Apartment Found!

To add more confusing ups n downs to this week (see last post) we got a call from the rental agency that we got the apartment we wanted near Hermannplatz. So this is good because now we have a place to live, but a bit confusing because we'll have to find people to help us move things as Carlos is in no shape to do things and I am a tiny (but fierce!) woman. The apartment is VERY big and includes 3 large rooms so we'll have a room for Carlos to use as a music studio once he returns to full Carlos strength. It has tall ceilings, balcony street-facing windows, lots of light, and a whirlpool bathtub. The big drawback to the place (and the reason we weren’t 100% on applying) is that the kitchen room is a bit dirty, and there are no appliances (none) or counters in the kitchen. We'll have to find our own stove, refrigerator, countertops, washer/dryer, and sink in addition to the usual items one expects to have at home: bed, couch, dresser, tables, appliances, etc. Fun fun! The rent is pretty cheap by Bay Area standards- around $1200. I can't imagine what an apartment like this would cost us back home. But then, the one big thing Berlin has going for it is how cheap housing is. In fact Miguel says we're the first couple he's met who pay MORE in Berlin than they did in the Bay Area. But having lived for 1 year in a 1-room studio for $900, I think we're due for a nice place with lots of room. Tomorrow we sign the lease to move in on the 10th. Woo hoo!