How to Carry a Chandelier in Paris

 

This is an odd looking photo.

Can you tell what it is?

Or what we are doing?

We, French Husband and I, carried a very large awkward thing that swayed side to side, clinging musically, under a white sheet.

We hiked down the forty steps of our apartment building, then walked steadily for ten minutes, carrying the awkward thing on a broom handle, to the electrician. 

 

 

It amazes me how everything we need seems to be located less than ten minutes or less (on foot), from our apartment.

I found someone to electrify the French antique monster chandelier. The woman, owner of the wonderfully charming, old time light shop, eyes widen when she said , "You weren't joking the other day when you said you had a large chandelier." 

When I handed her the bag of thirty three large antique crystals that need to be re-attached, she grabbed them and the chandelier as if it were feather light. Though my shoulder has a permanent indention from balancing the makeshift chandelier support just to prove that the monster weighed a ton!

 

 

Yes that is a paintbrush sticking out the side.

As IF we needed to draw more attention to ourselves as we walked down the Parisian street.

Why not add a paint brush?

Children passed by us, as if we were carrying an exotic animal.

Teenagers quickly walked by us as not to associated with us.

Young adults looked at us as if we were idiots, "Why not take a taxi?" (As if a taxi would take us for a one minute ride, with a chandelier. We tried that, duh!)

Adults gave us the thumbs up, for our humorous effort.

 

Add to the chandelier on a broom handle, covered with a sheet, held on by a paintbrush, carried by two crazies on the streets of Paris, I hummed the Beatles song:

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

 

 

Oh this wonderful adventure.

 

 

 

 

And to think in a ten days or so we have the pleasure of carrying it back home!

 

Comments

[Toni]

The beauty of living in the moment and authentically!
I love it!

[Iowa Julie]

Love it. Perfect. "Get-er-done!"

[g]

this was very innovative- did the paint brush keep it from sliding -I think you both are very smart to come up with this method of transportation-what is the saying- necessity is the mother of invention .... rock on guys oh blah de oh blah dah life goes on... oh how life goes on for sure

[Carol L]

On your return trip might I suggest singing...
"Hi-ho,hi-ho, its off to hang we go". :-)

[Marilyn]

What wonderful adventures you are having. I would have loved seeing this and can't wait for the return and the final resting place. Whew!

[Karen Carson]

Your husband is a saint!

[Jeannie]

Just think of the beautiful light glimmering from those crystals in a couple of weeks. Wow!

[jody]

you two are so funny, and so cute! and it will be so pretty when hanging again!xo jody/fl

[Momof5]

My thoughts exactly!

[La Contessa]

This is so exciting!!!You two are awesome.How you managed to snap photos and hold the broom stick is beyond me but you did it and I cannot wait to see it hung!

[Ardis]

too funny

[Diogenes]

Yeah, but the chandelier is fabulous and I would have done the same thing, lol. I once carried a large gilded Italian mirror on the subway in New York with a friend. I'm sure the passengers thought we were crazy.

So the chandelier is going back to Provence to live with you? That's good.

[French la Vie]

Hi Diogenes,

No it is staying in Paris, and will hang in the kitchen as planned. But the wires needed to be changed as they were old.

[Merisi in Vienna]

"Corey's Eleven"
Next time, the Casino in Monte Carlo? ;-)

[Kiki]

ha ha ha haaaaaa.............. still laughing!!!
I SEE you walking down your little street and I bet that the Parisians who avoided you like the pest thought you had a hanging cadaver tied up to the broom-stick!
If there is just one thing you will sadly have to learn when living IN Paris it is that people do go out of their way so that they don't have to talk to strangers. It took us - maybe too friendly and naive people coming from a small country - weeks and months before we could coax a smile from our (now very friendly) bakery lady and butcher men. Mind you, now we're joking with each other like old friends but it was hard work. So don't take it personally, it isn't. It's just the way this huge city works.
I can't wait to have your tale when you'll walk back and when that 'monster' is beautifully sparkling in your appartment - fit for queens and kings, I'm sure!
Thank you, my love (that's an English expression I adore now and one I too had to get used to!), for the big and loud laugh!

[Irina]

Corey, the chandelier is beautiful! What amazes me that you could even take pictures while carrying it :) I bet it weights a ton.
xoxo

[JudyO]

You two have so much fun!😊

[Country French Judi]

Hi Cory: OK why will you have to carry it back with the crystals on it? I have several crystal chandeliers that I bought and always hung the crystals myself after we hung the fixture.

[Peggy Braswell]

that is the only way to tote a chandelier down the street + great photos + lovely to see it in it's place. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

[French la Vie]

Hi French Country Judi,

Because I am paying the expert to do it. The crystals will be perfectly put, and the electric wires new. If I were to do it... well let's just say twisting little wires are not my strong point.
I wish you were here to help!:)

[Suzanna]

OH MY, I just read about a wedding in October, how beautiful, tears come to my eyes how sweet this is and the invitation is sublime ~ what a wonderful month to be married, so colorful too....so sweet and touching to me ~ XO

[Eileen]

Only in Paris, right?