“Living the Dream”

We arrived right on time, and so did the agent—spot on! The young lady gave us a quick and clear rundown (maybe she had another appointment, or maybe it was just the intense heat that day). Either way, there were well-written instructions and info laid out on the table that covered everything again. What a lovely place! A stylish mix of classic and modern furniture—Eames, Bertoia, and more—with floor-to-ceiling bookcases that added so much charm. The kitchen had everything you’d need to cook and dine in if you wanted to. But honestly, sipping coffee from the cafetière while listening to Shostakovich, Satie, or von Karajan, with the windows open and a beautiful book in hand—that was a real treat and such a great start to our day. Just a few steps from the Jardin du Luxembourg, the location was perfect for an evening (or morning) stroll. And with Line 4 of the metro so close, getting around Paris couldn’t have been easier. In the evenings, we kicked back with some of the DVDs on hand (we didn’t have an Apple account, so we went old-school with Mr. Turner and Downton Abbey—in English). A glass of wine in hand (huge thanks to our host for the complimentary bottle in the fridge, along with some cranberry juice) made it even better. During our short stay, I tried to revive the poor sun-beaten plants on the windowsill. The white pelargoniums perked up nicely, the spathiphyllum looked healthier, but the little purple ones still needed some TLC—sadly, we had to leave after just five days. I wouldn’t compare myself to André Le Nôtre, but I like to think I made Mr. Jules J. proud (judging by his portrait in the garden)—though probably not as proud as de Gaulle made him back in ’47. This really felt like living the dream—staying in a place that, frankly, only a lottery win could afford me (and yes, there was one for sale... I’d definitely need lottery money for that!). If given the chance and the dates line up, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to rent this place again. Thanks!