Everything We Need

Here we are, living in Daxue Village in Taipei, Taiwan. Daxue means university, so we're in University Village.  We are right near Taipei National University.

Our apartment is at the blue dot.  Daxue Village is a triangular area bordered by three busy roads: Xin Hai Road at the top going SW to NE; Xin Sheng South Road to the east; and Roosevelt is the connection running from northwest to southeast that forms the third side of the triangle.

In Taipei, addresses tell you the closest main street, the smaller lane that comes off the main street, the alley that juts off the lane, and finally the building. The system of going from large to small is very logical, once you understand it.

 To come visit us, you have to find our nearest main street which is WenZhou St.  It runs somewhat parallel to Xin Sheng S. Rd.  If you enter WehZhou from Roosevelt walk along WenZhou until you come to Lane 74. Turn left onto Lane 74, and left again at Alley 3.

This bookshop is closed right now.  When it's open the map disappears, but when it's closed it's a good marker telling us that we have arrived at Alley 3.

The number 2 tells you that you have arrived at our building - No. 2.  We're on the 3rd floor.

All of this is complicated if you are driving because the lanes and alleys are one way.  Another challenge if you've never been to this area before is that WenZhou is not the major thoroughfare that most addresses have.  Daxue Village is a small enclave, quiet most of the time.  I think the residents are older people, students and families with young children.  The buildings tend to be up to 7 stories tall, with shops and restaurants on the first floor.  Few cars come through.  Most people walk, use motorcycles or bikes.

If you look closely at the map you will see two green triangles.  Those are lovely little parks.

Daxue Park is small, but charming.

WenZhou Park is closest to our apartment.  We walk by it every
time we go to Wellcome to get groceries.

We sometimes buy a cup of coffee at Family Mart, and then sit on a bench near this quiet corner of WenZhou Park.

Everything we need is in this little village.  Even a yarn store.