We have a lovely, old fashioned Parisian apartment in rue des Halles, across the road from where we stayed in 2013 and around the corner from our apartment in 2011.
Les Halles is in the 1st Arrondissement, at the end of rue St Honore, and half a block from rue de Rivoli. It is really the best location we have found in Paris.
We are on the fourth floor on a corner, with six windows and a 240 degree view over the surrounding landscape which includes a fascinating industrial worksite - the eight year project to redeveloped Les Halles. More of that later.
On the left is my lovely little desk where I am writing to you.
Paul is set up on the dining room table but has spent most of his time staring out the windows and moving from room to room and balcony to balcony to follow the progress of a concrete pour or the delivery of more steel beams or just watching the skill of the crane operator.
We have a proper kitchen, very large by European standards and with its own little balcony and window box. I'm growing herbs already!
Because this apartment was formerly someone's home, as opposed to a modern apartment renovated and developed exclusively for short term tourist sletting, this kitchen is properly laid out and very well equipped.
Our bedroom with window and balcony.
The original bathroom, attached to the bedroom like an ensuite. This room has a bath with a hand held shower. Not my preferred way to ablute - too chilly. I prefer a steaming hot shower.
The original 'powder room' with a shower installed (behind the orange fishy curtain) where a cupboard probably stood, many years ago.
All of the rooms radiate off a curved, central hallway that curls around the shape of the central spiral stairway that forms the core of the building.
The elevator is located inside the curve of the spiral stairway, as it so often is in these old buildings. The lift, stairwell, security and entrance arrangements are excellent but we have yet to work out where the concierge is located so we can ask about rubbish disposal.
When looking in a real estate window today, we noticed that an apartment in this area, not much different to this ours, was on the market for about $1.35m AUD and had a $54,000 AUD annual body corporate fee.
No wonder everyone in Europe is a renter.
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