France: Week One – Part I
France: Week One-Part I
We flew over on Air Tahiti Nui – not your first thought for air travel to France, but I was offered a nice upgrade to business class! Flying 10+ hours in business class is a hell of a lot more fun than flying in the back of the plane. Service, drinks, movies, the time flies by literally. I drank some very nice wine and was able to get a little rest on the flight.
For those of you that know me, you know that I have a compulsion to try to do too much. Combine that with a perfectionist approach and a dose of micro management and it’s a recipe to repel most people. I like the pace I keep, I like to push myself and I enjoy the challenge of living a double life. Sure, I must give up TV, and this concept called “relaxation†but I’m most relaxed when all the details are covered and positive things are happening.
Anyways, getting me on a plane can be a little bit like sheep herding. I have all my life to squeeze into a bag, typically too heavy for check in (another perk of business class – heavy bags) and I have a need to bring my computer, my filing cabinet, the new camera (that I have not figured out how to use yet) and probably about six months of projects to finish on the plane.
I sit down in business class and a glass of Champagne (yes, real Champagne) and there is a pool of calm. The airlines know if they feed you and allow you to drink; it’s only a matter of time before you sleep. That is where I come in, I don’t need much sleep, but when I do I can sleep standing up in the hallway. Sure, I love my 550 thread count sheets, but just give me a minute in the back seat of your car and I’m out. Otherwise, I’m good to read, write, eat and drink on the plane and without interruption, look out world. I planned the next 5 years of my life and managed to read 6 magazines, a newspaper and drink several different wines. Of course I had the service team bringing me the wines blind so that I can work on my blind tasting – I’m sure they loved that (not).
Upon arrival into Paris, I picked up my 59 pound bag (about 5 Kilos overweight) and wheeled it towards my car (by appointment) and head straight to the hotel – I have 200 emails to send in my outbox.
The concierge at the hotel received my 5 pages of instructions and made all my plans for me: Train, restaurant, open/closed museums, I’m sure she was happy to see me (probably thought I was nuts) but I reward her with about 20 euro and she was more than willing to help me with the details.
It was early in the day, but my room was ready, and that was a surprise. Unfortunately the 2009 world economy is hitting Paris but they do not feel or look like a recession is hitting them – there are huge lines for all the major attractions and people are everywhere – the 4 and 5 star hotels are about ½ of normal and the staff is a little thin. The same person that answers the phones is also the concierge, and the bellman. I’m guessing that my 50 bed hotel had about 15 rooms booked, not good.
My companion had never been to Paris, so there is a “welcome to Paris†package that is to be expected. Eiffel tower, The Louvre, The Arc, and too my surprise, a double-decker bus that I use to think was a nightmare became my best friend. The bus service stops at all the major monuments (9 stops) and you pay one fee for 48 hours (about 24 Euro) and you can get on and off as many times as you like. This is better than finding a taxi and it was some of the best weather I have ever seen in Paris. The bus was a joy, it also told me of the history on each building which was pretty cool. So I include a picture of the bus service and recommend it to everyone if you have not been to Paris, and recommend it to those of you that have because it is so regular and so available – I think I saved about 50 euro in Taxi just using this service and I learned a lot about the city I love so much.
La Duree – My passion for food is obvious (big gut hanging over my belt) but it’s not because I just love food, it’s because I love ambiance, service, décor, design, china, glassware, silver, I love the details. Great casual food service with a well thought out experience can be as nice as a very formal dining room, if both are done well. When I find flaws that are obvious, that’s when I no longer enjoy myself the way I like. I can forgive on service more than most details because service is such a personal experience. It’s the other stuff that is more conscience that I am aware of. Texture of the paper on the menu, the thickness of the glass, the noise in the room, the linen on the table, the quality of the furniture…. It all matters!
I go to La Duree, not because it is perfect, but they have made more efforts on these points than most. The very French – slightly worn and cool Louis the XIV inspired furniture with very textured and heavily trimmed walls, painted ceilings, grand chandeliers, and use of silver service (all good but not glossy shined or burnished as we would say in the Food and Beverage departments), combined with lots of wonderful details that really make the La Duree experience authentic. The food is amazing but I don’t think it would be as good if everything else where not in place.
Shopping in Paris – for years, the dollar has been worth less than the Euro. It doesn’t mean you can not shop and find value in Paris. A $150 bottle of Perfume is 90 Euro – about the same. But did you know that most Perfumes are made differently in France – the famous brands make the US version in the US or China or somewhere else – and the French is made in France. I’m sure some brands are different but my personal experience is that this is a must to buy in France.
Clothing and the labels are the same. Hugo Boss makes their clothing in Germany, but the stuff we get in the US is made in Mexico or Asia. We are not as smart or as cool as we think we are in the US.
Cars in France – first, a liter of petrol (about 1/4th of a gallon) is an investment – I think I figured out that a gallon of gas would be about 12.00 dollars! Imagine what that would do to the types of cars we drive? How much we drive and traffic conditions! I am all about making gas more expensive in the US and making changes happen because they are supposed to. One of the false US ideals is that gas engines are a right… petrol is a privilege and it should be treated more that way. Most Europeans drive around in cars that are about the size of a golf cart, easy to park and light on gas. We Americans first comment – what if we were hit by a hummer on the freeway? They don’t have many hummers here (zero). I want to buy stock in SMART cars when I return home…. It’s the same guy that did SWATCH watches by the way.
