Casa Castagnola is Ours!

We got the apartment! We didn't exactly walk away at $2,050 but we didn't pay full price either. We met in the middle at $2,130. I know we seemed like real tough guys on that Saturday blog post... this is how it went down. That very next day the apartment was taken off the website (I was watching it like a hawk). We assumed that meant it was rented, and I had a little breakdown (okay, maybe a big one). I wasn't ready to start over! The only reason this apartment was inexpensive (relatively speaking) in the first place was because it was ground level, on the edge of Castagnola, and its view was obscured... would we really happen upon that set of circumstances twice? I wasn't ready to test it, especially not for $150. So, we agreed that IF it was still available, we'd ask about the online $2,050 price, but really we'd take it at $2,200 and count our lucky stars. I was so afraid we'd missed our chance at this place, and thought we were complete idiots for even putting it at risk. And for what? The price of a pair of socks in this town? It turns out it was still available, our housing agent worked her magic on the price, and we could not be happier.

Now here's where it gets crazy... once we agreed on the apartment, the lady who owned it offered to take us back to her house to sign the contract. She lives in an Italian style villa (I think I'm using that term correctly - it was an expansive property, with lots of outdoor space, had actual vineyards by the entrance, all nestled on the side of the most famous mountain in Lugano). She walks us out to her terrace (you can see ALL of Lugano, along with its lakes and mountains), where she has multiple tables set up with china, crystal, fruit, candles... I have no way of describing this. I kept whispering for Ryan to take a picture, but he was afraid it was rude. I was afraid that if we didn't get a picture, no one would believe us. She calls to someone in Italian... that someone is a maid, who is dressed like a maid (like from a movie), and she brings us champagne and crackers with pesto. Then her husband comes out with his trainer (this woman mentioned he was at the gym, I just assumed it wasn't in their house). The husband is wearing a polo shirt tucked into plaid shorts (with a belt) and he is in fact sweaty. His trainer is wearing scrub type booties over his shoes (like you'd see in an operating room), we assume so he doesn't get the floors dirty. I promise - I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried. We pop the champagne, eat crackers, and chat on the veranda, like we know what we're doing. This place is like a different planet (for rich people).

We get the keys on Wednesday, and it's officially ours on the first. For those of you I thought I'd talk to tonight, Ryan is sleeping in the room as I type this. We didn't exactly plan for our little soiree, and after we got dropped off we still had to eat, so it's pretty late here.

I'm not sure how to end this one. My mind's a little jumpy with excitement (either that or champagne). So I will bid you a buona notte and say grazie for all the apartment prayers.