We Have A Home !!

Today we went apartment hunting and we had success!  We were shown three apartments and the third one was the charm.  The first we saw was at a place a three bedroom in a compound called Riverside Garden and I was pretty sure before we even got there that I didn't want that one.  It was on the 24th floor and we want to be a little closer to the ground.  When we first started talking about going to China and the skyscraper building we might live in, Dad suggested we check with the local fire department to see how high their ladders could reach and pick a place below that.  Well, without checking I'm pretty sure they won't go to the 24th floor.  Also, when you looked out the master bedroom window across the street you could see a very large, once very beautiful hotel/apartment building that recently burnt.  I've seen it a few times while we were driving around and it gives me the willies.  No one died in the fire, but it looks awful.  Aside from all that, the apartment itself wasn't very nice so we ruled that one out pretty quickly.

The second and third apartments were in an area called Eastern Venice.  This was the one we originally thought we would like the best as it is in a quiet area with a park right next to the river.  It didn't disappoint.  Around the buildings there are play areas, fountains, and what will be lovely gardens once things start turning green again.  The first apartment was a three bedroom on the ground floor.  We liked the place mainly because there was a small garden area accessible by the patio/porch that the kids could play in and it would be for our use only.  Tim wanted to take this one before we even looked at the third until we spotted mold on the wall of one of the bedrooms.  Apparently this place hadn't been lived in for three years but we were told that the landlord would fix it before we moved in and that it shouldn't happen again as long as the heat was on.

We then went to the last place on the sixth floor of another building and this apartment had been the temporary home of a family from Bridgewater.  They had arrived in February but had decided to go back home in March so they only lived in the place a short time.  We liked it immediately.  Nicholas discovered a desk in "his" room and he was hooked.  It even had a penguin office chair and a king size bed.  The next bedroom is a little girly but it had a desk as well so Ryan liked it.  We will "macho" it up for him with some hockey and Tonka stickers and get rid of the pink, frilly curtains and pink office chair.  Our bedroom has a king size bed, a huge flat screen tv, a giant window and a nice size closet.  There is one full bath with a bidet and after Korea we know what a kick Nicholas gets from this so it was a big plus.  There is also a half bath with a washing machine, a dining area, and a large office with a desk and storage cupboard.  The living room is probably my favorite as it has glorious furniture including a plush chaise which I have always wanted.  This sits right by a huge window and faces another giant, flat screen tv.  The kitchen is small but pretty and the appliances seem new.  There was no oven so we asked and the landlord agreed to buy one..  We chose one that sits on the countertop and is big enough for our bakeware.  The one negative is that there is no dishwasher and no room to install one but we will survive.  After hearing the prices for an ayi (housekeeper/nanny) I think I will have some help with that sort of stuff.  There is no dryer which we were not surprised about but we can buy one and install it in the small porch/balcony area.  We will likely get one after we move in.  Perhaps the biggest plus of this place is that, because it was prepared for this other family, there is nothing left to do and we may be able to move in on Monday!  We did ask for one more extra - locks on the windows so that the kids can't jump out.  They are figuring that out now but we think they are going to go with bars that go in the open part of the window so that it can still be opened but no one can fall out.  They just want us to see a picture and okay it before they install them.  There is also a Carrefour, the French supermarket, very close by.  I plan to buy a wagon so the kids and I can walk there to buy groceries and stuff.

So, we may not be in the hotel for anywhere close to a month and we think that may mean that our shipment may get through customs a little faster.  Hooray! 

All in all it was a great day - also because for the first time since we got here on Tuesday we saw blue sky.  What a treat!  We are going to explore around the hotel this weekend and see the downtown sites while we are still here.  Apparently there is another park nearby with a fun area for the kids.

Have a great Friday everyone!

view of the burnt hotel from 1 st  apt. bldg.



the rest of these photos are from our new home in Eastern Venice