As I've mentioned in previous posts, Parisian apartments really do fit in the fairy tale charm category. But when such charm was being designed into row upon row of Hausmannian masterpieces, no thought was apparantly given to the practical side of living surrounded by spiraling staircases, twisting hallways and hidden courtyards. I can't believe that there exists a better test of the functionality of Parisian buildings than the household move. Have you ever wondered how all those massive, carved armoires ever got into those cozy little bedrooms? I had, and I shuddered just thinking about the hernia producing process it would all entail.
I moved this month and got to see first hand how this magic is performed. Everything, EVERYTHING is hauled in and out of these apartments, no matter how high up you live, through the window.
Yup, the window.
The French moving companies arrive first thing in the morning and set up an elevator of sorts with a platform on which all of your worldly possessions are strapped. It really is quite efficient. My movers were the antithesis of the lazy french worker prone to long breaks and surly service. I have rarely seen anyone hustle like these guys hustled. They were literally running through my apartment quickly wrapping up all my furniture and practically flinging it out the window. The entire apartment was emptied by noon. Then it was off to the new place where the whole process was reversed. This time we were moving to a 5th floor apartment (6th stories up in American lingo as the first floor is floor "0"). No matter, the movers parked their truck and cranked up the conveyer belt and soon my stuff was rising up the side of our building. All those spiral staircases are avoided this way.
Except for one little hitch.
The truck was emptied by about 5 pm and I was still waiting to put my refrigerator stuff back into the chill. Ou-est-ce-que le frigo? Where's the refrigerator? I asked of Main Mover Man. He asked me in turn why I didn't have a refrigerator for this new place. I already HAVE one, that's why. A couple more confused fractured french statements later and we both realized that my magnificant movers had forgotton the refrigerator back at the old place! By this time the conveyor belt elevator was disassembled. Without a hint of reproach or complaint, a couple of the guys drove back to the old place, hauled my fridge down three flights of winding stairs and then hauled it up 5 more spiraling flights to settle it in my new kitchen.
Aside from that little hiccup, I have nothing but praise for my French Movers, their very efficient elevator, their hard work and their INCREDIBLE patience with my french and all the confusion it caused. They even put up with me changing my mind while arranging the Salon (Living Room). Put the giant sofa here.........no there............uh, you were right ..........put it back over there...it really doesn't fit at all does it?
We all managed.
Comments