Resident-of-Paris-for-another-year

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. 

Fortification required - a chocolate pavé  la Maison d'Isabelle . 

Crossing bridges as usual to get to the Prefecture on Cité.

Pandemonium reignes at  Place Louis Lepine. Much more crowded than usual. 

Once inside you go to Salle 3 and wait. Others waiting were wearing crosses. I was wearing my lucky dice bracelet and horseshoe necklace. Covered. To boot when my No# came up it was 17...my birth date, but they don't let you keep it. Its part of the paperwork. 

The dice, horseshoe and No#17 paid off. I got a really nice guy who spoke perfect English when necessary. We started exchanging papers. I handed him the letter of proof of habitation from my landlord. 

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 ✂️ 

Everything went swimmingly.

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 🐻 

Visa Day

Tick tock ⏰ 

Today is the day of the 'postponement' appointment for my visa.

Ta Da.

An avalanche of papers required. In DUPLICATE!

Nothing gives me more aggita then organizing pieces of paper .

AND they are mostly in another language...it's all Greek to me.

You do it please.

Calm isn't in my repertoire.

Will I be waiting for 5-6 hours?

Qui sait ?

What to wear??

This summer like my ex-L.L.?
 

And ride a pink scooter?

I hope.

Everything will not be coming up cherry blossoms.

Padam Padam Padam...
PS
DO NOT use a paperclip on your 3 required photos.

NO STAPLES SVP 🙏
You will have to redo them.
It makes a dent on the photo.
NOT GOOD!