Back in the US of A

We are back in Oakland after a mostly uneventful flight from Paris via Frankfurt. I say mostly because at our departure time, CDG airport was experiencing very high winds and they had to hold our flight for a break in the wind. Actually it ended up being a remarkably smooth takeoff, but I think a large number of passengers were having a serious chat with their higher power.

This is another photo of the living room. You can see the brick and stone detail as well as the tile floor. It feels much "warmer" than your classic stone walls.

Travel to Paris

This is another view of the living room. I also forgot to point out one of my favorite details in the kitchen photo posted yesterday. That is the small window you can just barely see on the right of the picture that looks from the kitchen down the entry staircase so a person in the kitchen can greet arriving guests.

Today, regretfully, we take the TGV High speed train back to Paris. It is a 3 hour and 15 minute trip and from a door to door basis is faster than flying. The train is so fast it feels like you are flying. Sometimes it parallels the highway and you can easily observe how much faster you are going than the cars travelling at 130km+. More to come from Paris.

Our date with the Notaire

Today was a busy day. In the morning we met a carpenter and an air conditioning engineer at the house to get an estimate for building 12 lockers in the garage to be used as personal storage for each owner and suggestions regarding how the house might be air-conditioned.

Later, we had our meeting with the notaire to sign the compromise de vente, or agreement to purchase. Bureaucracy is a French word, and the process of buying a house is a perfect example. Every page must be translated and explained by the Notaire and then signed by both of us. There are termite reports, asbestos reports, global warming efficiancy reports and lead reports. Our house passed with flying colors, but we were exhausted.

Visit to the Med

I've included another photo of the house. This is the livingroom. It's 6.5 meters by 5.6 meters (21x18 feet). This is the current owners furniture which will be upgraded significantly.

Anyway, yesterday we visited Collioure and other villages nestled on the coast very close to the Spanish border. They are beautiful hillside villages surrounded by terraced vineyards. The temperature had dropped today to 45F or so and the wind was blowing hard. We watched some French military guys launching kayaks (made by Bic, of course) into the cold chop. Better them than me! This was a great little day trip, maybe 40 minutes from Toulouges to a small artist colony full of wonderful restaurants and shops.

We had dinner with our friends Mike & Hazel (Brits who have settled here and are active in a English-French Club that sponsors immersian French for English speakers and English for French speakers). We had an excellant meal at a place whose name translates as "The bone on the table" which doesn't sound as romantic in English. It was a first class dinner that looked too pretty to eat but wasn't and lasted 3 hours! A great time was had by all.

Well, we have a new fractional house. 18 rue Jean Jaures is in Toulouges, near Perpignan. It is an almost 1300 sq.ft. stone & brick village house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms; and it's gorgeous. The rooms are huge by French standards and it has a small patio in back for barbecue and relaxation. There is a large garage, plenty of storage (we'll make some private for each owner) and it has many architectural details.