Whew – we’re taking a little break in our hotel room between looking at places to live, so I thought I’d post a little while I wait for lunch.  Chickpea has done SO WELL driving all over town, constantly in and out of the car (actually, she thinks it’s pretty cool she doesn’t have to sit in a carseat.  Normally I would make her, even though it’s not illegal here, but let’s just say it’s still odor-ific from the diaper- on- the- plane scenario.  As soon as we get a washer and dryer, it’s back to being a requirement).  And whenever we go to a new realtor’s office, you have to stop and have tea and shoot the breeze for awhile, as is custom.  For an American little girl, she’s been surprisingly patient.  She started to lose it at the end, desperately needing a nap.  She saw a playground and started screaming, “I like to play!  I like to play!”  And when we drove off, it put her over the edge.  So – naptime it is.

We really have seen the gamut of places, much like you would in the U.S.  Mostly it’s been high-rise apartments (WITH elevators, thank goodness), but there have been a few villas here and there.  A villa is basically a house that shares a wall or walls with your neighbors.  So, I guess you could say they’re like duplexes or townhomes – they don’t really look like anything you see in the U.S., though.  There have been beautiful places with breathtaking views of the bay (it feels like you’re looking at a postcard), and places that we have dubbed “Kabob Specials.”  If you get our drift.  And, with our language learning future and lack of tools Kabob is used to, we’ll have to pass on those.

Obviously, the biggest criteria have been price and location – universal issues, I suppose.  I’ve been surprised at how big most places are here.  I’d say the average is about 1,500 square feet, and we saw one that was about 2,400 square feet.  The master bedroom rivaled the Wagen’s.  So naturally, we don’t want it.  I mean, who wants to clean that?  But the place was gorgeous, with ocean views and a stones-throw away from major shopping, and a lovely little locally-owned coffee joint that rhymes with Shmarbucks.

Anyhoo…  I’m rambling now.  We’ve really only seen one major area of the city, and we’d like to see three.  So after Chickpea wakes up, we’re off to see more.  I’m sure you’re just sitting on the edge of your seat…

posted: 07 March 3
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