I've been UPSIDE DOWN this past week looking for lost and found bank statements, birth certificates, passport, proof of residence, etc GETTING MY DUCKS IN A ROW., Tuesday, 14 Juillet was Bastille day. My annual rendezvous(appointment) at the Prefecture de Police to renew my carte de sejour was Wednesday SO I CAN STAY IN PARIS. Naturally banks are closed Monday, Tuesday. Naturally I'm missing my January statement (You need justificatifs proving you're solvent to stay in France. Wednesday morning is VISA DAY. I ran to the copyshop (everything must be in duplicate) and bank (their wifi was super slow) before my 10:45 appointment. Hell's bells.
He said, "Oh you don't need that. That's only for people not paying any rent."
I said, "Oh can you please arrange that?
He laughed. Ice 🧊 broken.
We were off and running, joking about robbing a bank (ref. to Netflix's, Money Heist - they rob the Royal Mint of Spain).
Talking about possible vacance in italy or Greece with the dough.
People who work at the Prefecture don't have much fun, so I let him cut up my passport photos with his little red kiddie scissors ✂️
HALLELUJAH!
Notre Dame is fittingly located a block away from the Prefecture. The French set up a viewing area with posters explaining the 3 portals and kid's drawings of Notre Dame.
I will prepare ahead for next year. Famous last words.
TMI (too much boring information dear PBers!)
Thank you dear Prefecture de Police & THANK YOU dear PBers for letting Bear be a Resident-in-Paris-for-another-year
PLEASE STAY WELL!!
XXX 🐻
SO glad it went well...of course you just charmed your way through it...glad you got a guy...you flirt!
ReplyDeleteGetting a guy makes a Huge difference its true.
DeleteLes femme are more detailed-oriented and less easily charmed. OK never in my experience.
The process of renewing your Carte de Séjour is so interesting. Did the long lines of people make you late for your appointment?
ReplyDeleteIts very interesting once its over...Not late. You waited on line until 15 minutes before appt., then went to the front and moved to another shorter line. Pretty efficient in fact.
DeleteBeing French, do they expect you to be a half hour late?? I’m sure that pavé chocolat pastry...and your lucky charms helped!
ReplyDeleteI think its Brazil where you Must show up late.
DeleteNever with french beauracracy...I cant even spell it. Off with her head!
Well done! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! Congratulations! so happy for you and for me more posts and letters from Paris Breakfast
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I have been watching a Series called Escape to the Chateau about a British family moving to France and renovating an 18th century chateau, It's crazy but entertaining. Maybe you could visit ot some summer.
ReplyDeleteOK..get a file folder and right this minute put everything together and tuck it in a drawer.Promise? lol?
ReplyDeleteYay for you..and us.
Congratulations - what would we do without your lovely posts to brighten our days? Dreaming of being able to travel again, to see places I love....
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and very good news for us, to have more Stories and Art from you in Paris over the next year x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Another year of wonderful watercolors and pics of Paris!
ReplyDeleteYea, we would all be desole if they ousted you, - how would we get our regular Paris fixes. So glad we can look forward to another year of you & Bear & gay Paree.
ReplyDeleteWell done! I'm so glad you'll be able to stay put and what a bonus, getting someone who was a good civil servant! Three cheers!
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad your Paris residency is good for another year. My mornings would not be the same without you and bear sharing your adventures. Your posts are the next best thing to being there.
ReplyDeleteSooooohappyyou survived it all.
ReplyDeleteWe are the ones who won the most. We will continue to have your art and thoughts from Paris.
I’m so grateful that you shared your story. I’m glad that you got a good guy at the prefecture. I thought you got your French passport.
ReplyDeleteCan you get a permanent residence card?
I’m so impressed with your move to Paris and watching your career grow and grow.
Ha! Your TMI brought me back 50 to running around Normandie for my carte de sejour as an assistante americaine who taught English in a French lycee. There is a very funny Asterix film from that era about les fonctionnaires and all the red tape.
ReplyDeleteRecently I purchased Notre-Dame starry night from you…it’s framed and lovely.
Merci, Toute mes felicitations
Ah...thank you Suzy
DeleteAnd Bear thanks you ;))
It sounded like a huge amount of work to renew your carte de sejour.
ReplyDeleteHappily, you get to stay in Paris another year and your fans will all be able to enjoy another year of your wonderful, generous, creative and fun Paris Breakfasts. Thanks for sharing your talent and Paris.
Good work. I always used to get very nervous on prefecture day. Now, with my 10-year card, I don’t have to get nervous until 2025. Oops. I just made myself nervous by thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteIt is still nerve wracking but they have stream-lined the process so you are not waiting hours and hours. They tripled the price also to pay for more workers? Still a cauchmare..
DeleteA 10-year visa...thats a dream.
Congrats for getting that over with!
ReplyDeleteStay healthy!
Now if i can finally get to the pool today !!!
DeleteWell, I, for one, loved your adventure. The photos & your painting at the beginning,
ReplyDeleteThanks from the US
I have been a subscriber for quite some time now. Perhaps I missed it, if it is there, on your site, information telling how you got to be in Paris since you are a expat, as most expats have a bit of history as to how they arrived there in the first place, thanks lots.
ReplyDeleteFor that story you will have to wait for the book..I hope it doesnt take too long...
DeleteCharming post!
ReplyDeleteYour wit is delightful Thank you
Was Bear’s paperwork as complicated?
ReplyDeleteBear is a natural born Frenchman.
DeleteNo paperwork for him !
❤️BEAR❤️ est un français de souche? Congratulations, Carol!
DeleteCheerios always,
Maria
Carol. so happy you have another year in Paris. Your emails are especially great during the lock down and travel prohibition, missing Paris very much
ReplyDeleteVery clever! Congratulations! I am looking forward to another year with you
ReplyDeleteFélicitations à vous Madame! J’aime bien recevoir de vos nouvelles !
ReplyDeleteGlad you're safe for another year
ReplyDeleteMe too laura
DeleteA delightful read about a somewhat harrowing experience! I'm so glad you had some fun with the guy. Enjoy Paris for another year and I hope to enjoy it vicariously through your Paris Breakfasts!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. Glad u are there for another year.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations/felicitations for getting it all done! WooHOO
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS! You Did It! Looking forward to seeing another year in Paris with you!
ReplyDeleteStay Well and Safe!
Yay!! many more wonderful French paintings in our future
ReplyDeleteI went with a friend of mine once...I remember staying with her days before. She was tense. She was hyper focused on having every paper in order, in duplicate with the looming fear that if one piece was missing or not to their satisfaction she’d be sent home to try again………I went with her to that same Prefecture on Cite to provide moral support. It was a long wait. I remember the room. I remember seeing some others before being rejected because they were missing something. I also remember at least one other American who came with her consultant (probably attorney). When it was over and she had been successful the change in her mood was palpable. It was if she could breathe again, the dark cloud was gone and the sun was able to shine through.
ReplyDeleteThat you did it with your charm and presence speaks volumes ! You get another year! You get Paris without all of us tourists!
Thank you, thank you Chiyo!
DeleteI dont think you did tell me this story. It is stressful, very stressful. I'm still not myself yet but the wait is much shorter these days because of more staff. They also raised the cost. A lot.
I used to go with my lawyer...till I figured out I could DIY. That was a big day. That was also the day I stapled papers together instead of using PAPERCLIPS! A Big no no I survived ;) These days you can not bring anyone cos os Covid
DeleteCarol, you must be relieved that you made it for another year. I can see how stressful that would be.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Nice template
ReplyDeleteDid I understand correctly that your queueing number was also required to be handed in with the rest of the papers? :O I've heard some incredible stories about French bureaucracy from friends who've lived there but that really takes the biscuit!
ReplyDeleteAs someone living in a country where a lot of official things are done online and there's a central register of population (so you don't have to provide officials with proof of your address etc. separately), it is facinating to me to hear about the systems elsewhere.
Great news as WE get another year of you sharing with us. Thank you!!
ReplyDelete