everything out and in the meantime, you can laugh with us. Few photos today, but you can’t complain because we’ve bombarded you with plenty up til now.
If Bernie is up to it tomorrow, we’ll be off to the finishing day of Le Tour de France on Les Champs Elysées. My postman wants an official shirt, and we’ll do our best to buy one for him. Lots of photos promised.
Have a good weekend,
L & B
P.S. This guy is always singing falsetto around La Place des Vosges. This year, he has a new outfit!
July 23, 2022 @ 10:43 am
I hope to hear good news about Bernie’s health in tomorrow’s post. You certainly had a challenging day. I have never been good at having patience with figuring out unfamiliar electronics. I hope today is a restful one for both of you. Take it easy and enjoy your palatial abode.
July 23, 2022 @ 11:37 am
Best wishes to Bernie for a quick recovery from whatever it is, and kudos to you for being so brave and enterprising. Appliances have pictures now, instead of instructions, so that, whatever language they speak, people can be confused!
July 23, 2022 @ 11:42 am
I hope Bernie feels better soon! What a day you had laundering, marketing, cleaning! I know exactly what you mean about the oven. We once bought a meal at Picard and I sat with my phone to translate the cooking instructions and then translating the oven instructions, which I found online by searching for the make and model number. It was a delicious meal, but we ate much later than we anticipated!
July 23, 2022 @ 11:57 am
Ha!
July 23, 2022 @ 12:41 pm
Hope Bernie feels better!
July 23, 2022 @ 2:32 pm
He is better today but going slowly. Are you home from your trip?
July 23, 2022 @ 12:43 pm
How absolutely frustrating! And no one around to ask for help!!!UG! Praying Bernie improves. Probably the heat/ entertaining caught up with him in addition to in and out of ac. Just enjoy the respite from guests this week with occasional strolls.
July 23, 2022 @ 2:57 pm
Get well wishes for Bernie! I hope he is better already. What a frustration with the appliances, laundry, etc.
I wish for you both some rest and relaxation, and good health. Sending prayers your way. Good luck with appliances. They can be trying with instructions in English!
July 23, 2022 @ 4:50 pm
Hoping you both feel much more ‘at home’ soon, and especially that Bernie feels much better today!
Blessings!
July 23, 2022 @ 5:10 pm
Very interesting hearing about your everyday chores. Fun to find adventures where you’re not expecting them. The accelerated checkout line experience was unexpected, I would have expected it to be just the opposite. Do Parians use credit cards as often as we do? Picard, a frozen food meca. That sounds interesting, are they experiencing shortages the way we are? Right now, I’m looking for a peanut butter meca. Bag your own groceries – is that normal or are they experiencing labor shortage?
1300 square foot apartment sounds large to me. Mama had a washer/dryer combo a very long time ago — now I wonder if it worked any better than yours does I know we still used the clothesline for a long time.
It’s so typical to think you have or have thought of everything until you reach for something like the hot pads and find them missing. Sounds like even on your off days you must keep on your toes. That good for you.
Hope Bernie is better.
July 23, 2022 @ 6:43 pm
Yes, they use credit cards as much as we do and yes, they are experiencing a labor shortage. And Bernie is better today, hopefully just a very bad cold. Say Hello to Sybil!
July 23, 2022 @ 6:52 pm
It sounds like your appliances are following the Apple model….. no instruction manual unless you can download it!!! I was recently in London and NO one wanted you to pay by cash, only by card, and mostly only by tapping it…. They did not even like your inserting your card!!! All touch-less and all quick! Your experience sounded like ours in the M&S Food Hall!! Hope Bernie feels better today. Heat does not help.
July 23, 2022 @ 6:53 pm
Glad to read that Bernie is feeling better!
I had to laugh at your frustration with the appliances! I’ve traveled with a group of friends in Europe. We have never figured out the washer/dryer combos! We ended up hanging clothes all over the apt! We always laughed that the directions were in English, we’re all college grads with a total of three Masters degrees and we couldn’t figure it out!
July 24, 2022 @ 12:07 am
Yes ma’am…back from Chicago. But down in Orange Beach to see the Doobie Brothers tonight. Glad Bernie is feeling better!
July 24, 2022 @ 12:55 am
I hope Bernie has recovered. A summer cold is the worst.
We depend on YouTube for our appliances here at home. I can never find that safe place I put the instructions; even in my file cabinet. 🤷🏼
July 25, 2022 @ 10:37 pm
These posts are some of my favorites…the trails and tribulations of daily life told through your writings 🙂 What I’m eager to know is DID YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO OPEN THE TRASH BAGS?? Also, I hope you got some ice cream from that “frozen” place next door – looked fantastic! OMG that oven, ha!
July 26, 2022 @ 4:15 am
No, haven’t a clue about the trash bags! We just rip them open and try to make them work. It’s the darnedest thing.