Day 23: Christmas is Coming (December 5, 2015

There is a 'black Friday' in Paris even though they have no Thanksgiving holiday here.  It's amazing how much American culture shows up overseas, even in Franco centric Paris.  Ttry to name a French food chain America (sorry, Au Bon Paine is an American chain).  In Paris there are many McDonalds and KFCs, and a few BKs.  And a lot of cafes advertise serving burgers.  Its easy to find someone who speaks English as second language, but imagine the Frenchman who does not speak English looking for directions in America.

So Parisians have started their Christmas season.  I see signs in shops that hours will be reduced before and between the holidays.  Streets and shops are decorated, ad shown below.  I'll post some pics of the big stores shop windows later, which attract crowds at all hours.

Temporary vendor stalls neat Toulerie Gardens, hundreds of them, only for Christmas.  Very festive atmosphere, although they mostly sell ready to eat foods and cheap imported goods.  There are a few specialty or regional food sellers, like shellfish from Normandy or holiday cheeses and chocolates.

Shops across from the Louvre.

There was high security at this fancy hotel during the start of the Climate meetings.  But they also had Christmas decorations.

Day 21: Trapped Like a Rat! (12/03/15)

Traveling light means I don't have a lot of spare replacement items.  One rain jacket, one fleece jacket, one pair of shoes.  I hope each item lasts the trip, but if not I'll get it repaired or replaced.  That's the plan for now.

Then I ran into a problem of language and planning.  I attempted to do my first load of laundry in my apartment.  The apartment is equipped with a small combination washer/dryer.  It has French labels and a French cheat sheet, all of which are a puzzle to me.

I managed to get the machine started, but I could not get it spin dry or heat dry the load.  I was stuck with dripping wet clothes in December in Paris.  Very frustrating.  I looked on line but all I found were manuals in other languages.  It took many tries, but I eventually figured the washer had stopped for me to add softener and hit start again.  Now I can do laundry in France!

Actually, I have used coin operated laundries here before, so I always had that backup option.  No worries, but its nicer to do laundry in house.

I apologise for all the recent typos on the blog.  I have been using the touch screen pad on Chuck, which is small and error prone.  The small keyboard I brought with me is terrible as keys stick or don't register.  I am expecting delivery of a new full sized keyboard this week.

No pics this time because who wants to see a photo of an appliance?

Day 19 (12/01/15): Guess Who Dropped By?

I walked by the theatre where some of the November 12th attacks occurred.  Lots of people, lots of security around.  Very somber.

Around 10 p.m. I was walking home when I started to notice traffic along the Siene River's left bank was getting lighter than usual.  Then I saw the police blocking off the side streets and telling bicyclists to stay on the sidewalk.  Then everything was eriely quiet for the center of Paris.

I hung out by the road for 15 minutes before the big payoff: President Obama's motorcade sped by, with the expected police and press part of the parade.  I tried to take pictures but they went by too fast.  If I were thinking ahead it would have made a good movie clip.  By the flags on the President's Cadillac the French President was in the car also.  I deduce from their timing and direction they were headed to American compound and/or the French President's residence, which are near each other.

The next day I did a long walk and got some Paris life photos.  The big Ferris wheel is around until January, then it is disassembled and moved outside Paris.  They say of takes two days to take down.  I hope to ride it soon.

The rows of bikes are a common sight here, a program where you can borrow a bike and leave it elsewhere.  I plan to get a bike rental pass for my last month in Paris.  One problem with the bike sysytem is that bad evening commuting weather causes bikes to overflow in the office areas because commuters will take a bus, subway or train home when its too cold or wet to ride the bike.  I've seen bike system vehicles redistributing bikes around Paris late at night.

The last photos are of a light show on the assembly building by an activist group.  Lots young people handing out leaflets or collecting signatures on the sidewalks every day.