Our previous post left off with us departing the Charles De Galle airport. Once we found the train, getting to our final destination was pretty straightforward, even with next to no experience with the Parisian metro system, the RATP. Our host, Hughes, had provided us with very detailed directions which was quite helpful. Our flat was in the Southern section of the 10th Arrondismont (Paris is split up into boroughs called arrondismont) right off the Plaza De Republique on Rue Mesley. It was on the small side, but very charming. The first thing I noticed was a very distinct smell that we believe was the cheese they were keeping in the refrigerator. It wasn't a bad smell, but it was strong. Thankfully, after twenty minutes or so we stopped noticing it.
A picture is worth a thousand words as they say, so I'll rely on the pictures below to provide you with a sufficient description. The best (or perhaps worst) thing about it was the 92 steps we had to climb to reach it. Like most things I noticed in Paris, it was not the least bit handicapped accessible. Those steps provided for a much needed workout every time we headed back for the evening, or to rest during the day.
Another interesting feature of this flat, and the one that motivated us to select it, was the sleeping area. It was tucked away in an elevated, loft-like space accessible via a ladder. Once at the top, we had to crawl on our hands and knees to get to the bed as the ceiling was only about three feet above the floor at the tallest point. It was both neat and cozy, but I find it difficult to imagine living in such a small area for any more than a few days. Needless to say, our time spent on boats prepared us well for this experience.
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