How I Found My Paris Apartment

[@virginiarobinson3848]

Wow! Watching these older vlogs and seeing how far you AND the apartment have come is crazy!! You should be proud of yourself and what you’ve accomplished.

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you 🥰

[@JWinParis]

Yay, Jane and Jason! Jane here ;-) Thanks for the shout-out. Marks & Spencer arriving in Paris basically clinched the need never to return to England :-D

[@JaySwanson]

Haha - it was pretty magical. I need to go back in when I'm not mentally wiped so I can see straight enough to find these jalapenos that are supposed to be inside. =D Great to meet you!

[@retropull]

The beauty of the KZbin algorithm... brought me here after watching your latest lockdown tour of the chateaux!

[@JaySwanson]

Haha, perfect timing!

[@chrissycollett3679]

What a wonderful story. I’m so happy your doing what you want and have been blessed. Also glad you’re sharing your life with us :)

[@JaySwanson]

Happy I have a life to share 😊

[@chrissycollett3679]

Jay Swanson getting deep 😆

[@aidanclarke6106]

I love the intro for French Fridays where we can finally see your true self 😂

[@JaySwanson]

=D

[@khangenbamavanjit122]

Wow... that's a wonderful story.... So glad you stayed a little longer

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks!

[@nicolacanning6328]

Jay my son and I arrived in Paris today and the first thing we done was head to the Louvre and went straight to the Mona Lisa 😂😂... great first night my feet are throbbing we walked so much today and gonna do it all again tomorrow 🤗🤗

[@JaySwanson]

+Nicola Canning excellent! Throbbing feet mean you're doing it right! 😃

[@anns390]

Love that French Friday is back! Also wanted to say the snow shots in yesterday's vlog and instagram were beautiful!

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks!

[@MarySmith-df9sn]

Your beginning video of the sun shining through the clouds was spectacular! You have a great photographic eye 👍🏼

[@JaySwanson]

+Mary Smith thanks!

[@davidfiner5657]

Sometimes I like to watch the vids out of order.... lol but it’s super satisfying watching your b-roll walking around the city

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks! I do love walking around Paris =D

[@kaleidoscopeallie]

New comment cuz idk if you'll see a reply. A FAQ playlist is BRILLIANT. Seriously. Will take a bit of work to put together but so worth it. Then you could tease it at the end of every video in a link that pops up at the end or something. 'Got a question? There's a video for that. Check the FAQ playlist.' or something in your own genre of cheeky. It's a great way for new subs to quickly get all the most important bits too. Did I say brilliant? It's brilliant. Doooo eeeeet!

[@JaySwanson]

Haha - first off: good work on new-commenting so that I actually saw this. Second: Glad you like the idea so much, I think it would be worth it too. I'll have to get Kate to help select a few since she's going back through them all steadily.

[@quigonjim8364]

Those pastries looked like Tiropitakia (cheese triangles) you’ll find them in Greece a lot, absolutely delicious!

[@JaySwanson]

WANT

[@carlameaser-costamagna5783]

Such a nice story! She sounds like a sweet person and of course good Karma. Good things happen to good people :)

[@JaySwanson]

She's super sweet - my adoptive grandmother

[@eldeRobe]

Great story. I've been checking out your VLOG for a few months. I think they're entertaining while imparting helpful information about what to do and where to eat in Paris. My wife, daughter and I will be in Paris from Sept 11 - 19. Second trip. I wish I had found your VLOG much earlier. Stay cool; keep up the good work.

[@reesaforrester4266]

You were halfway to 10K and now you're halfway too 100K. Good things happen to good people. Sending all the good things your way

[@KellyDurgan]

your vlogs are always so fun to watch

[@JaySwanson]

+Kelly Durgan thanks!

[@eddiebres3029]

Great video Jay! A+ for content as usual! Melt snowmelt!!!!!!!

[@JaySwanson]

Gracias! =D

[@arielpreciado4867]

Hello human kindness. Lol..thats a very sweet story. Its so cool to hear about people caring for one another..makes me feel good.

[@shelaghjackson9577]

Wow! I haven’t seen many of your videos (yet), but having seen the “before” of your apartment, I sure do love the “after”! Well done! Did you get the bathroom fixed up, too? Oops, this should have been posted on your video about the new improved apartment.

[@JaySwanson]

No worries! The sink and mirror were updated yep! Removed the bidet too, but that's about it.

[@TMD3453]

God bless Brigitte! Good for you for volunteering full time. Sounds like high quality experience.

[@kerrin-gaihofstrand4313]

I don’t know if I commented on this before but it’s so true...it’s all about luck...I always think of the apartment I stay in every year as my apartment as the owner and I are great friends...and I always hope one day she will say to me...Kerrin it’s yours!!! See you tomorrow xx Kerrin and Leia xxx

[@ShaleeHolmes]

Another example of karma. You do good stuff so good stuff happens to yoooouuu. No rent in Paris is definitely incredible! :D

[@JaySwanson]

I'm not complaining =)

[@charlesblack1086]

I love your apartment story. I had a similar situation in New York, living rent free for 7 years. Good happens when you trust that things will be ok.

[@asdf242]

hi jay. i visited Paris for a few days last year and fell in love with the city. since then, i’ve planned a week vacation for myself in May, and am looking for jobs out there in statistics with the goal of becoming a permanent resident. i really thought i was just gonna show up in Paris and wing it from there but your vlog has really opened my eyes to many practicalities i didn’t even consider. thank you so much for what you - i just signed up to your Patreon as a small show of support. 💖

[@JaySwanson]

I'm glad that it helped preempt some of the complications winging it would inevitably bring about. I sent you my 'ideal' approach to getting here on Patreon - thank you so much for supporting me there! It means so much to me =)

[@sunsetskye9]

What a wonderful story 💕 Hooray for generosity and friends!

[@JaySwanson]

No kidding! =D

[@elisem11]

You do have an adorable personality 😊 so she is right..

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks =)

[@tessasweet5792]

May 2/2020 Hi Jay, I really like listening to You... Enjoy Your Vlog so much! I'm in a city too , yet alone in this C-Vir. craziness!!! Nice to have a friend in Paris! Take care... You'll be okay!✨ Tessa 💖

[@saradiniz6550]

You inspire me so much.

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks Sara =)

[@ntpryce]

God bless your Landlady.

[@JaySwanson]

No kidding 😊

[@AvaT42]

Well, this is my second of Jay Swanson’s vlogs, I like them, he talks fast lol. I never realized in the first vlog I saw that Jay does not pay rent for his tiny apt. Which is excellent and very lucky, but I would still want a toilet in my bathroom. I envy the location of his place though. A fun vlog.

[@Jennyoy]

Sure. You are very lucky. Your landlord is very kind to you. I don't have any luck at all.

[@JaySwanson]

She is very kind indeed =)

[@randigerber1926]

LOVED the apartment story!!!! Told with sincerity. I replayed the part at Florence Kahn's boulangerie, looking for clues, and then checked out their website. The place is a Jewish deli ... Jewish but not kosher, as evidenced by the fact that they are open les samedis, which is Sabbath. AND it's in the Marais, historically a Jewish neighborhood. I would DEF go back to try the triangle things. May be borekas, may be knishes (pronounced "kah-NISH-iz"). Both are savory filled-dough treats, best eaten warmed up. Thanks for sharing your life in Paris with us! (I especially appreciate the shots of you walking/running by ... extra effort to retrace your steps to retrieve your camera/phone.) Hope you have a bon weekend!

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks Randi! And for sure, gotta go back and try out those triangles =D

[@shammianand6980]

Wow man..... You're amazing!!! Really inspiring!

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks 😊

[@tonibackus1438]

Is what we see in each vlog the actual size of your “apartment/maid’s chamber”? I really miss the baguette sandwiches in Paris. I love remembering Paris thru your 👀

[@JaySwanson]

You can check out the apartment tour videos and find out up close and personal =D

[@JaySwanson]

And thanks! Glad to have the eyes to share =D

[@kerrin-gaihofstrand4313]

This just popped up on my you tube!!...how weird that you were 1/2 way to 10k!!! Haha xx Kerrin and Leia xx

[@mytod2790]

I enjoyed your apartment story very much. I see you bought the sandwich in one place but went and ate it in another cafe`. Is this the done thing in Paris? Keep up the excellent 5 star vlogging!

[@JaySwanson]

I ate it on the metro actually, ha. Which is what makes me a horrible person by French standards =) But I work with the guys at the cafe I went to later so I do eat there occasionally. It all depends on the location. Thanks for commenting!

[@mytod2790]

Thanks Jay - In my 18 years of visiting Paris I have never attempted taking in food from another venue so I will definitely not be doing that in the next.....lets see, I.m 73 now, so may next 10 years?! Love you from AFRICA!

[@rachelrobinson2350]

lucky dog indeed ... no rent in paris ! also, some pretty shots in the middle there with the snowlight on terraces

[@JaySwanson]

It's a pretty place come snow or shine (or both ;D )

[@julieparker8176]

Awesome story about how you came to live in the chateau!

[@JaySwanson]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tracywhipple4364]

Thanks for the great advice you provided on IG & Twitter. Looks like my daughter might be signing with an agency there so we'll be moving there part-time...what are the issues we should look for when trying to find an apartment (so as not to get scammed basically).

[@lirazdemasure936]

That's awesome, I thought that I saw some Hebrew letters and I thought that this is a jewish place (Originally from Israel but living in Belgium). The triangles, if hearty, are called Burekas, it's actually balkan or turkish bake good, and it's one of the best unhealthy snacks ever. In Israel it's like a street food that you eat on the way to work. You should really try some of the Israeli places in Paris like Salatim or Yafo.

[@JaySwanson]

I need to go back for those Burekas then =D

[@emeliethomas5351]

It was interesting to hear your story! Aside from the fact that you got lucky with this apartment, I also think it's always beneficial to have a good network of people in your life. Random sidenote: we also got snow today! But we didn't get as much snow as you guys did. But maybe that's good because we never seem to be well prepared for snow. Does everything go smoothly in Paris (I'm mostly curious about public transport) when it snows?

[@Miaina77]

Metro (underground) is ok. Trains and buses are delayed or cancelled. We are not prepared. It's the same mess every 4/5 years.

[@JaySwanson]

The buses were a total mess for sure

[@garyvaught8315]

Way to Go Jay, Capturing a Space Invader while riding in the Tour de France (almost) Saw Emily at the beginning and ending of video, Hi to her from Gary , the old guy who got hit by a woman on a electric scooter, during a Sunday Morning in Paris Bike About Tour this past May.

[@JaySwanson]

Glad you survived the incident! =D

[@alynette]

i lived in hawaii for a while and seeing how some of the stuff is edited in movies to make certain locations look like they're right next to each other makes me giggle. anyway, one week until paris :)

[@JaySwanson]

You'll be able to acquaint yourself in advance of the movie release =)

[@alynette]

Jay Swanson I’ll make sure to add it to my ever growing photo list🙂

[@sarahbannon4752]

How fantastic to live rent-free in Paris! Do you have to pay for your utilities?

[@JaySwanson]

Just Internet, thank God

[@shuraymerriweather4456]

Okay. So Parisians sit out doors at cafes even though it’s cold and snowy? Or was that just an oddity? What’s the temperature there? I live in the Midwest so I’m no punk when it comes to cold but sitting outdoors. . . Wow.

[@JaySwanson]

People sit outside all the time if they can manage it - it's a general obsession =)

[@kaleidoscopeallie]

I kinda feel like this should get linked in your FAQs under 'How/why/whoa you live in a posh neighborhood.' The more subs you get the more often I see that question pop up.

[@JaySwanson]

It's a regular one. I've been needing to revamp the FAQ, this will have to find its way in there (or maybe I should make an FAQ Playlist)

[@kaleidoscopeallie]

@@christinecamley Well, it's not as if he wants to live in one room forever either but for now it is a mutually beneficial arrangement as he takes care of various things for his landlady who has an actual apartment in the main building and is not often in the country, especially now what with Covid.

[@gypsyrubbertramps3487]

Great story 👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@ulibyah]

You are a good person, Jay. I agree with ShaleeGold, good karma. And great things happen to people who persevere, and who gone through and survived challenges. You’re the man! 😊

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks =)

[@diegofianza3525]

“...it’s who knows you.” Cool story.

[@JaySwanson]

👍

[@moodbeast]

Just saw this-2020. Are you STILL living rent-free?!? Which arrondissement is this apartment in?

[@BCaidryn]

Inspiring

[@JaySwanson]

😀

[@jamesjoseph8343]

T'as la bonne chance! J'habite au texas et bien voudrais déménager en france. Je veux vivre dans le sud de la france mais je suppose que les mendiants n'ont pas la choix hein? :) J'adore tes videos, j'espère qu'ils continuent à venir! Corrections welcome btw

[@Miaina77]

T'as la bonne chance => T'as beaucoup de chance ; (...) et bien voudrais => et voudrais bien (...) ; j'espère qu'ils continuent à venir => well You can't say things that way in French. "j'espère que d'autres vont suivre" or "j'espère que tu vas continuer à en faire"

[@JaySwanson]

Corrections handed out =D

[@jamesjoseph8343]

Merci Miaina!

[@hazelhoyte7668]

Next time you go to Marks and Spencer try their tortilla chips, see if they are up to your standard. That would be on a cheat day, of course.

[@JaySwanson]

I've had them already and they're pretty good. Definitely the best you can get in a supermarket in France that I've found so far =D

[@debisusan1037]

I have eaten at this wonderful restaurant! Very yummy everything actually!!!

[@JaySwanson]

I want to go back already ha

[@patrickmcshane7658]

Is Marc Irish ?

[@JaySwanson]

yep

[@Tinamar65]

So your landlady isn‘t french!?

[@Loom.g0v]

You lucky bastard!

[@JaySwanson]

Fact =)

[@thepinksnob7370]

And it did work out!! #GodisGreat

[@tulipwindmill]

Ah,I thought Jacqueline was your landlady lol. Good story though,you are very lucky!

[@JaySwanson]

She's the concierge of the real apartment building - the one who gets stuff done =D

[@DocDocrat]

I can do one hand falafel. Legit

[@jackiec1175]

Sounds like grace.

[@DocDocrat]

God bless Bridget

[@JaySwanson]

No jokes

[@joannets3835]

A trick to make your life and Brigitte's easier... You pay a 1€ rent... 😬

[@binflynn1]

There’s a lot off luck involved in life .....

[@JeffBeltran]

cheat "one" more day

[@JaySwanson]

I'm dying over here