Well, all of our stuff is in the new place. It's all still in boxes and I have no idea how long it's going to take me to get it out of the boxes, but we have been moved. Alex's room is completely unpacked and organized so when he comes home from the grandparents' tomorrow at least his room will be ready and familiar. As to what comes next, other than making sure Reto and I have a bed to sleep in, I have no idea. It's rather overwhelming figuring out where to start. The kitchen, I guess.
It'll be good here, once we've settled. Small though it is, the garden will make a nice change. I hope Alex likes the new place. We'll see tomorrow.
31 August 2007
28 August 2007
Where we live
This is my favorite building in my Quartier (neighborhood).
It sits on a busy corner where there is plenty of car and foot traffic and a bus line. The upper floors are residential, but the ground floor is occupied by two local businesses - a cafe/bar and an Italian grocery. On weekends there might be a flower stand in front of the grocery, or sometimes fresh fruits and vegetables.
I think that this building is aesthetically pleasing, lovely really; but I think the reason I am so attached to it is because it has become iconic to me. The architecture of this building, the columns, the statue tucked away in its roof alcove, the colors and especially the two small businesses on the ground floor are a perfect image of what I always imagined life in a European city to look like. I even like that when I look at the building from across the streets the cables for the bus line - so very European - slice across my field of vision. Once upon a time I would mutter at those tram and bus cables for "ruining" my pictures; but they are the essence of European city living and I am learning to incorporate them into my pictures. To use them. To appreciate them. Their presence makes my life on foot, my life lived in close contact with the street, possible.
Much of my neighborhood is mixed-use; businesses on the ground floor and apartments above. I'm a big proponent of mixed-use zoning. As Jane Jacobs illustrated long ago, mixed-use neighborhood are lively and interesting; they have varied foot traffic at most hours of the day and night (thus providing not only interest but safety); and they're convenient for the residents. I live within a ten minute walk of a bakery, a grocery store, an organic food store, a butcher (mostly organic), two wine shops, multiple restaurants and cafes, an ATM, a post office, a papeterie (stationary and card store), two bookstores, two florists, two apotheks (drug stores), a branch library, a park, a playground, the bus stop, and the main train station. Alex and I live our lives on foot, out on the streets of our neighborhood, strolling here, popping into this store and that, recognizing faces on the streets, contributing to this lively neighborhood. Our neighborhood is designed to be lived in, not merely inhabited.
I love the buildings, the businesses, the streets of my city.
It sits on a busy corner where there is plenty of car and foot traffic and a bus line. The upper floors are residential, but the ground floor is occupied by two local businesses - a cafe/bar and an Italian grocery. On weekends there might be a flower stand in front of the grocery, or sometimes fresh fruits and vegetables.
I think that this building is aesthetically pleasing, lovely really; but I think the reason I am so attached to it is because it has become iconic to me. The architecture of this building, the columns, the statue tucked away in its roof alcove, the colors and especially the two small businesses on the ground floor are a perfect image of what I always imagined life in a European city to look like. I even like that when I look at the building from across the streets the cables for the bus line - so very European - slice across my field of vision. Once upon a time I would mutter at those tram and bus cables for "ruining" my pictures; but they are the essence of European city living and I am learning to incorporate them into my pictures. To use them. To appreciate them. Their presence makes my life on foot, my life lived in close contact with the street, possible.
Much of my neighborhood is mixed-use; businesses on the ground floor and apartments above. I'm a big proponent of mixed-use zoning. As Jane Jacobs illustrated long ago, mixed-use neighborhood are lively and interesting; they have varied foot traffic at most hours of the day and night (thus providing not only interest but safety); and they're convenient for the residents. I live within a ten minute walk of a bakery, a grocery store, an organic food store, a butcher (mostly organic), two wine shops, multiple restaurants and cafes, an ATM, a post office, a papeterie (stationary and card store), two bookstores, two florists, two apotheks (drug stores), a branch library, a park, a playground, the bus stop, and the main train station. Alex and I live our lives on foot, out on the streets of our neighborhood, strolling here, popping into this store and that, recognizing faces on the streets, contributing to this lively neighborhood. Our neighborhood is designed to be lived in, not merely inhabited.
I love the buildings, the businesses, the streets of my city.
05 August 2007
We're moving
More like changing apartments, really, since we're staying in the same building. One of the two ground floor units that's big enough for us became available and we jumped at the chance to get one of the apartments with a little yard in the back. Emphasis on little - we're in the middle of the city after all - but a yard is a yard, and it will be nice for Alex to be able to run outside and burn off some energy* during that half hour before dinner or bedtime when there isn't time to go to the playground. Reto's looking forward to buying a grill and I'm looking forward to eating what he grills for me. We're moving at the end of the month, so hopefully Setptember and early October will be nice enough for us to be able to enjoy our new outside space.
I'm not looking forward to the move itself - who does? - but I'm really looking forward to the new space.
* Ever seen a Jack Russel Terrier? That would be Alex.
I'm not looking forward to the move itself - who does? - but I'm really looking forward to the new space.
* Ever seen a Jack Russel Terrier? That would be Alex.
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