Saturday, December 02, 2006
OK, you've just moved into our lovely appartment at Boulevard Berthier and if you're wondering how all those appliances work, or how to move around the city, or simply where to buy food you've come to the right place!
1) You have just moved in
1.1 Utilities
1.1.1 Water
As in all of France, pulic water is safe to drink if not so good in taste.
The water for the apartment can be stopped from a lever under the kitchen sink at the lower left hand side. You have to crawl a little to see it and reach it. Use a flashlight, there is one in the tool box. Upright means stop, horizontal means flow. It's just in case you really need to stop the water for whatever reason.
Hot water comes from the gas boiler in the kitchen (you can't miss it). It's brand new. Hot water comes in 2 seconds in the kitchen, 5 seconds in the bathroom.
1.1.2 Gas
The apartment gets its cooking power and hot water from gas. The main gas ducts arrive in the kitchen, on top of the fridge. Same deal as the water with a lever.
1.1.3 Electricity
The main switch, fuse box, meter are located in the entrance, in the lower-left-hand-side closet. Fuses can be bought at Super U (see section 2.2.2 Groceries/stuff). The meter readings are done by the power company (EDF) on site every 6 months or so and they give an advance warning. The trick for the reading is you have to remove the molding between the upper and lower closet and look through it. The molding is fixed to the closet using a magnet. Easy enough once you know where it is.
1.1.4 Phone
There is a phone inside the appartment. It will be your own land-line (with restricted local calls) for the duration of your stay and the number is 01-42-46-12-66 (from international: dial 00-33-142-46-12-66). The voicemail feature works by dialing the code written on the phone handset.
1.1.5 Internet
The apartment comes with hi-speed DSL. IT IS NOT WI-FI. The DSL Box is located on the small desk in the second living room. All you need is to plug in your PC using a standard Ethernet cable.
1.2 Appliances
1.2.1 Gas Range (Cuisiniere)
All the burners are self-igniting when you press on the knob while turning. The gas at the burner automatically shuts off if the flame is blown off.
The oven is also gas and automatic, but the grill feature is electric.
1.2.2 Washer / Dryer
- STEP A - The first thing to get the washer/dryer to work is to press on the ON/OFF Button:
The light should be blinking
- STEP B - Then, you choose the washing / drying program
1 - Cotton with Prewash
2 - Cotton Whites
3 - Cotton Colours
4 - Synthetics
5 - Wool
6 - Silk and Other thin fabrics
7 - Drying Cotton (Hot)
8 - Drying Delicate (Mild-cold)
9 - Fast Cotton Wash
10 - Fast Drying
11 - Fast warm wash
12 - Special running shoes
13 - Special Sportswear
- STEP C - Once the program is chosen, PRESS ON THE START BUTTON FOR 2 SECONDS:
The blinking light should stop blinking and go solid red.
Here you are!
Standard programs last 40 to 60 minutes depending on the choice.
1.2.3 Iron
1.3 Electronics
1.3.1 TV
1.3.2 VCR
1.3.3 DVD with CD/MP3 capability
2) Daily Life
2.1 Moving Around
2.1.1 Map of the area and of Paris
2.1.2 Metro
2.1.3 Taxi
2.1.4 How to go to the Airport? The train stations?
2.2 Where to buy food?
2.2.1 Produce (fruit/vegetable)
2.2.2 Groceries / Stuff
2.2.3 Boulangeries
2.2.4 No cooking tonight?
1) You have just moved in
1.1 Utilities
1.1.1 Water
As in all of France, pulic water is safe to drink if not so good in taste.
The water for the apartment can be stopped from a lever under the kitchen sink at the lower left hand side. You have to crawl a little to see it and reach it. Use a flashlight, there is one in the tool box. Upright means stop, horizontal means flow. It's just in case you really need to stop the water for whatever reason.
Hot water comes from the gas boiler in the kitchen (you can't miss it). It's brand new. Hot water comes in 2 seconds in the kitchen, 5 seconds in the bathroom.
1.1.2 Gas
The apartment gets its cooking power and hot water from gas. The main gas ducts arrive in the kitchen, on top of the fridge. Same deal as the water with a lever.
1.1.3 Electricity
The main switch, fuse box, meter are located in the entrance, in the lower-left-hand-side closet. Fuses can be bought at Super U (see section 2.2.2 Groceries/stuff). The meter readings are done by the power company (EDF) on site every 6 months or so and they give an advance warning. The trick for the reading is you have to remove the molding between the upper and lower closet and look through it. The molding is fixed to the closet using a magnet. Easy enough once you know where it is.
1.1.4 Phone
There is a phone inside the appartment. It will be your own land-line (with restricted local calls) for the duration of your stay and the number is 01-42-46-12-66 (from international: dial 00-33-142-46-12-66). The voicemail feature works by dialing the code written on the phone handset.
1.1.5 Internet
The apartment comes with hi-speed DSL. IT IS NOT WI-FI. The DSL Box is located on the small desk in the second living room. All you need is to plug in your PC using a standard Ethernet cable.
1.2 Appliances
1.2.1 Gas Range (Cuisiniere)
All the burners are self-igniting when you press on the knob while turning. The gas at the burner automatically shuts off if the flame is blown off.
The oven is also gas and automatic, but the grill feature is electric.
1.2.2 Washer / Dryer
- STEP A - The first thing to get the washer/dryer to work is to press on the ON/OFF Button:
The light should be blinking
- STEP B - Then, you choose the washing / drying program
1 - Cotton with Prewash2 - Cotton Whites
3 - Cotton Colours
4 - Synthetics
5 - Wool
6 - Silk and Other thin fabrics
7 - Drying Cotton (Hot)
8 - Drying Delicate (Mild-cold)
9 - Fast Cotton Wash
10 - Fast Drying
11 - Fast warm wash
12 - Special running shoes
13 - Special Sportswear
- STEP C - Once the program is chosen, PRESS ON THE START BUTTON FOR 2 SECONDS:
The blinking light should stop blinking and go solid red.
Here you are!
Standard programs last 40 to 60 minutes depending on the choice.
1.2.3 Iron
1.3 Electronics
1.3.1 TV
1.3.2 VCR
1.3.3 DVD with CD/MP3 capability
2) Daily Life
2.1 Moving Around
2.1.1 Map of the area and of Paris
2.1.2 Metro
2.1.3 Taxi
2.1.4 How to go to the Airport? The train stations?
2.2 Where to buy food?
2.2.1 Produce (fruit/vegetable)
2.2.2 Groceries / Stuff
2.2.3 Boulangeries
2.2.4 No cooking tonight?
