Moving!!!

We spent the weekend making washing clothes, sorting through drawers and throwing away a lot of things.




Late last week, the moving comany told us that they had an available pickup slot today, which we accepted since we wanted to get things out of our apartment and onto a boat ASAP. Anyway, I think we were both a little doubtful that they would actually be here today, since the consultant who inventoried our things said that they typically need a few weeks notice. However, at 8:30 today, they showed up, after illegally parking in the "Vigipirate" buffer zone around the Jewish community center across the street


Allow me to take a little detour into french culture to explain the plan vigipirate. It is a set of counter terrorism protocols originally formulated in the late 70's. These include a set of colored alert level croissants in purple, red, orange and yellow. I'm pretty sure it predates our own beloved colored alert levels stateside, but with a couple of differences. First, the progression of colors actually makes sense compared to green, blue, yellow, orange, red sequence. Second, threat levels aren't always high, like they are in the states (where the threat alert has never actually been in green or blue mode). However, it should also be pointed out that like in the states, they are backed by extremely questionably intelligence and are essentially useless.

Anyway, even in France, where you can park anywhere as long as your hazard lights are on, parking in the vigipirate zone is frowned upon and can get you a whopping ticket.

back to the movers

They showed up, asked what needed to get packed up, and got doen to work immediately. There was: one big boss with a strong southern accent, an earring and two arms full of tattoos (below, middle). There were two silent and extremely efficient moving guys. Then there was sebastien (below, right).


Sebastien was doing an apprentissage, looked to be about 15 years old, and didn't know how to make a box. After the movers got threatened with a gigantic parking ticket, Sebastien was demoted to sitting in the car and scaring off meter maids. I think he learned how to make boxes by the end though.
The other guys chugged along, and Chloe and I hid in the bedroom as they packed and carted


Chloe got so nervous that I made her leave to go to a cafe and destress while the packing continued


After packing up most of the loose stuff, the movers brought in a giant roll of bubble wrap


and started wrapping up tables etc


Earlier, there was some confusion about whether our beloved armoire would have to be disassembled, and we were both adament about it not being taken apart... so they had to carry it down the stairs as originally planned




If the move weren't costing $8000 I might have felt bad for them :).
Here they are wheeling down to the truck


And here is me signing the paperwork


and our almost empty apartment!!!!