House Hunters International

Earlier this summer, on the days I wasn't working, I spent my mornings (and sometimes afternoons) alternating between reading game of thrones and watching copious amounts of house hunters, and the by far superior version, house hunters international. I lovE seeing all the different countries and cities that people are moving to, and have always had a weird desire to see the inside of nearly every house i encounter. Thus, this show is perfect for fulfilling my wanderlust and interest in home tours- all while I remain firmly planted on the couch. It's also really funny how the people are always surprised by the size of the space and the lack of dishwashers...I find this so weird because I feel like someone moving to Europe should already know that nothing over there is near the size of their American counterparts. Now that I have stayed in three different apartments in Europe, I thought I would rate them and pick the one I would buy- like they do in the show. The first, a 5th floor walk up on posh rue st honore in Paris had a great location. Located in the first arrondisment, there was A cute bakery next door, chic stores lining the streets, two metro stations that were each a two minute walk away, and very quick access to the louvre, seine and the place du Concorde. For tourists, looking to be near lots of attractions, the location couldn't have been better. Regarding the actual apartment, it was a climb to get up the and I would for sure have amazing legs if I actually lived there, but the space was nice....if nt a bit cramped. One small bedroom, diving from the living room, dinig room, kitchen by only a curtain- the apartment was definitely not meant for 2 people at the most. It was a cute space, and clean, but there was always noise from the interior courtyard...and someone was constantly drilling the entire time, which was obnoxious. Overall, I liked the place but the drawbacks would have to be the stairs and the noise. The pros would be location and how safer felt over there. Next, Barcelona. The apartment I rented was located in the historic Gothic quarter. A pretty cool area, with tons of narrow, winding streets and lots of leery people trolling them. There were also lots of shops and restaurants- they were good, but mostly catered to tourists. The apartment was a 4th floor walk-up, so not as much of a hike as the first. However, all of the stairs were different heights and widths, so it was very unnerving-confusing to your feet walking up. The actual apartment was a good size, with one real bedroom that had an actual door. Bathroom and shower were nicely sized as well. There was also a little balcony, which was an added bonus. The main drawback was the kind of weird smell it had. Overall, I would say it was a bit nicer than the first, but I felt much less safe there...and in Barcelona in he general. Finally, our home here in Florence. It definitely the largest of the three- with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (which are directly next to each other...kinda odd. There is also a nice living area/kitchen in the middle. It is on the first floor (second floor in America), so not too many steps. However, there is no airconditioning, making it super hot, and the floors are also disgustingly dirty. The latter we could do something about...but haven't. We are in a great location- a quiet street, but really close lots of sights and school is only about a 15 minute walk, as is the Arno. There is a nice grocery right down the street, and a couple of cute markets as well. The biggest issue with this apartment is that there is a restaurant directly next door to my balcony, so we hear them allllll day long. So, in conclusion: there is apartment 1- pros- great location, feels safe. Cons- 5 thfloor walk up, small, a little noisy. Apartment 2- pros- not as many stairs, cool area, more space. Cons- doesnt seem too safe, the stairs are not uniform, smells weird. Apartment 3- pros- big, 2 bathrooms, not too many stairs, good location, safe. Cons- ridiculously hot (the Paris apt didn't have ac but was still way cooler), gross floors, I never feel completely clean here. Which did I pick? Dun duh da dunnnnnnn- apartment #1. Did you think it would be that one? My decision relied mostly on how safe I felt there, and the fact that the street was never deserted nor full of lots of shady individuals. The stairs were annoying, but a pretty good workout, and the size is fine as long as I'm not having guests. I hope you enjoyed! Have a great weekend! Paige and I are off to Venice! xo, Olivia Ps- the other person in my class was sick today, so it was just me....a bit awk.