We’ve moved apartments. We were very disappointed when we booked this trip to learn that the Mimi apartment was not available after April 1. We were told that the Benozzo apartment was very nice, but it did not have a view or a terrace. It did have windows facing the contessa’s renaisance rose garden and it was bigger. We whined to our neighbors that we didn’t want to move because we did not get to enjoy the terrace during rainy cold March and we expected April to be warmer terrace weather. We even whined to the contessa’s daughter. That got us an extra 10 days because, we were told, the trip of the people who booked the apartment was delayed. Imagine our surprise in seeing our new apartment and realilzing that we liked it better!
There is a lovely hall that leads into the apartment. There is a small desk area and the master bedroom, the master bath and a guest bedroom are off of that little area. The master bedroom is a nice size with a very comfortable bed and a big window that looks out onto the garden. The bath is not ensuite but that is not a problem. There is a guest bathroom at the begining of the apartment, at the front door. Not a problem for us, maybe for our guests. The small guest bedroom is next to the master. Both bedrooms have wood beamed ceilings and both have big windows looking out onto the garden. There is a second hallway that leads directly to the kitchen.
The kitchen is big enough and has a great window that allows me to spy on my neighbors while I fix dinner. I am fascinated (Arnie says obsessed) by our neighbors across from and below us who have an enclosed patio that leads to their garden. They have a glass dinning room table in the room and every night they set half of the table with a table cloth. He usually sets the dishes. They eat at around 8:30 while watching the TV in the corner. After dinner they each have a piece of fruit from the bowl that is permanently on the table. He helps to clear the table but then comes back into the room and watches TV as I assume she does the dishes. They appear to be in their 80’s. It seems that the universe is out of balance on the rare occasions that they do not follow this pattern. I am very relieved to see them again the next night. The woman in the apartment above them does amazing gymnastics to hang her laundry on the clothes line that is beyond a jungle of plants on her tiny balcony. Her life would seem so much easier if she removed most of the jungle to get easy access to the clothes line. I imagine that she prefers to look at the plants and willingly accepts her laundry challenges. I also watch for the lights on the 4th floor kitchen across from us. A young woman lives there and she is usually in the kitchen at the time when we are turning off our lights to go to bed. The people above her cram their guests into their kitchen for Sunday and holiday lunches. We also follow the progress of the childern in the day care center next to us. Thankfully, one chid has adjusted and stopped crying for the hours that he is there. I find watching (spying on?) the lives of our neighbors fascinating and wonder what they say about us. I imagine them saying, “What could that woman possibly be doing pulling on those rubber tubes?” (That is my exercise equiptment) Or, “My God, they are eating early again.” (We eat around 8:15, after I call Dad.) Or worse, “That woman is standing at her window looking at us again!” Well, back to the apartment.
The combination living and dinning room is off of the hallway that leads to the kitchen. A second guest bedroom is off of that room. The living room is huge with a very comfortable couch. (Our last apartment had only a love seat.) There are 4 additional chairs and a fireplace. We have 2 huge windows that face the garden. I usually stand there and watch the flowers grow while I drink my morning tea. There are 4 tortoises in the garden and the contessa’s 2 dogs totally ignore them. The garden attracts lots a birds. It is so peaceful to listen to the birds and just stare at the flowers. The irises and roses are in bloom now.
The second guest bedroom off of the living room is very charming. It has walls and ceilings that I just can’t describe. My friend Janet described it best as “Wedgewood.”
The windows in this room have the same view as the kitchen. It is a bit overdone, but Janet stayed here and she seemed very comfortable.
Back to the living room. We estimate the ceiling hieght to be 15 feet. The one feature that makes this apartment so unique is the ceiling.
It is fabulous to lay on the couch (Arnie) or sit in the comfy chair (me) and just stare at the cieling. It is only rivaled by standing at the window and watching the garden.
Like the sleeping dogs, we are very content here and have asked to book it for next year.
Link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/user/alaguar1
Link to the still pictures: ">http://flickr.com/gp/susanarnietravel/F4834P
