Notes for the rent of a flat in Vienna

Converted loft, fourth floor
40 square meters, two rooms
with bathroom, kitchen and entry.

Both the room, painted white
and orange – in good state – are about
the same size. Enough for a double bed,
the cradle, a cupboard and a night table.

In the other one a desk or a table
with some chairs and then a sofa,
better if with bed inside, for the guests
which came from far away or stayed
later than the last bus home.

A stereo system could be put in there as well
with wooden speakers and a case
for vinyls and cds.
Not furnished then, maybe a one
and a half bed will be left and a little
television table too. Not the washing machine.

The windows, with north exposure,
give all onto the inner court,
not really big, but silent:
they let inside the light and the shadow
of an old deciduous beech tree.

The ones of a room and of the kitchen
open on the sloping roof,
not much, actually, yet the snow
slips slowly on them in winter.

The one of the other room is without jalousie
instead and it would wear well a blue
curtain to be closed also during the day
sometimes, without turning on the lights.

The bathroom and the WC – separate –
have a little ventilator
and white and blue tiles
and mixers for the taps which
don’t let wait long for the shower
when you are already undressed.

The kitchen has electric cookers
with which you have to calculate carefully
the cooking time and just little space
to accumulate dirty dishes.

Part of the flat are also a small
and a little damp cellar
– not good for books, better for the clothes
out ot season – and a place for the bike as well
in the court, next to the border fence.

To go upstairs there is an old spiral staircase
or the lift of the building next door
(you receive the keys for that). The guests
can however do without it.

The rent is comprehensive of heating
and warm water. Only electricity is left
in Dietrichsteingasse 7, flat 18, IX Bezirk
nearby is the Liechtensteinpark
and the boutiques a little flashy
of Porzellangasse.

Originally posted in Italian on April 15, 2008 at 17:04