So more from "the department of things that are a challenge to do, you never guessed would be": Laundry with the washing machine that is already in your apartment. We were lucky, our our apartment came with a washing machine, no dryer but we hardly saw a dryer in the 6 dozen or so apartments we considered.
Notre Petite Salle de Bain
(washer is white box behind the sink)
As you might remember from my pervious post, Rossetta Stone did not cover faire tremper (Pre Soak) and of course the knobs and lights are in a completely different configuration than what I am familiar with. The lack for familiarity in the toilets continued to flummox me last trip so I am not sure why a washing machine came as a surprise. We spent several minutes of some successful and more unsuccessful guessing, ee took it to the authorities, Google Translate.
You can just make out the picture on the phone that Daniel took of the instructions. I am yelling out the spelling, my pronunciation is atrocious, of a few more directions that didn't fit on the phone for Daniel to translate on the computer. I learned a lot that afternoon. For those of you that are considering us complete idiots in this manner, I feel I should also mention the washing machine looked like a mini medieavel torture divice.
Your clothing goes into the circular cheese grater and then you have to snap it shut, which likes to spring open with gusto when you release it. Of course when the very long washing period is done the barrel does not automatically cycle to the top, you have to spinning it around by hand first, hoping you are not breaking it. Remember no dryer and no clothes line or even curtain rod in the bathroom just a "V" shaped drying rack and where else we find an edge to hang things from. Forgot to get a good picture, will include next time. Daniel and I were both a little not sure about air dried everything. But now I am a bag fan of air dried jeans, once they softened from their initial crunchy air dried condition, I will see if the same holds true for my crunchy air dried underwear.
In other big news, I know what more than doing laundry could you ask for :
I BOUGHT A CROISSANT ALL BY MYSELF!! Thrilling, I know!
And by myself I don't mean Daniel was behind me doing all the talking, I mean all by myself! Daniel woke up feeling bad yesterday morning and opted to stay in bed a bit longer. Since we did not have any breakfast food in the apartment I spend my shower practicing my french.
"Bonjour Madame" " Je voudrais deux croissants, s'il vous plaît." "Merci."
"Hello Ma' am" "I would like two croissants, please" "Thank you"
I woke Daniel up long enough to clarify "Madame" and not "Mademoiselle". Which he did and then unprompted recited everything I would need to say. This is the first time I have even left the apartment with out him, but I put on my brave, "you don't know I don't know french face" and when out on the street. Luckily I on had to put on my brave, "you don't know I don't know french face" for two blocks, I love living so close to things. The boulangerie (bakery) lady was very sweet and patient with me. I stumbled once I got " Je voudr..." out before I got completely tongue tied. I took a deep breath and started over again, I am sure I looked like a complete idiot, but I felt pretty proud of myself. I wouldn't say it was smooth sailing from there but manageable. I didn't entire understand the amount I need to pay but I hear "one euro something" so I figured out if I handed her two euro's and whatever she handed me back would be fine. I didn't actually figure out how much they cost until hours later, mind like a steel trap. I was feeling fairly confinent afterwards so I stopped by a connivence martet to pick up some jus d'orange (OJ). Luckily the cashier was chatting with a fellow so minimal discussion was needed.
I arrived home victorious to a slightly up and moving Daniel. I regaled him of my heroic tale in which I realized I mostly likely completely forgot the "please." Daniel followed this up by informing that my pronunciation of almost everything had been wrong, including the word "croissant". He was very luckily I gave him his croissant after that. Croissants were eaten before a picture was remembered, and they were delicious.
Later that day when Daniel was feeling better we went to Shakespeare and Company, (an english language book shop, home for wayward writer, and other interests) and watched a street performance from a New Orleans acting troupe.
Very performance art and skit like. A good time. The upstairs of Shakespeare and Company is a in-house library. The books are not for sale but you should feel free to read a book and lounge if you like. Maybe taking them up on that offer soon.
There is more, but for know I will just leave you with a little Paris food porn:
Sexy Oui?
Here we just call it lunch. Ham, I do not know the proper name to, soft cheese, I do not know the proper name for the the bread that is called "la tradition"(not to be confused with the baguette, which is apparently an inferior bread)
Au Revoir Pour L'instant.
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