Big City, Small Apartment: Settling In

Here we are.  Our first morning back in Taipei, in the same apartment we lived in last year.

Yes, I got the key from Li Xian Sheng.  However, I hardly got one full sentence out before he produced the keys, and signed to me, "Where is the little boy?"  I was able to tell him  in Mandarin that Solomon would be here tomorrow morning.

First things first. We unpacked and set the apartment to order, the way we like it.  I don't think I gave my readers the grand tour of this apartment last year, so before we clutter it up, here's what it looks like.

We live on the 8th floor above the blue sign.  Yes, it's a very big building on a very busy street.  We are in the big city - think New York City big.

The apartment building is big, the city is big. Like  many urban areas the apartment is small.

The kitchen is minuscule, but serviceable.  It's also clean so all we need to do is start cooking.

The master bedroom is small, but perfectly outfitted for us. To the left of the chair is a very tiny laundry room.  Actually, the laundry room is slightly bigger than the washing machine. There are three sets of built in closets and cupboards in the room.

Bathroom number 1.  Just like the other bathrooms we have had here, there is no division between the shower and the rest of the room.  That toilet seat is deluxe.  It does everything - heat, wash, and a bunch of other stuff that we can't figure out. 

Bathroom two. This is the only apartment we looked at that has two bathrooms - luxury.

Living room with one love seat, and across from me is the enormous TV.This room also has three sets of built in cupboards.

The den is an extension of the living room.

I haven't shown pictures of the the second bedroom.  It is small, but we are lucky to have found an apartment that has room for Solomon to have his own space. 

The amenities of this apartment building include a doorman, an elevator, a cleaning crew, and a man who sorts the trash and takes it out to the trash trucks every night.  We are also located near three parks and a produce market, a regular grocery store and lots of restaurants.  We think we have a pretty sweet situation here.