This past weekend I took a much needed break from my studies. My good friend from Manhattan Beach - Wednesday (yes, her name is Wednesday), came over to Paris for a quick 4 day visit. We stayed in Paris and had a lot of fun shopping and sightseeing on Saturday. On Sunday, we had tickets to the biggest horseracing event in Europe, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Longchamp just outside of Paris. My good friend Stu was able to get me 2 tickets thanks to his Dad who had a box of 6 seats.
On the way from our hotel, Wed. and I were on the metro.....I had a fairly good idea of how to get there, but I wasn't 100% positive. We had one change we had to make, from the #6 train to the #1 train. As we were waiting on the platform for the #1 to arrive, I noticed two good-looking "lads" who were dressed up and speaking "English", and I said to Wed, "Those two gentlemen are definitely going to the race....let's follow them." Much to our surprise, one of them, came over and started "chatting us up". Tom and Denver were from Manchester, England and they ended up as our superstar tourguides for the day....as they knew exactly which metro stop to get off at, where to walk to catch the shuttle bus, and how to get inside the right gate. They have been coming to the Arc race for many years, as it is quite popular with the Brits. Also, the famous horse "Sea the Stars" from Ireland was running on Sunday and alot of people from the UK came over to see him make history. He ended up winning the big race of the day and, according to Carl, our host, is the most decorated European horse in the last 40 years.
The odd thing about the races was that the horses ran the opposite way around the track as they do in the states. At first, I thought I had a little too much champagne, but then I realized I was right. They run clockwise instead of counter-clockwise. But, I didn't mind.....we had a great view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance!
So, all in all, it was a great day and a fantastic weekend......thanks to Wed, Stu, Carl, Susan, Tom, Denver, Parker, Val and Alister. It's back to work for me.......no more fun for awhile. It was good that I took advantage of the beautiful weather in Paris. It started raining yesterday on my way back to my apt in Cergy. Winter is just around the corner......
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
1 Month down, 10 to go!
I have lived here a little over 4 weeks now, but it seems more like 4 months. Classes are enjoyable, but the workload is excessive. I am starting to fall into a more disciplined pattern for a daily rountine, which is nice.
The weather is still quite pleasant, in the high 60's and even 70 during the day. It is a lot like CA weather, but unfortunately I know the cold is just around the corner.
Some observations about the French after one month here.......they are total foodies! Every meal is an event. And, it's not by accident, that no buisinesses are open during the hours of 12:30-2:00, (not even the bank) because everyone has left their offices and headed straight to a seat in any of the countless cafes, brasseries, and restuarants to settle in for a good hour and a half of quality dining....with a bottle of vino!
One cannot live in France if you are lactose intolerant or a vegetarian. They all consume so much yogurt and cheese, it's incredible. There are literally 3 aisles at the grocery story of only yogurt!! Also, telling a French person that you are a vegetarian, would be like telling them you have the H1N1 virus. I am not a vegan, I do enjoy meat....but I am wondering about the people who are and how they go out to eat here. France, as a nation, is simply not tolerant of anyone who chooses not to eat meat. You rarely find a veggie option on a menue. This is a country where steak is only ever served while still bleeding and a chef is offended is you ask him to prepare a steak "medium". You might get, "Non, c'est pas possible". And they definitely cannot live without their steak tartare or their foie gras (which is duck liver).
However, I do like the idea that food plays an important part in their daily lives and they believe eating a leisurely meal is a right for every citizen. I think Americans could take a lesson and learn to slow down and savor a meal without inhaling it.
The weather is still quite pleasant, in the high 60's and even 70 during the day. It is a lot like CA weather, but unfortunately I know the cold is just around the corner.
Some observations about the French after one month here.......they are total foodies! Every meal is an event. And, it's not by accident, that no buisinesses are open during the hours of 12:30-2:00, (not even the bank) because everyone has left their offices and headed straight to a seat in any of the countless cafes, brasseries, and restuarants to settle in for a good hour and a half of quality dining....with a bottle of vino!
One cannot live in France if you are lactose intolerant or a vegetarian. They all consume so much yogurt and cheese, it's incredible. There are literally 3 aisles at the grocery story of only yogurt!! Also, telling a French person that you are a vegetarian, would be like telling them you have the H1N1 virus. I am not a vegan, I do enjoy meat....but I am wondering about the people who are and how they go out to eat here. France, as a nation, is simply not tolerant of anyone who chooses not to eat meat. You rarely find a veggie option on a menue. This is a country where steak is only ever served while still bleeding and a chef is offended is you ask him to prepare a steak "medium". You might get, "Non, c'est pas possible". And they definitely cannot live without their steak tartare or their foie gras (which is duck liver).
However, I do like the idea that food plays an important part in their daily lives and they believe eating a leisurely meal is a right for every citizen. I think Americans could take a lesson and learn to slow down and savor a meal without inhaling it.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday in Paris
I took the train yesterday into Paris. Sundays are generally not so good, because most of the stores are closed. However, yesterday a large wine store, Lavina, was having it's 10 year anniversary celebration and we were "advised" by our oenology professor to attend. The benefit of showing up was receiving their year membership free (normally 15 euros) which entitles you to 5% off of all purchases and special invitations to wine events throughout the year.
Lavina would put any wine store in the US to shame. It was 3 floors of wine....and all price ranges from 10 euros to 10,000!
They have "degustation" machines, which allow you to buy a tasting card in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 euros so that you can taste different wines....the more expensive the bottle, the more costly the taste. I tasted a 2005 Gevry Chambertin for 4 euro and the bottle sold for 55. They had a 2001 Haut Brion which sells for 250, so the taste was 15 euro....I passed on that one.
I bought one bottle for 40 euros....saving it for when one of the big projects I am working on is completed. Maybe I'll open it when I am finished with Accounting,....and as you can imagine, not my favorite subject....I'd rather have a root canal than work on my accounting project.
Tomorrow night I am attending the graduation of last year's MBA class. Hopefully I will be in their shoes this time next year......and hoping this next year flies by! Missing you all!
Lavina would put any wine store in the US to shame. It was 3 floors of wine....and all price ranges from 10 euros to 10,000!
They have "degustation" machines, which allow you to buy a tasting card in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 euros so that you can taste different wines....the more expensive the bottle, the more costly the taste. I tasted a 2005 Gevry Chambertin for 4 euro and the bottle sold for 55. They had a 2001 Haut Brion which sells for 250, so the taste was 15 euro....I passed on that one.
I bought one bottle for 40 euros....saving it for when one of the big projects I am working on is completed. Maybe I'll open it when I am finished with Accounting,....and as you can imagine, not my favorite subject....I'd rather have a root canal than work on my accounting project.
Tomorrow night I am attending the graduation of last year's MBA class. Hopefully I will be in their shoes this time next year......and hoping this next year flies by! Missing you all!
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Baccarat Cystal Room, Paris
Hi everyone....hope you are enjoying the first few weeks of September. The weather is still quite warm here in France, but I anticipate a change very soon. Last night, our class attended an ESSEC Alumni function at the headquarters of the Baccarat crystal company in downtown Paris. It was an elegant and dramatic home, once owned by French aristocrat Marie-Laure de Noailles. I have posted a few pics. All of us had to pre-pay 30 euros, so I was hoping for some good food......wrong! What we got was a lot of champagne, of course, and a spec of an appetizer. I guess the school is just preparing us for the Alumni Association fees to come starting next year.
I'm bummed about missing opening weekend of the NFL....but I will be following closely on the internet!
Touts amors,
Kristi
I'm bummed about missing opening weekend of the NFL....but I will be following closely on the internet!
Touts amors,
Kristi
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Le vin et le fromage (Wine and Cheese)
Well, I have been in Paris 9 days now, and I am wondering if wine and cheese in combination are a food group in France...if so, it is at the top of their food pyramid. How do these people stay so skinny? And, to make it worse, wine and cheese are extremely affordable. I have come to the source, so obviously they reward you. I haven't paid more than 4 euro for a bottle of wine ($6) and they have all been fantastic. The cheese is also incredible, however, the French are lacking in the cracker department. They think a small size of toast constitutes a cracker...oh how wrong they are!! When I come home at Christmas, I am loading up on the Breton crackers. Along with a few other things you just can't find here: dryer sheets, peanut butter (it' all about Nutella here), lined paper, as in legal pads, and cheap contact solution - a bottle is 15 euros - that's 4 great bottles of wine!
Shopping at Auchan, the French Wal-Mart...is like playing a game. I find myself searching and searching for a section of food and when I finally find it, trying to decipher which brand I should buy, trying to translate the french to english and then calculating in my head euros to dollars. And I can't buy too much at a time because I have to carry it from the store to the train, ride the train two stops, and then I have a 10 minute walk from the station to my dorm. And this is usually at the end of a school day so I am carrying my laptop, at least one book and a few folders of thick case studies. Can you say chiropractor?
It is all a learning process. I am sure by this time next month I will have this grocery routine mastered!! And if anyone wants to send crackers, you will be my friend for life!
Shopping at Auchan, the French Wal-Mart...is like playing a game. I find myself searching and searching for a section of food and when I finally find it, trying to decipher which brand I should buy, trying to translate the french to english and then calculating in my head euros to dollars. And I can't buy too much at a time because I have to carry it from the store to the train, ride the train two stops, and then I have a 10 minute walk from the station to my dorm. And this is usually at the end of a school day so I am carrying my laptop, at least one book and a few folders of thick case studies. Can you say chiropractor?
It is all a learning process. I am sure by this time next month I will have this grocery routine mastered!! And if anyone wants to send crackers, you will be my friend for life!
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