Offer

We made an offer an an apartment in Bartningallee 9 today. The process in Germany is more complicated, if anything, than the process in the US, and we had trouble assembling all of the papers that our lawyer wanted to see. In fact one paper is still missing, but he said we could reasonably make a tentative offer anyway.

This picture is of the River Spree, just minutes away.

The apartment has two bedrooms (one for guests) (readers take note) and a large living/dining room, plus an eat-in kitchen and two bathrooms (one of which has had the facilities removed, but not the necessary plumbing connections).

The views from the windows are spectacular: a broad panorama of west and north Berlin. Definitely a good place to watch sunsets. There is no balcony, which is unfortunate since most Berliners want a balcony, but on the 11th floor (12th floor in the US), does one really want to be outside? Not me!

There are a few minor other repairs that we would like to make (old carpets need replacing, and wall paper will need to be stripped from the guest room). Most of the changes can wait until Joan arrives and can manage the work. One of the advantages of this apartment is that we can buy the dishes and the small kitchen appliances and some key items of furniture (a bed, for example). It also has a piano, which we will buy. I think that is the main reason why Joan likes the place!