The Commute

Bonjour. We've been in our apartment for a week now and I have been taking the Metro to commute to work. You can see all sorts of things - interesting crowds.

So my basic commute is walking out of the apartment at about 7:45. I walk down Rue Beaubourg past the Pompidou museum of modern art. In the past, I continue down to Hotel De Ville metro #1, which I take directly out to Le Defense. The main thing about the trip is seeing the two towers of Notre Dame in the sunlight as I walk. It is just a bit mind-boggling. On the normal day, you wait a few minutes for the metro and can find a seat either right away or after a stop or two. I have stood the whole way on the first day of sales (I think everyone was heading to the 4 Temps Mall at La Defense). There are usually business people and a variety of others. You cram in however you can, and get a seat if you can. Otherwise, you try to slide away from the door area and lean against something. There are little windows you can open usually to get a breeze in. The last week it has been almost 90 degrees in Paris, so very warm. I usually completely pit out my clothes a couple times. The women have it better as they can dress for work in all kinds of fashionable, but not heavy or long clothes - sundresses, tan-tops with pants, etc. They look good, and not too warm. Men still wear their coats and ties! Not me - but it is still slacks and dress shirts!

Anyway, the metro takes about 30 minutes. I listen to my i-pod. Others do the same or read. At each stop, people mostly get on until Esplanade de le Defense, which is where the businesses start. And, at the end, everyone exists. It is like being in a school of fish. You swing around the train into the flow, up stairs or escalator until you pass through the 3 exit gates (the crowd narrows to fit). Then you pour up onto the main surface of La Defense and spread out in the cool morning air. By this time, I could usually change my shirt.

You repeat the process in reverse in the evening. If you leave at 6pm, be prepared for rush hour traffic!

Michael Jackson, the Marais, and Gay Pride

It's been an interesting and busy day for us. I awoke to the pounding sounds of Beat It this morning at 3:30am. This continued on an off until 7:00am! Not a restful night - I looked out the windows, but really didn't see anything in the street. Finally, I realized it was coming from the restaurant across the street. Later tonight, I found that this was NOT to be expected each weekend. It was some sort of special thing commemorating Michael Jackson, who died this week. I had forgotten some of those songs! (Do you remember "Ben" - about the rat?)

We didn't get up until about 10:30, not well rested. We decided to go for a walking tour around the Marais (using our Lonely Planet guidebook). It was a nice warm day and we strolled through medieval Paris. There are many fashionable shop in the area. We spent a bit of time at the Musee Carnavalet (below), saw Saint Paul's, and Place des Voges. The picture shows a section of the original Hotel de Ville (City Hall), relocated to the Marais. The original was destroyed during the French Revolution. We ate in a crowded brasserie in the Place and stopped at the grocery store on our way home for water. I think our future includes a trip to the department store on Rivoli for a water purifier - carrying 10 liters of water from the store is too much trouble.

We rested for a while at home before meeting a colleague from work and his girlfriend (Olivier and Joelle). He lives nearby and had offered to show me around. Of course I took him up on it. He and Joelle met us at our apartment, and we wandered over to the Louvre seeing various shops and restaurants. Then we wandered back to the Marais where we were planning on dinner. Olivier was worried about us getting into the restaurant (L'Apparemment) as it was Gay Pride day. We saw parades, flags, balloons and excitement in the area, but the restaurant was on a quiet street near the Picasso Museum, and we had no trouble getting in. It was quite fun to have a meal with another couple - I think we all enjoyed it. The restaurant had a format some in Tucson may recognize - you take a card and mark a number of items to create a salad. Unlike Chopped, you get your salad with cheese, meat, and fruit on the side. It was a nice change from my recent meals that have involved meats that I didn't quite know what they were.

On the way home, we passed the city hall for the 4th Arrondesment where they had music playing. We also passed the backside of a naked man in the second floor window on Rue des Gravelliers (unsure if this had anything to do with Gay pride or not). France is not a place where one is overly modest... nor does anyone really pay attention to it. Overall, a full day of action. Ciao.

New Apartment

Hello all - it has been a busy week and this is my first chance to update the blog. The main event of the week was moving into our apartment on Monday afternoon. It is in the Marais area. The apartment is very nice - I didn't realize it, but all the appliances are brand new (oven, microwave, washer/dryer, etc.). Very nice. We also learned that all our utilities, including Internet, TV, phone, electricity, heat and water are included in the rent. This saves me from setting up a French bank account and paying utilities. Excellent - I'm using our wireless right now!

Next big event of the week was a visit with our friends Debbie and Ray Curtis (from Tucson). They were in Paris for 3 days with a tour from Tucson. We met them and some other friends Wednesday afternoon. We walked back to the apartment from our meeting place for a short break. Then we took the metro over to the Eiffel Tower, where we re-joined the tour group for a Seine river cruise. Got a nice view of Notre Dame in the sunset. We returned to the dock just before the twilight and the tower lights coming on. Quite nice, but at this time of the year, that means about 10pm. Debbie and I walked back towards the center of town to find a cafe for dinner and ended eating around 11pm. Finally made it home on the metro by midnight! On Wednesday night! The Curtises got to experience the metro (one of which was jammed), and our walk back to the apartment took us through a red light district (rue St Denis - we didn't know, honest). So a couple of added tour attractions for them.



So this is my first week of commuting to work. I walk about 10 minutes to Hotel de Ville stop and take the #1 metro straight to Le Defense. I look directly towards the towers of Notre Dame and pass the Pompidue Museum of Modern Art ast I walk to the metro. I was quite impressed my first morning - now it's old hat. The metro ride takes about half an hour as there are about 10 stops. But I plan to get a pass next week to take the RER (urban train) which also goes to Le Defense with only 2 stops and takes about 15 minutes. This should change my commute from 45 to 30 minutes.

This Wednesday was the start of the "BIG" sale season in Paris. I knew something was up when I couldn't find a seat on the metro either to or from work. Everyone was commuting to the big mall in Le Defense. Ordinarily, I can find a seat both ways, but I stood all the way on Wednesday. The sale continues, but I guess the early birds get the good deals! Au revoir.

Vacation

Back from a week in Groton Connecticut with daughters Kimberly and Emilee, and Debbie. We had a nice time the first few days with Emilee going to the aquarium for pictures with sea lions, attending a birthday party of one of Kim’s friend’s two-year-old son, eating at various restaurants, and visiting my grandparents old summer home in Charlestown RI. We had some nice weather (I even managed to get a sunburn at the beach). Then Emilee went back to DC and Kimberly went to work, and Debbie and I started painting the condo! I would say we finished slightly under half of it in our 3 days of heavy work on it. We left on Saturday after meeting Kimberly for lunch at Five Guys (burgers and fries), and a last visit to the sea lions (3 pups that Kimberly was working with this week). We had a quick flight from Boston to CDG. The only bad thing about it is the flight is too short to get more than just a few hours of sleep (you leave at 8pm and arrive at 8am, and loose 6 hours of sleep time). It would be better to leave in the morning and arrive in the evening (I think). Well, we are back now and preparing to move into our apartment in the Marais tomorrow.

Leaving for vacation

In usual travel fashion, I have already pitted out my clothes and I'm not even yet on the airplane. I tried to stay up as late as possible last night to push myself towards the time change (still awoke at about 7). Had my usual leisurely weekend breakfast (only about 2 others in the room). I left my large bags in a closet at the hotel and decided to take the RER to the airport. This is despite some locals suggesting other options. But this is the method Jeremy and Rod take each week (I think mostly because it is the cheapest).

It's a warm day in Paris and just walking to the train warmed me up a bit. Once on the train, the A train was crowded, so I stood (not a long trip though). I changed to the B train in Chatelet - much less crowded, but warm. Overall, it took about an hour to get to CDG. Once there, you get out in terminal 2 - well terminal 2 has wings A-E (I think). You walk for about 20 minutes to get to the proper level and then A8 (which is American Airlines check in). I was able to shortcut a long waiting line by being a Gold member. I decided since I saved some money taking the train, I would treat myself to the Admiral Club. (Where I sit now drinking a self-mixed bloody mary, which tastes a bit unusual. My bartending skills are not what they should be.)

Going through French security at the airport is quite a trial. The US doesn't hold a candle to it. It may be ok if you don't set off the alarm when going through, but if you do, be prepared to be closely groped. And, if you are searched, you can expect that anything will be double checked (your pedometer, your wallet/passport, etc.) Quite a deal. It was the most physical contact I've had since leaving the US.

Anyway, if I travel much, I think I may need to join the Admiral Club. This is quite a bit nicer than sitting by the gate eating my apples (they have their own apples). I can even use the toilette without taking all my bags! I checked, if you use miles, it cost 65000 miles (that's maybe 2 trips - seems a bit high). Or $450 - which is sounding ok if I will travel very much (sounds like a reasonable use of my per diem. Well, go to go - I want to eat before I have to leave for the gate. Ciao.

Rainy week in Paris

Sometimes you just have to laugh at it all. It has been a busy and rainy week in Paris and Le Defense. I've had some new co-workers here this week (picture below). We all had dinner in the good Italian restaurant in Nueilly. Now, just because I usually mention dinner or sights or such, does NOT mean that I am not working hard over here. We've had our last workshops this week, and I did a short training session (first actual formal training for the customer). Basically, I've spent most all my time in meetings, demo'ing and answering questions. It, and the rainy weather, can wear you out. The above shot was walking back after the dinner. Glad I had my raincoat and umbrella. I'm also looking forward to tomorrow with no workshops (and to heading back to the US on Saturday to visit my girls in Connecticut).

It has also been a challenge to get into the apartment. I realized yesterday that there was virtually no possibility of it happening before I return to the US, so I reserved another week at the Residome. At least I can leave my luggage here and know where Debbie and I will go next Sunday when we return. Now it has been 5 weeks in Paris in the hotel - it is getting quite old. I had also dropped some shirts at the lobby for laundering yesterday. When I went to pick them up this evening, I was told that the laundry refused to do them as they couldn't get them back in time. OK - so my shirts will be dirty when I return. I took the bag up to the room and found they were someone else's shirts. I went back to the desk, returned these shirts, and they found my laundered shirts and gave them to me. Now, when I initially asked for my shirts, I told them I was in room 802. The receptionist said "211" - and then proceeded to tell me that they didn't do my shirts and gave me the bag. I think there must be a tendency to just agree when you don't speak the language fluently. They heard me say my room number, and I heard them say 211, but we just go ahead anyway and nod politely. Ah, well, if nothing else, the receptionist is a beautiful young French woman, so that was pleasant at least.

And, if you start to get too irritated with some of it all, one of our co-worker's spouse was just diagnosed with cancer. That certainly provides perspective on your concerns quickly! So we shall worry for them instead of the big issue of clean shirts. Cheers.

French Mother's Day

Hi - it's a rainy day in Paris. We have Mother's Day in France today. I got in my now-routine Sunday morning run, had a pleasant breakfast at the Residhome (weekends are so quiet, weekdays are pretty much chaos), then went to the "American Church". It is your normal historic Paris church, right on the Seine near the Hotel des Invalides. But, as the name indicates, it's "American". It's all in English. The minister sounds like he's from the mid-west. There were quite a few people there, a large number student-age. It was sort of a "praise and glory" type of contemporary service, which is a bit different for me, but it was still good.

Afterwards, I walked along the river on the left bank - a busy place, then over to Notre Dame. Stopped at a Monument to Jewish Deportee's on the island. It started to rain, so I found a cafe on the right bank to have a beer and watch Roger Federer win the French Open. I continued up past the French National Archives into the Marais to get a better look around the area where my apartment will be. It's pretty quiet on "my" rue Chabon section. Mostly, there are Chinese purse and bag shops! I did see a few galleries, one with a jazz band playing inside. Walk a block or so away and you get to bigger streets with a bunch stuff. Hopefully I'll get into the place this week before I go back to the US.

I headed back to Le Defence (which took about 40 minutes - so I'm guessing that will be my commute time). I was beat, so I picked up some take out from Marwan at l' Olivia, my friendly neighborhood Lebanese restaurant (see picture). It's been my lifeline here.

D-Day and apartments

It's been an eventful few days for me. I think we got our situation sorted out as far as aparments. Jay and I looked at about 7 on Thursday. On Friday, I decided to take one on Passage des Gravilliers (a little side street between rue des Gravilliers and rue Chapon). Above is a shot of the living room. It is in the Marais, a historic and popular location. It is close to the metro, and if I want to walk a little, I could even catch the RER (less stops to get to Le Defense). There's a second small bedroom and the couch is a double bed - so room for some visitors. I plan to go back to check the area out a bit tomorrow.

Today is the anniversary of D-Day, and it is quite the big deal over here. The news is full of events in Normandy. I guess I was suprised how big it is considering it doesn't get so much notice in the US (at least that's how it seems to me). I look forward to a visit to Normandy while I'm here. The other very big news here is Barack Obama's visit (and that of his family, also). He and his family are a bit like rock stars over here! I didn't go downtown today, but there seemed to be a number of crowds to cheer him on. And, although I didn't understand, the people interviewed on the news seemed to be gushing over him. It is nice to see a positive feeling towards an American. I'd say he's more uniformly popular here than in the US.

It was a grey, rainy, cold day earlier, so I did some cleanup on my computer. But I decided I had to get out and headed to Le Defense. I've mentioned it seems a bit dead on weekends. I stand corrected. I wanted to check out a big building that is across the esplanade from my work. Well, it's a big-ass Mall. Like the kind you find in big cities (not like in Tucson). It had about 3 or 4 floors, a Virgin superstore, a Costco (actually "Costorama"), a huge grocery store, and everything in between (note the golden arches in the picture - lower left corner). The Levi's store had jeans for about 100-120 Euros/pair (makes you feel pretty good about $35-50). And it was CROWDED (which figures on a grey day). Lots of different choices for eating - including sushi that winds it's way by tables on a conveyor belt (and you pick off what you want). There were a number for buger places also. By the way, if you do come to France, you can't go wrong with blue jeans - lots of people wearing them. I also no longer worry if I look different - this is a big city and most everyone looks different. (However, I still doubt that I'll wear anything less than slacks and dress shirt for work.)

After about an hour wandering the mall (which is over my usual limit), I went to Nueilly to get quiche for dinner at my favorite boulangerie. I picked up a copy of the International Herald Tribune (the global edition of the NY Times) and stopped on the return for a cafe au lait. The French Open was on, so stayed to watch the women's finals. Also have a new French cell phone that I entered numbers. I was a bit challenged initially because all the directions are in French. I got the pin and had someone help me change the language to English - so now I'm just trying to figure it from the little pop-ups I get from the phone. Au revoir.

June

Hello, it's a new month and it's been an interesting few days in Le Defense for me. First off, I was scolded for disclosing sensitive information in my blog. So, I am no longer able to refer to some aspects of my regular life over here. I guess I continue to learn something new ever day...

We had an extra consultant with us this week - Hamish Johnson from the UK (originally from New Zealand). I think he is the only one of our group who is younger than 50 (poor bastard). Hopefully we won't warp him too badly. In his honor and due to the sunny day, we stopped for some beers after work at the Globe Trotter (a bar about half way down the esplanade). We pressed on afterwards to Nueilly for a Chinese dinner with Rod (project advisor) and Jeremy (project manager). These meals tend to last a while - we didn't head for the Residhome until 10:30. But I noticed that even at that late hour, the sky was still just at twilight. And sun-up is at about 5:00 am. That is a short night, but I rather like it. Of course, I'll have to deal with the opposite if I'm here through the winter.

And, today, after a few conversations, I finally got my living arrangements sorted (that's what the British say to mean "arranged" - I have also learned what it means if a woman is a "grapple and a half"). Anyway, long story short - IFS is to cover the apartment and hold the rental agreement. So now I can proceed to find someplace. Jay and I have a meeting tomorrow to view some places. Hopefully, we can find a suitable one or two and I can get in this next week before I return to the States. Stay tuned.