Oh wow. It really is round five. I was thinking to myself what’s a reasonable number to list even if it feels like trip number DLII and somehow V turned out to be the number. Go figure.
I’m beginning to feel like this is shoe shopping- I know what I want, I know what I want to pay, I’m looking for it in all the places I should be able to find it…yet I’m not finding what I want. Sure there are lots of other pairs that are fun, way more practical and those that could work, but my heart is set on what I have pictured in my head or have seen in other locations. Shoot, I even have a “personal shopper” looking at all the options with me to make sure I’m not going off into the deep end…although he is not so much the voice of reason when his goal is to get me settled into a place.
Do I sound defeated? Not yet, but for those who haven’t dealt with this before, try to understand where I’m coming from. My stuff was taken away from me on 2 May, so for past 2.5 months I’ve been living out of 2 suitcases and one of them was basically filled with gym clothes (priorities). I have just enough work clothes to get me through the 2 week rotation, assuming I can convince myself to iron. Actually, that’s always an entertaining exchange that goes something like:
Fashionista Katie: I’m sick of wearing the same few tops because you refuse to iron. It’s bad enough I’m still wearing these old black flats that need to be thrown out.
Domestic Katie: Look, you know I don’t iron…that’s why we always look at tags before buying clothes.
Fashionista Katie: Don’t remind me. Is it really my fault that these things spent forever rolled up in a suitcase? And you don’t seem to pull them from the dryer early enough to let them dry wrinkle free…
Domestic Katie: I miss our laundry service…do you think they would relocate here if we asked? Please remind me to add “must do all ironing” to my husband criteria list.
Well, that’s how the last round went. Now the fact that my house hold goods (aka everything I own) and my car are here, just adds to the pressure of the peak PCS season and the fact that I’m somewhere in my last 30 days inTLA.
I can’t even begin to convey how happy I will be to unpack, decorate, plant a garden, look for a kitty, and start hosting people. Funny thing though- you can’t do any of that until you pick a place. So for that reason, I picked up the phone to make an appointment with Enzo this week. Little did I know it was going to be today. Oh well, no time like the present! Slightly jet lagged, starving, and just a little limping, I met him on hour #12 of my day. (A deadly combination right? I was totally civil- honest!)
Today’s tour took us back to Monte Di Procida via Cuma and through 4 places. Since I wasn't planning on going house hunting after working my camera was not with me so it's time to use your imagination!
The first place was in Cuma, right before the Arco (as in ancient Roman building, not gas station). We went off roading on a one lane dirt lane. All I've got to say it's the most exciting terrain Ravi will have ever seen should I move into this place. If you continue past the Roman Amphitheater you come across a 4 or 5 unit place. Here we saw apartment #1. I'm going to call it the If I lived here I'd be sleeping on the terrace every night option. As you walked into the entry way, there were 7 doors all leading to different places- living room, kitchen, bathrooms x2, and bedrooms x3. But seriously the rooms were just a great size but they all had doors out to the terrace that over looked Ischia, Procida, and yes, you could see Mt Vesuvius! The walls are already painted great colors- greens, yellows, and light oranges. Both bathrooms were recently redone. There is a parking garage, but apparently most tenants use them for storage. Seriously? Storage? I don't even have enough stuff to outfit a 2 bedroom place, let alone a 3 bedroom place.
Yes. I did love this one. It sort of snapped my mood, especially when I saw 2 kitties longing to be adopted in the parking area. So why didn't I stop the tour there by saying "I'll take it?" A German Officer lived next door and an American couple lived upstairs.
What's my mantra?
If I'm living in Italy, I want to feel like I'm living in Italy!!!
It still is my back up plan but between being outside the town and being surrounded by other non-Italians its over all score falls significantly below the place we saw next (even though I could be moved in pretty fast and I'm more comfortable with that rent rate).
Stop #2 was on 2 street across from Chiesa di S. Antonio and basically in the square. A Canadian had moved out the day before and as we headed up a ton of stairs ("good exercise" as Enzo put it) it was clear the movers still hadn't picked everything up. Between the stacks of boxes, some furniture, and materials for the re-vamping of 2 of the 3 bathrooms it was a little intimating. After checking out the bedrooms in the lower portion of the house (separate entrance even for my guests!) we ventured upstairs to the 1/2 floor where it was a window enclosed "office." You know me and my planning...it's going to be a breakfast nook if I move in. To avoid coffee spillage coming down the stairs I'll probably just put the coffee maker there. The rest of the way up the stairs led to the kitchen, living room, and the bathroom/laundry room. But wait. That's not even the best part. The best part was the roof top terrace over looking all of Monte di Procida and the islands (Capri too). Although parts of it were enclosed, it was glass so you still had at least a 270degree view of other rooftops, buildings, and the water.
The house definitely has character and quirks which threw me off at first but seriously I could make it work. I wish I could see it again when all the things that need to move out are out- just to make sure it's not the jet lag talking...
What about the other tenants? Well, it's just the owner, an older lady who has 4 daughters (3 in America and a son (also in America). Apparently tenants in the past have all been Canadian single guys...watch out Canada...I'm about to take this one over. She didn't speak English but again, rumor has it past renters have called her mama since she looks out for them and also cooks for them? Shoot, I'll cook for her if she teaches me how to! Sounds great right?
Wait for it.
And here it is...the red flag.
We teased my sister about her landlords in Texas last year. After helping her move in and meeting them, we quickly dubbed them "Frank and Marie Barone"- you know, from Everyone Loves Raymond? "Marie" was always stopping by to check on them and kept an eye on who was driving down the lane. My concern is that this well meaning lady may be the same way and I'm stick with her for 3-5 years? She doesn't speak English so that may be in my favor (both to limited contact and me learning Italian).
I don't know. Input please! You know me and my mantra.
Places 3 and 4 aren't worth writing about because it's going to come down to one of the two places above....or the amazing kitchen I saw a few weeks back.
The last bit of information worth repeating today was when I was telling Enzo that I'll call him tomorrow so if he could have rent numbers for me as well as confirmation that a kitty is okay. (An Italian kitty, we had already established that in place #1.) He asked me why do I want a cat when there are so many single Italian guys that I could "adopt and feed." I told him he had a great point, but at the end of the day boyfriends talk back and a kitty doesn't.
I’m beginning to feel like this is shoe shopping- I know what I want, I know what I want to pay, I’m looking for it in all the places I should be able to find it…yet I’m not finding what I want. Sure there are lots of other pairs that are fun, way more practical and those that could work, but my heart is set on what I have pictured in my head or have seen in other locations. Shoot, I even have a “personal shopper” looking at all the options with me to make sure I’m not going off into the deep end…although he is not so much the voice of reason when his goal is to get me settled into a place.
Do I sound defeated? Not yet, but for those who haven’t dealt with this before, try to understand where I’m coming from. My stuff was taken away from me on 2 May, so for past 2.5 months I’ve been living out of 2 suitcases and one of them was basically filled with gym clothes (priorities). I have just enough work clothes to get me through the 2 week rotation, assuming I can convince myself to iron. Actually, that’s always an entertaining exchange that goes something like:
Fashionista Katie: I’m sick of wearing the same few tops because you refuse to iron. It’s bad enough I’m still wearing these old black flats that need to be thrown out.
Domestic Katie: Look, you know I don’t iron…that’s why we always look at tags before buying clothes.
Fashionista Katie: Don’t remind me. Is it really my fault that these things spent forever rolled up in a suitcase? And you don’t seem to pull them from the dryer early enough to let them dry wrinkle free…
Domestic Katie: I miss our laundry service…do you think they would relocate here if we asked? Please remind me to add “must do all ironing” to my husband criteria list.
Well, that’s how the last round went. Now the fact that my house hold goods (aka everything I own) and my car are here, just adds to the pressure of the peak PCS season and the fact that I’m somewhere in my last 30 days inTLA.
I can’t even begin to convey how happy I will be to unpack, decorate, plant a garden, look for a kitty, and start hosting people. Funny thing though- you can’t do any of that until you pick a place. So for that reason, I picked up the phone to make an appointment with Enzo this week. Little did I know it was going to be today. Oh well, no time like the present! Slightly jet lagged, starving, and just a little limping, I met him on hour #12 of my day. (A deadly combination right? I was totally civil- honest!)
Today’s tour took us back to Monte Di Procida via Cuma and through 4 places. Since I wasn't planning on going house hunting after working my camera was not with me so it's time to use your imagination!
The first place was in Cuma, right before the Arco (as in ancient Roman building, not gas station). We went off roading on a one lane dirt lane. All I've got to say it's the most exciting terrain Ravi will have ever seen should I move into this place. If you continue past the Roman Amphitheater you come across a 4 or 5 unit place. Here we saw apartment #1. I'm going to call it the If I lived here I'd be sleeping on the terrace every night option. As you walked into the entry way, there were 7 doors all leading to different places- living room, kitchen, bathrooms x2, and bedrooms x3. But seriously the rooms were just a great size but they all had doors out to the terrace that over looked Ischia, Procida, and yes, you could see Mt Vesuvius! The walls are already painted great colors- greens, yellows, and light oranges. Both bathrooms were recently redone. There is a parking garage, but apparently most tenants use them for storage. Seriously? Storage? I don't even have enough stuff to outfit a 2 bedroom place, let alone a 3 bedroom place.
Yes. I did love this one. It sort of snapped my mood, especially when I saw 2 kitties longing to be adopted in the parking area. So why didn't I stop the tour there by saying "I'll take it?" A German Officer lived next door and an American couple lived upstairs.
What's my mantra?
If I'm living in Italy, I want to feel like I'm living in Italy!!!
It still is my back up plan but between being outside the town and being surrounded by other non-Italians its over all score falls significantly below the place we saw next (even though I could be moved in pretty fast and I'm more comfortable with that rent rate).
Stop #2 was on 2 street across from Chiesa di S. Antonio and basically in the square. A Canadian had moved out the day before and as we headed up a ton of stairs ("good exercise" as Enzo put it) it was clear the movers still hadn't picked everything up. Between the stacks of boxes, some furniture, and materials for the re-vamping of 2 of the 3 bathrooms it was a little intimating. After checking out the bedrooms in the lower portion of the house (separate entrance even for my guests!) we ventured upstairs to the 1/2 floor where it was a window enclosed "office." You know me and my planning...it's going to be a breakfast nook if I move in. To avoid coffee spillage coming down the stairs I'll probably just put the coffee maker there. The rest of the way up the stairs led to the kitchen, living room, and the bathroom/laundry room. But wait. That's not even the best part. The best part was the roof top terrace over looking all of Monte di Procida and the islands (Capri too). Although parts of it were enclosed, it was glass so you still had at least a 270degree view of other rooftops, buildings, and the water.
The house definitely has character and quirks which threw me off at first but seriously I could make it work. I wish I could see it again when all the things that need to move out are out- just to make sure it's not the jet lag talking...
What about the other tenants? Well, it's just the owner, an older lady who has 4 daughters (3 in America and a son (also in America). Apparently tenants in the past have all been Canadian single guys...watch out Canada...I'm about to take this one over. She didn't speak English but again, rumor has it past renters have called her mama since she looks out for them and also cooks for them? Shoot, I'll cook for her if she teaches me how to! Sounds great right?
Wait for it.
And here it is...the red flag.
We teased my sister about her landlords in Texas last year. After helping her move in and meeting them, we quickly dubbed them "Frank and Marie Barone"- you know, from Everyone Loves Raymond? "Marie" was always stopping by to check on them and kept an eye on who was driving down the lane. My concern is that this well meaning lady may be the same way and I'm stick with her for 3-5 years? She doesn't speak English so that may be in my favor (both to limited contact and me learning Italian).
I don't know. Input please! You know me and my mantra.
Places 3 and 4 aren't worth writing about because it's going to come down to one of the two places above....or the amazing kitchen I saw a few weeks back.
The last bit of information worth repeating today was when I was telling Enzo that I'll call him tomorrow so if he could have rent numbers for me as well as confirmation that a kitty is okay. (An Italian kitty, we had already established that in place #1.) He asked me why do I want a cat when there are so many single Italian guys that I could "adopt and feed." I told him he had a great point, but at the end of the day boyfriends talk back and a kitty doesn't.
No comments:
Post a Comment