Week One

WEEK ONE

I thought I would tell you about our trials and tribulations as well as adventures each week.  The first week I must start 2 weeks before we left Cleveland.  Many, many things went wrong.  Sigh.  First, our original apartment via Arbnb was cancelled by the host.  It was a great price and location so we were so sad and worried!  We did find another via Airbnb but many issues with it as I will explain.  Apartments in Europe often have very different things in it.  Often kitchens have a small stove, no oven, or an oven that is a combination microwave and oven.  I’ve never used one of these and don’t want to but may on this adventure…..  Back to Cleveland – Joe’s car was in the shop for a week because the power steering broke and had to be replaced.  The weather was awful which you all know.  On Friday Jan 12 Abby was scheduled to fly to Copenhagen.  As you know (most of you) we had freezing rain and snow so Abby’s original flight was cancelled.  She was rebooked but getting to the airport using the RTA took over 2 hours.  Joe accompanied her because her luggage was heavy and I hate snow and can’t deal with ice.  But she made it to Copenhagen and has acclimated to life among Danish and American students.  She is having a good time.  The next problem encountered is that Joe had to go through his office for papers and books he may need over the summer because his building The Mather House is being renovated beginning in May when we will still be in Rotterdam.  So with all these hassles, Joe never prepared his lectures for Science Po in Lyon.  He felt very behind in his work prep. 

Sunday, January 14 

Joe and I leave for Europe.  Jeff Rose was kind enough to take us to the airport that day.  Many thanks to him.  More issues popped up.  First, Joe changed the small suitcase he wanted to check.  He checked his instead of mine which had regular size shampoo and toothpaste in it (I had forgotten by the time I got to the airport).  So during security all this was confiscated.  I can live with that.  Also, Joe’s boarding pass didn’t have TSA Precheck even though we all are registered.  So he went to regular security which took a while.  Meanwhile, I went thru precheck but my carry-on set off an alarm.  So I was stopped for a full body pat-down and my bag had everything removed for clearance.  I know I look dangerous but really?????  Oh well, at least we know that TSA is doing their job.  We both got through security and onto the gate for Delta Airlines.  We flew to Detroit where we changed to a flight to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.  The flight was long but uneventful.  When we land with out 2 large, 1 carry-on size (Joe’s carry-on size suitcase was still in Cleveland, we did get it on Tuesday) and 1 smaller carry-on luggage we go through passport and customs which took forever due to lack of staff.  Then we shlep everything to the train to Rotterdam then a taxi to our hotel.  In the Rotterdam train station I could smell the sweet smell of cannabis in the air.  Phew we made it. 

Rotterdam is cold, windy and pouring rain!  Basically, this is the weather since our arrival.  It does beat ice, snow, and a high of 10 degrees.  I’ll take it.

We settle into our hotel, Urban Residences, in central Rotterdam.  The room was roomy with a king size bed and kitchenette.  I could live there.  There are windows everywhere so the views were lovely.  We immediately go out to walk and find lunch which we did at Gourmet Burger.  This was around 2 pm and we had eaten breakfast on the flight around 7 am GMT (1 AM ET).  Starving!!  Everyone in The Netherlands speak English as well as several other languages.  So there is no problem with communicating with people.   Joe and I parted ways:  me to the room and a nap and Joe to Erasmus University for paperwork and introductions.  I slept till 6 pm when Joe returned to the room.  We brought in Chinese food for dinner from Grand Gardens.  It was GREAT!!!!  We had 2 soups – hot and sour soup and egg drop soup – followed by asparagus with shrimp.  We were asleep again by 9 pm. 

TUESDAY, JANUARY 15

We woke around 9 am, dressed, and off to 3 appointments to see apartments to start March 1 – May 16.  

First Apartment is located off a major street with lots of everyday shopping retail, bakeries, groceries.  So the neighborhood was wonderful, quiet and charming. The apartment was very small meaning with a 3^rd person there would be no space at all.  Also, there was no oven, and narrow stairs from the street to the apartment.  So we decided against that one.  Then we had lunch in this neighborhood at Wester Pavillion.  Very good food and also people were on their computers drinking coffee.  When finished we walked to the 2^nd apartment next door to the Maritime Museum.  This was a very secure building with a 2 bedroom apartment just perfect.  However, another couple wanted to rent it immediately so we didn’t get that one either.  Close by we walked to Market Hall which is an indoor market place with vendors and restaurants very similar to the West Side Market in Cleveland.  Then we walked to tourist information where we were told there was an office that helps expats with settling into Rotterdam.  But you need an appointment and it was only on Tuesdays and so we left and returned to the hotel to rest our weary feet.  It was around 3 or 4 in the afternoon by now.  Joe’s suitcase arrived at 6 pm. Phew!  At 6:30 we met an agent for an apartment in a building a block from Rotterdam Central Train Station.  We liked it a lot.  It is a 2 bedroom apartment with a nicely appointed kitchen including a combi / small oven (meaning it’s a combination small oven and microwave) and a nice size living common space.  The building has a gym inside also which is a big plus for me.  The agent was asking a lot of money (2900 Euros/month) for it.  Our budget is 2500/month.  We’ve been negotiating with him this past week.   As of this writing, Saturday January 20, 2018, we have a negotiated one price to rent from Feb 21 to May 16.  I will let you know what happens.  But we liked it and the neighborhood.  It’s close to the train station, close to tons of restaurants, the Philharmonic, movie/Imax theatre, Rotterdam theatre.  We had dinner at another Chinese restaurant close to this apartment called Tai Wu.  Ok but we liked Grand Gardens better.

My first impression of Rotterdam is overall good.  There are tons of shoe stores!!!!  I guess people walk a lot or ride their bikes so you need good shoes.  The architecture is very modern.  The Nazis had bombed Rotterdam in 1940 when it invaded so it needed to be rebuilt.  It doesn’t look like a European city which I think of as being old, with lots of medieval and 19^th century charm as Paris looks.  The people are so friendly and welcoming. 

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 17

We shlepped our luggage  (all 5 pieces) to the train to go to Paris.  It turned out that friends of ours from the DC area were in Paris at the same time.  Since we had to change trains in Paris we stayed overnight to see them.  Of course this also included dinner at our favorite brasserie, La Rotisserie d’Argent.  More about that soon.

It is a quick 2.5 hour ride on a high speed train to Paris.  We arrived at Gare du Nord but will leave from Gare de Lyon the next day so we stayed in a hotel next to Gare de Lyon.  The hotel is called Citizen M.  I highly recommend it.  It is small but clean rooms with a very nice comfortable lobby where people actually spend time reading, drinking, eating.  It is France.  This hotel is VERY high tech.  In each room the TV, heating, lights are controlled using an IPAD.  We of course had to be tutored by the staff and they were very nice and never treated us for what we are which is old and unknowledgeable about a lot of technology.  Actually, Gare de Lyon is very close to the area we lived 7 years ago.  It was fun to walk around and recognize familiar streets including Les Jardin des Plantes and Bastille.  Upon arriving we immediately set out for a quick bite of lunch at Nature’s Bin.  Good fresh food.  We took the bus to the Republique area of Paris where our friends stayed.    That evening we all went to La Rotisserie d’Argent.  7 years ago when we lived in Paris we discovered or were told about this restaurant.  At the time it was La Rotisserie de Beaujolais because a cat named Beaujolais lived there.  The cat has died and the restaurant has been remodeled so the dingy charm is now a fresh country French brasserie.  Across the street is the very upscale version of this restaurant named Tour d’Argent.  The picture of my meal doesn’t look too exciting but let me assure you it was spectacular.  The roast chicken is perfectly cooked so that it is juicy and tender.  The mashed potatoes are creamy and delicious.  They are part of what we call the Pantheon of Potatoes!!!  The first potato dish to make it into this list is Lola Fries.  La Rotisserie’s mashed potatoes are the 2^nd to make it onto this list. They are made with fresh cream and lots of butter so how can that be bad, fattening yes, delicious yes.  Another one of our customs is to walk across to the Isle de la citie to Flore I’lsle for Bethillon ice cream.  Another one of the great foods I’ve eaten in my life.  The best ice cream on the planet.   All this food was followed by a nice walk to the Metro and off to our hotel.   Ok enough about food.  Yes I was so full I thought I would burst.

By the way our friends stayed at a hotel named Citadene Hotel.  It is reasonably priced with a little kitchenette so you can cook fresh food from the many markets around Paris. 

Here are a few pictures taken in Paris:

Thursday, January 18 LYON!!!

Finally we get on the train to Lyon.  The high speed train from Paris to Lyon takes 2 hours.  We arrived at the Par Dieu Train Station and taxied to our apartment on Place Raspail.  The apartment has been renovated to be very modern but small.  We have a lot of trouble with the internet but we are settling in and learning the area.  Our host Alexandra explained how to use everything.  Then we finally unpacked which felt great.  That evening we had wine and appetizers at the home of Joe’s host at Science Po University.  He and his wife are terrific and since they live 5 minutes away told us all about the neighborhood including the market on the weekend, the best bakery, butcher, where to buy what.  Since we lived in France 7 years ago we knew about Monoprix, Carrefours, Fran Prix, FNAC.  We made plans to go the local market on Saturday to be introduced to the best vendors for local vegetables, cheese, wine, etc.  You get the picture.

Lyon is a medium size city situated with 2 rivers, the Rhone and The Saone rivers, crossing thru it.  Consequently there is an island between the 2 rivers called Presque Isle.  On one side of the Rhone is the old city that sits on a hill and requires good thighs or a funicular to get to it.  I hope to explore the city in the future weeks.  The inventor of moving pictures named Lumiere is from Lyon.  They really light up the city at night and have a Lumiere festival on Dec 8.  We saw from where we live a ferris wheel, small Eiffel tower  lit up in the night with different colors.  I couldn’t get a decent photo from my phone.  Sorry.

Here are 2 pictures I took from the train to Lyon.  I noticed that the French country side is very green (I think they have had a lot of rain) and many farms along the ride.  There were many small villages of homes along the way also. 

Friday January 19

Joe was up early and rode to the university with his host’s wife who explained best grocery store for this/ that.  Now we are getting to know the neighborhood.  I meanwhile walked on my own to get a feel for the area.  I found a close by Monoprix ( this is a French version of Target ), Starbucks for coffee, FNAC for electronics.  In the afternoon Joe and I walked to an area call Par Dieu.  It is being rebuilt and has the largest mall in the area, the largest grocery store called Carrefours (similar to Giant Eagle, Publics etc.)  We found the local Picard for frozen foods so bought some frozen food for dinner and vegetables for the week.  This store Picard is unlike any frozen food franchise.  EVERYTHING it sells is fantastic.  When we lived in Paris I went there regularly in a pinch for time because it was next door to our apartment and it was quick and easy and delicious.  In total that day we walked close to 5 miles according to my phone.  That evening we had meatballs and mixed vegetables and a little chocolate for dinner.  We also picked up a bottle of Calvados.  Now, we are set.

Saturday, January 20, 2018

I heard that our government shut down and it’s all the Dems fault.  SIGH!!!!  Same ole, same ole.  Now we met up with Vincent (Joe’s host at Science Po) to go to the market.  OMG!!!!!!  It was a small market compared to Paris but wonderful quality of food.  We finally got our rotisserie chicken!!!  In Paris, we saw rotisserie chickens on every block almost as frequent as Patisseries.  But here in Lyon we haven’t seen any.  So dinner tonight is Rotisserie chicken and a nice fresh salad with delicious cheese.  Now we have enough food for the week or more.  Now it’s feeling more like home.

We returned home and went back out to get a few more little things we needed.  So I’ve made my 10,000 steps by 3 pm.  It is very windy and rainy today so I am spending the afternoon in a warm apartment writing this journal and doing laundry.  Sounds like Saturday doesn’t it.

I hope to write about our comings and goings on a weekly basis.  It’s detailed today but I will probably not be so boringly detailed in the future.  Just sharing …….