A place to call home

We've had a place to stay but have been feeling like nomads for the last month because we lacked an actual address and a place that we could say was ours. Most folks saw Clay's post from a few days ago about signing a lease on a new place. On Tuesday we actually got the keys and took possession of it. 

We have a month to actually move and that's good because the new place is unfurnished and we have only what we brought over with us in luggage. Typical of unfurnished apartments in France, this one lacks even some of the necessary appliances. A refrigerator is at the top of our list to buy, along with a bed. I expect we'll acquire those things within the next week and have them delivered. Clay has already arranged electrical service and we'll get a phone/internet/television package sometime soon as well. 

We have a two bedroom flat in an old mansion house, older even than our house in Palmyra. The Petipas de Walle hotel was built in 1778. Despite the name is was never what we would call a hotel, it was the private residence of some local noble. It's a scheduled monument and has its own Wikipedia page. There are eight units, six in the main house and two more in the gate house. It has been restored, but not quite back to its original splendor, so it has a bit of the decrepit European feel to it. Our place consists of three large rooms, a small kitchen, and another small room, and just one bathroom. It is more than enough space for us and Bailey and the 12 foot ceilings make it seem cavernous, at least until we get some furniture in there to make it look and feel lived in. 

It will be an adventure.

We are the left half of the second floor (which they call the first floor here), in the main house.

View of the main house and courtyard from inside the front gate.

View from across the street.

Staircase up to the first floor.

Dome above the staircase

This is the salon or the main room.

Office, second bedroom

Master bedroom

View of the courtyard and gatehouse from our windows.

Office/second bedroom. Each room has a fireplace, none are functional now.

This is a pantry or storage room. 

Bathroom does not fit the look of the building, but it's functional.

There's a lot of detail on the front of the building that doesn't really show well in photos.

The gatehouse from inside the courtyard looking out.

I could have lived in this if had been available.

Marble floor on the entry hall.

Detail of the front gate. This is plaster work. 

Original front gates, oak and iron.