The Dykstras are on the Move

This past week and half has been a real blur. Long story short: Our landlords raised the rent, and we decided to find a new place. After going on a few viewings around town, we found a place we really like and the location is so perfect we keep waiting for the deal to fall through. For not having a car, there is not a single place closer to everything we need. We are still in Dun Laoghaire, which is now "our village" but now we're directly in the heart of it. Still across the road from the water, directly across from the main train station, directly across from the stops where all bus routes originate and 2 blocks from several grocery stores, cafes, etc.

And you know, I am compelled to show pictures so here they are: These first six photos are of our actual unit. This place is a tiny bit smaller than our current apartment (I know what you're thinking), but just barely. It's still close to 650 square feet - which feels like more than enough to us now. Honestly, compared to our current apartment, we feel like this one is a palace and we've surprised ourselves at how excited we are to move there. We'll make the big move on January 11th!

Naturally, I googled our building to find more pictures since the photos of our unit didn't show the bathrooms. So, after the first six, you'll find pictures of other identical units (which are clearly taken with wide-angle-misrepresentation-trick-lenses).

One: Living room, taken from kitchen

 Two: Looking back at kitchen.

 Three: Our kitchen with gas stove! (this picture most accurately shows it's size. You'll see one photo below where it appears larger)

Four: Looking down hall, directly into Norah's room. In this hall are the 2nd bathroom, the utility closet with washing machine and at the end (to the right), our Master Bedroom.

 Five: Norah's Room (looks smaller than it is). Alright, it is small, but not AS small as it looks here. 

Six: Our Master Bedroom (looks smaller than it is)

 Living Room Variation 2 (not ours and clearly taken with a wide-angle lense) But this is identical to our space.

 Living Room Variation 3 (not ours)

 Other photo of the kitchen (see? looks bigger)

 Master Bedroom from windows. You can see the closets here and the en suite bathroom with a bathtub!! This is the one thing we are most excited about - Norah will have a bathtub!

 View of same en suite bathroom. Again, this is not identical to ours as we don't have that red tile accent.

Norah's Room/Guest Room

 Bathroom in the hallway with double-size shower. And view back to living room. (not our place, again, this is the fancier version with granite floors and art work)

 Identical to our balcony, though we're one floor above. So we look down on the parking lot of a hospital but when you look to the right, you see this, below.

 View off balcony, to the right. The Royal Irish Yacht Club.

 View of back of building, where our front entrance will be. 

 

 Street View. This is directly across from the train station (DART), across from the point where all bus routes originate.

 

Before we move, I'll do a little picture homage to our current home (mostly so we have the record of it for reminiscing). Until then, we'll enjoy our last few weeks in our first little Irish home:

 

Also, our poor little one has been very sick this week. She was meant to start Play School today, December 10th, but we had to 'call in sick'. Poor thing. We've been talking about it for months, and for the last week, we've been counting down to Monday. Thankfully she can't keep track of days yet and maybe she won't notice.....

 under the living room rug

 Our poor little zombie. She was miserable! And I know...it's terrible to take her picture but she was so out of it and we couldn't help it.