My Apartment

(The living room.)

One of the benefits of this assignment is that IP is paying for an apartment for me. So a few weeks back I went apartment hunting and the best part was that I was not spending my money.

I had three requirements in mind: a short walk to the market square and office, two bedrooms and a quiet neighborhood. Then Toni threw in one more: overlooking the Planty. You see, she had enjoyed the Planty when she was here in November and wanted to be able to see it when she returned each quarter. But first, what is the Planty?

The Planty (park in Polish) is a ring of grass, trees, benches and paved paths that was built on top of the original moat that surrounded the fortress walls. After years of neglect, the moat became a swamp and the town fathers decided to fill it in and create some much-needed parkland. In its place they created a very picturesque and peaceful circle around the old town that is used by people day and night.

So Toni, having enjoyed her strolls on it, wanted me to have a view of it from my apartment. So requirement #5 was added and it resulted in a great apartment that overlooks the Planty. And as an added bonus, I have a balcony that looks right down onto it.

The apartment building is new construction sandwiched between two very old buildings. It has 7 floors and I am on the top with my apartment having two levels. The first level has the kitchen, half bath and a LR that has a blond-colored wood floor. An open wooden staircase leads to the second level where the two bedrooms and bathroom are. The bathroom even has a shower stall, with 6 shower heads, almost as large as the one at my house. The master BR has a wall of windows, and get this, a half ceiling of windows.

Not a bunch of skylights but a series of panels of glass, as you can see above. And the view is great.

Included in the rent is a DVD player, 27 inch TV with satellite and the best part, weekly housekeeping. Plus it has a doorperson / guard 24 / 7.

All in all a great apartment although it does need a few wall hangings and some homey touches. (I did drive to Ikea to buy some things for it but that’s a story for a different time.) I feel quite fortunate to have found an almost perfect apartment. Here is my address in case you are in the neighborhood:

Brian D. Issing
ul. Sw. Tomasza 34 / 25
31-027 Kraków, Poland

This is what it means:

ul. Sw. Tomasza 34 / 25 (35 St. Thomas Street - Apartment #25)
31-027 Krakow, Poland (Postal Code, City, Country)

New additions to My Apartment:

(Stand by the door from an artist in Krakow.)

(Living room chair from an artist in Krakow.)

(Candlestick holder hand-forged in Praha, Czech Republic.)

(Looking towards the kitchen and front door.)

(Ceramic fish from an artist in Krakow. Glass vase w/ pussy willows - a gift from my training colleagues.)