Move,Pop,Serve

My apologies for the delay since my last post. Since moving a few weekends ago, I've been without internet access and let's just say that the internet café around the corner - with a 'regular' who is currently slumped over in the corner and constantly groaning in a low 'mmmmmm' - leaves me less than inspired to write.

So where was I? Oh yes, the move! After moving out of my apartment in Seattle in June, here I was only a few weeks later, moving to a new apartment in Paris. The timing was perfect in that Yann's dear friends Annaëlle and Eric were moving out of their apartment in the 17th: a quiet little neighborhood called Les Batignolles and Yann's lease was up in his apartment near Place de Clichy (a busy, noisy, dirty, highly touristy place by the Mouin Rouge). Not that I'm biased.

Since finding a decent apartment in Paris is like trying to dislodge a pigeon's claws from your shoe (tried it. not easy), we jumped on the chance to take their apartment. And so it was that while we moved in, Annaëlle and Eric moved out. All on the same day.

But the Parisians know what's up when it comes to moving up and down flights of stairs with no elevator: it's called creating a human chain and it's fabulous. Yann's friends especially know the perfect recipe to make for a smooth, nearly painless move with a nice sweet aftertaste (that aftertaste is known as Champagne).

So on a sunny Sunday afternoon in July, 10 friends came together to help in The Big Move.

Here were our marching orders:

Step 1: Move Annaëlle and Eric out of their apartment: Down 5 flights of stairs

Step 2: Move Annaëlle and Eric into their new apartment: Up 5 flights of stairs

Step 3: Move Yann's stuff (and OK, my 2 suitcases) out of Yann's apartment. Down 3 flights of stairs

Step 4: Move Yann's stuff and Kelly's 2 suitcases up 5 flights of stairs

Step 5: Remove champagne bottle from fridge, pop cork gently and partake in the delicious feeling of accomplishment

And so we are officially moved into 25 Rue La Condamine in the 17th. The neighborhood is quiet, the apartment is clean and there is even a little fireplace that will likely serve us well this fall and winter as we sit, relax and just enjoy one another's company.

Preferably with a nice, chilled bottle of Champagne.