OK, yeah - so Paris is gorgeous, but obviously I have altered the above image. Good thing it is gorgeous, because the weather was crap most of the time I was there. The sun came out for two days, one of which I was stuck indoors at the college fair. The rest of the time it looked like this:
My evolving anti-jet-lag scheme worked pretty well on this trip. I only allowed myself about 4 hours of sleep the night before my flight over. That way I was able to sleep during the entire trans-Atlantic portion, and basically have a full night's rest when I arrived at 6am local time. Good thing too, because I had my first school appointment later that same morning. But anyway, I'll give a day by day account...
Monday
Upon arriving at Hotel Minerve, I did something quite novel in my work-travel experience: I unpacked my bags. Yes, I would be staying here for 11 consecutive nights. My flight out was scheduled in two weeks. Didn't know what I was doing the 3 extra nights. I'd figure that out later.
I didn't have time to linger in the room - my first appointment was out in the 'burbs at 11:30am. I took a shower and headed to the nearest Metro station, Cardinal Lemoine. After taking line 10 all the way to its western terminus, I hopped on a bus for another ten minutes, to be let off right outside the American School of Paris. There I spoke to a group of students during lunch and also to an art class. In between I was offered a computer in the library to check email. That's when jet-lag hit. I kept slumping over in mid-type. Back at my hotel I had to take a 2-hour nap.
Once awake, I hit the streets, changed some money, ate a donner kebab, and made my way to an expat bar called The 5th. There I had a couple pints of Guinness and participated in the Monday night trivia contest. I only used my work-issued Blackberry to cheat once (capitol of Belarus, dammit). Afterwards I walked back to the Minerve and hit the sack.
Tuesday
I woke up early and headed to a grocery store to grab some toiletries that I forgot to bring along. I also ate breakfast, which at a European hotel consists of bread and coffee. And a pack of cigarettes, for some.
At noon I arrived at the International School of Paris (right across the river from the Eiffel Tower) and presented to another classroom. After that I walked a few doors down and dropped in to the Franco-American Center. We talked a bit about how to better promote US universities amongst the French, and I got myself invited to a roundtable next Tuesday. Great. I took the long on-foot route back to my hotel. Quite a walk.
That evening I met a friend of mine, Amanda, on the Rue de Abesses for a few drinks and dinner. Afterwards, I decided to continue the evening out and hit a few bars near my hotel that were recommended in the Time Out guidebook. For the most part they were pretty lame, but then again it was Tuesday night. At an English pub I met a fellow named Konstantine, who dragged me to a bar where all his Greek friends were hanging out. Konstantine then left, without paying his portion of the tab. Jackass. Too bad I never saw him again...
Above: the Abesses Metro station - undergoing some renovations - very Bat-Cave-ish
Wednesday
Slept in, had an appointent at another school, took a nap, then headed down towards Notre Dame to look for an Irish pub that I had a drink at on my last trip to Paris. I found it, and kept walking down the river, finding a place called the Great Canadian. I pretty much stayed there the rest of the night, hanging out with other North Americans.
Thursday
I met with the international affairs representative of a university that my university is considering forming some sort of tie-up with. Afterwards I ran by the venue where the college fair would be held over the next two days. My boxes were not there yet, but they told me not to worry - they would be (forshadowing).
Done with work, I hit my first exhibit, at the Gran Palais. On display there were artifacts discovered from underwater excavations of the ancient cities of Canopus, Herakleion, and Alexandria, all once on the Mediterranean coast of the Nile delta. I was hoping for new information on the famous lighthouse, but there was none. Poop. I bet they're saving for a whole 'nother exhibit. Bastards. Of course, they had tons of other cool stuff, including figures of Khonsu (important to dorky comic book fans as being the patron of Moon Knight). I tried to take some not-allowed pictures, but they did not come out very well.
From the Gran Palais I walked to my friend Amanda's new apartment, very close to the Eiffel Tower. What a bitch! I drank some beer while helping her and her friends move stuff in and around - then I went back to my hotel.
Friday
Friday
I woke up and met a previously unknown university colleague at breakfast. Gwen works at our institution's facility in southern France. Rough life. Together we went to the fair venue and set up our booth. Yep, no boxes. Luckily, I had overpacked for my school visits, so we had materials to give out. Still, I spent half the day trying to track the boxes down. No luck. At least, no luck finding the boxes. However, my quest took me to Hall One of the expo center. Hall One was closed to the public for a very special professional exhibition. I was allowed to enter with a security escort since there was some evidence that my boxes had been erroneously delivered there. What glorious and secret event was this, you might ask?
Someone had been reading my diary. For half an hour, I was in heaven. Inside, it was like a living, breathing Victoria's Secret catalog. Yes, there were actually models, everywhere, wearing the lingerie of dozens of different companies from around the world. Lingerie that was not in store yet. I did not dare take out my camera while inside. There was a whole security station devoted to receiving complaints of lingerie espionage. Boxes? What boxes?
After the fair I went back to the hotel and considered slitting my wrists, because never would I ever see anything like that again. Unless they let me in tomorrow. So I didn't slit them. Besides, I had no bathtub.
Once compose, I accompanied Gwen to a restaurant where she was meeting a friend and his children. I did not stay though, because I was meeting one of my new American friends, Amy, from the Great Canadian at an Indian restaurant. After dinner we had a couple of beers at the Moosehead. Cool bar - reminded me of Southville.
Saturday
Another day at the college fair, still no boxes. My extra supplies managed to last us though. That still didn't stop me from going back to Hall One. However, they were on to me. I made it inside, but not past the check-in. Still, I'm tall enough that I could see over the wall. I left, weeping.
After the fair I went with Gwen to the apartment of the same friend she had met the night before. Her husband, a documentary filmmaker (on his way to Beirut), and another friend who is a postal artist (don't ask) also joined. These were genuine expat intellectuals. Of course after dinner and much wine we ended up debating 9-11 conspiracy theories. Very interesting. I will have much to put in my report for Mr. Hoover...
After dinner I met my friend Amanda (with the awesome apartment) and some of her friends out in a more ethnic part of the city. We had a few drinks in a bar that was very red and shabby-trendy. I was able to dash down the nearest Metro cave and leap on to the last train of the night back to my quarter. In the neighborhood of my hotel I decided to keep things going, as I had the next day off. I was up 'til about 5am. Met some more random Americans. Much fun.
Sunday
Needless t0 say, I slept in late. Then I hit the Museum d'Orsay. I find that I'm really starting to like sculpture. Once I'm rich, I've decided I'm going to have a sculpture garden. And I shall allow the neighborhood children to frollick in it, but not in a Neverland, CA kinda way...
Now I had to decide what to do about the Superbowl. I had heard of several plans from different Americans I had met on various nights, but ended up following through on none of these. At the Great Canadian I met yet another troup of Yankees. These three (Erin, Toria, and Matthew) were living in Orleans, teaching English, but had made their way to Paris just for the big game. So I made a fourth at their table and we hunkered down and played hearts until the 12:30am kickoff (I won). So I was up 'til 5am again. It was more good, brash American fun - even if I didn't get to see US commercials (stupid SKY).
A last Impression...
Join us in a few days for Week Two...
