We (almost) live here now

Bueno, pues... It's still very weird to think that we're not here on vacation. My job starts on Tuesday, so I've had a week of adjusting to the time change (finally getting more sleep), figuring out where things are, and getting used to the heat, with very little "to do". 

Sadly, in true Fratkin-McCalpin tradition, we brought a heat wave with us. I was hoping that, because we're moving here, the universe would be more forgiving than our usual summer scorcher in Europe, but no... It's about 8 degrees (C, or 10-15 F) above normal and has been all week... And will be for at least another week. Oy. 

The tiny little apartment we're staying in (while we look for our longer-term place) has A/C only in the bedroom, and faces northwest, but the afternoon sun is awful. I feel like I'm living in a cave - we keep the wooden shutters closed most of the time.

On Thursday we started visiting apartments! The first one was enormous, with giant wood-paneled cabinets on nearly every wall. But it was so dated... It *looked* like it should smell like moth balls (see pic of John in the living room). The kitchen was big but poorly laid out and in bad shape. The appliances were updated, but everything else was... Meh. And there was one A/C unit in the living room (with Arabic writing on it??) and one in the primary bedroom, and that was it. It was in one of the big apartment buildings that's not too far from the office, so it would be super-convenient, but I just wasn't impressed.

Apartment #2 was a penthouse in Eixample, near one of the Universities. Lots of hustle and bustle, and lots of rainbow flags in the neighborhood. (Barcelona is very gay friendly. The month of July is about "be yourself" with lots of rainbows everywhere. Love it!) The apartment was the top floor of a corner building, with a big outdoor patio. It was actually really quiet up there, with good A/C!  The place was updated and modern, but it seemed small - narrow hallway and low ceilings (see pic of John in the living room again). It was the kind of place you'd want if you needed a Vrbo for a couple of weeks. Nice, but not for longer term. 

#3 was a surprise - the agent for #1 said he had another place to show us in the afternoon. This one was just north of our October hotel - half a block from the laundromat I used - and even closer to work. It was a top floor duplex with an AMAZING view. (John took a panorama from the patio.) But the kitchen was a dark tunnel and I just didn't want to spend time there. There was "central" A/C - one unit on the patio that fed vents in all the rooms - and it worked well enough in the living room, but upstairs, nada. The decor was once again a little dated, but serviceable.

Friday we went to see an apartment in the old part of the city, in Raval... There are three or four units available in the same building, and they are nice and modern and have open plan kitchens. We loved it, but we only got to see the 2-bedroom. They have a 3-bedroom that will be available as of Weds, so we'll go back and see that. It's a gorgeous old building from the 1800s, but all updated inside. It's kind of in the middle of everything - a few blocks from the University and from Plaza Catalunya, but it's a quiet little street. I didn't take photos (I knew I was going to love it!), but here's the real estate listing. And then the agent from #1 said he has *another* apartment to show us up by work on Monday. We're getting really good at the bus system, going back and forth! 

For those of you playing along at home, in "House Hunters International" style, here are the criteria: Good A/C is vital; a nice kitchen; ~30 mins commute to work (max); space for at least one office; and it would be nice if there were good neighborhood "amenities" (shops, restaurants, etc.) either right nearby or a short walk. We're not getting a car. 

If it's good it gets a + and if it's really good ++  and of course X is a no-go. 

	Apartment 1	Apartment 2	Apartment 3	Apartment 4
A/C	X	++	X	++
Kitchen	X	+ (small)	X	++	+
Commute	+	+	++	+
Space	++	X	+	+

 Stay tuned - we have to move out of our temporary digs by next Sunday, so there's a deadline!