Down with the Planes
Date: Dec. 08, 2006
DAY 1
Like any Day 1, this one's all about getting there. In fact, I'm posting Day 1 from Canada... 35,000 feet in the air going 650 MPH. Yup! The plane has an Internet connection, and it's free today! So feast your eyes on pics beamed from the sky!
One of the best parts about flying for Disney is I get to fly business class when I go overseas. And that means... PRIVATE AIRPORT LOUNGE!
However, since the Lufthansa lounge was being renovated, Sylvia and I had to be bussed out to a temporary lounge, which was really just a few trailers out by the hangars. To get there, we had to drive around by the runways. I felt just like James Bond!
Like any Day 1, this one's all about getting there. In fact, I'm posting Day 1 from Canada... 35,000 feet in the air going 650 MPH. Yup! The plane has an Internet connection, and it's free today! So feast your eyes on pics beamed from the sky!
One of the best parts about flying for Disney is I get to fly business class when I go overseas. And that means... PRIVATE AIRPORT LOUNGE!
However, since the Lufthansa lounge was being renovated, Sylvia and I had to be bussed out to a temporary lounge, which was really just a few trailers out by the hangars. To get there, we had to drive around by the runways. I felt just like James Bond!
Temporary Lounge
Date: Dec. 08, 2006
So the lounge was a trailer—or a few trailers put together—but dang, it was nicer than I was expecting!
Lounge Fare
Date: Dec. 08, 2006
No airport lounge is anything without good food. As my experiences with United's lounges has left me pooh-poohing the state of things in these cheap-ass times, I was delighted to see this lounge stocked with such a cornucopia of delights.
Cereal! Cup O' Noodles! Corn Nuts! My God, it was fantastic! I would have eaten five Cup O' Noodleses had I not been afraid the other lounge lizards would see me as a bumpkin.
Cereal! Cup O' Noodles! Corn Nuts! My God, it was fantastic! I would have eaten five Cup O' Noodleses had I not been afraid the other lounge lizards would see me as a bumpkin.
Sylvia in Lounge
Date: Dec. 08, 2006
This will be Sylvia's first time to Europe. I wish she was going on one of our other trips, where we get more time to sight-see. But I've promised to show her what I can while we're there.
(This very serious exterior Sylvia is showing to you right now is merely here way of hiding her bubbly, happy demeanor from potential lounge lizard cretins. You know, the kind who hang out by the tray of tiny muffins and miniscule sandwiches in plastic packaging, trying to come on all smooth and sexy when really they stink of Business Man.)
(This very serious exterior Sylvia is showing to you right now is merely here way of hiding her bubbly, happy demeanor from potential lounge lizard cretins. You know, the kind who hang out by the tray of tiny muffins and miniscule sandwiches in plastic packaging, trying to come on all smooth and sexy when really they stink of Business Man.)
Our 747 to DESTINY!
Date: Dec. 08, 2006
Not only do I get to fly Lufthansa, which has me very excited (I am writing this in one of their super-fancy reclining seats that lays nearly flat and has a remote control to enjoy my choice of a fine collection of movies and music... on demand!), but I also get to fly on a 747! I haven't flown on one in... probably decades.
In the Nose of the 747
Date: Dec. 08, 2006
This badly-composited picture is made up of two shots taken from my seat. Look! I'm right in the nose. (Gosh, I hope the plane doesn't sneeze. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!)
The cool thing about this part of the plane is I could watch take-off from a more forward-looking angle. It was super nifty.
Also note the decidedly not economy-class Christmas decorations.
The cool thing about this part of the plane is I could watch take-off from a more forward-looking angle. It was super nifty.
Also note the decidedly not economy-class Christmas decorations.
Fancy Schmancy Seats
Date: Dec. 08, 2006
Here's one of the fancy seats Lufthansa has on their planes. They lie nearly flat, have a position memory function, and a lumbar massage. Not sure what the First Class seats are like, but they must be made of gold, and the massage function must have a happy ending option.
Sorry. I couldn't help that.
Sorry. I couldn't help that.
Sleeping in the Nose
Date: Dec. 08, 2006
And now, I'm late for my own bout with the bed arrangement part of the seat. Isn't that how it always works with these travelogues? Even the "simplicity" of the gallery is keeping me up. Oh, well.
This was shot using "1600 ISO." Pretty crummy! That a digital camera can even purport to have a 1600 ISO setting is pretty amusing. We can all see the results.
Oh, that's right! Good night!
This was shot using "1600 ISO." Pretty crummy! That a digital camera can even purport to have a 1600 ISO setting is pretty amusing. We can all see the results.
Oh, that's right! Good night!
Frankfurt Business Lounge
Date: Dec. 09, 2006
DAY 2
After the fun of posting Day 1, I got maybe one hour of sleep on the 747. Then, in Frankfurt, Sylvia and I had to walk forever, doubling back the length of the entire terminal, but on a different floor.
In between all that, we stopped in the Lufthansa business lounge. Yikes. What a crowd! And filled with smoke. Nasty. And the treats weren't nearly as good.
After this, it was onto Paris! A nice guy was sent to pick us up to take us to our hotel. He sped like a maniac, but the kind of maniac that you're comfortable being driven by.
Our first night here is at a Radisson right near Disneyland Paris. Somehow, every single room at the Disney hotels were sold out tonight. In the middle of winter. Strange...
After the fun of posting Day 1, I got maybe one hour of sleep on the 747. Then, in Frankfurt, Sylvia and I had to walk forever, doubling back the length of the entire terminal, but on a different floor.
In between all that, we stopped in the Lufthansa business lounge. Yikes. What a crowd! And filled with smoke. Nasty. And the treats weren't nearly as good.
After this, it was onto Paris! A nice guy was sent to pick us up to take us to our hotel. He sped like a maniac, but the kind of maniac that you're comfortable being driven by.
Our first night here is at a Radisson right near Disneyland Paris. Somehow, every single room at the Disney hotels were sold out tonight. In the middle of winter. Strange...
Me et L'Arc de Triomphe
Date: Dec. 09, 2006
A quick moment to settle in the hotel, and we were off to Paris proper! Since Sylvia has not been here before, first things first: Cliché Parisian Icon!
It was dusk and the lighting from the sun and the sky and the lamps below the Arc gave it an ethereal glow.
It was dusk and the lighting from the sun and the sky and the lamps below the Arc gave it an ethereal glow.
L'Arc de Triomphe Sans Me
Date: Dec. 09, 2006
And here it is again, without my little touristy conceit.
Underneath L'Arc de Triomphe
Date: Dec. 09, 2006
No more words... just some images. Except for these words.
Lights on Champs-Elysées
Date: Dec. 09, 2006
Next came a walk down the Champs-Elysées, toward yummy pastry place La Durée, where we hoped to eat dinner. But this is France, after all, and we found that La Duré did not start serving dinner for another two hours. So we supped on pastry and chocolat chaud. We could have done worse.
At least the Champs was gorgeous. It was the most crowded I have ever seen it, mostly, it seemed, filled with French people, not tourists. Since it is the holiday season, I can only assume the local well-to-do were out in full force buying gaudy jewelry and Nike sweat-suit ensembles for their loved ones this Christmas.
At least the Champs was gorgeous. It was the most crowded I have ever seen it, mostly, it seemed, filled with French people, not tourists. Since it is the holiday season, I can only assume the local well-to-do were out in full force buying gaudy jewelry and Nike sweat-suit ensembles for their loved ones this Christmas.
Georges V's Space Invaded
Date: Dec. 09, 2006
Okay, this was a great find (though think I'd seen this one before). There's a picture in Europe LIVE! of a Space Invader made of tile. See it here. The one on the 405 near my house is gone thanks to the construction widening the freeway. But here's one! Here's another one! See? Really, I was not making it all up, and here's proof!
So a quick Google search brings up the actual website for the project, with pics of other invaded spaces. Here's a brief article in the L.A. Weekly from 2005 about the guy who does these.
Okay, that's it. It's already late, as usual, and I'm dizzily tired. See you tomorrow, when stuff might almost actually happen!
So a quick Google search brings up the actual website for the project, with pics of other invaded spaces. Here's a brief article in the L.A. Weekly from 2005 about the guy who does these.
Okay, that's it. It's already late, as usual, and I'm dizzily tired. See you tomorrow, when stuff might almost actually happen!
Sylvia at Our Station
Date: Dec. 10, 2006
DAY 3
Yes, only two pictures today. And not just two pictures out of a handful worth posting... only two pictures taken! Talk about your boring...
Though I'm in France, really, when you're on a show like this, it could be anywhere. Well, except maybe with the fakey colorful atmosphere and the characters running around... Okay, it could be any DISNEYwhere.
Sad note: Chococat is gone. Yes, the silly plastic bracelet I've had since September 2005 is missing. I probably left it at the Radisson, but I triple-checked that room before checking out. I didn't know Chococat was gone yet, but triple-checking, I assume I would have seen him/her/it sitting on a table or something. Maybe Chococat snapped off my wrist somewhere in the city. I hope so, because then at least Chococat was lost in Paris, France. That's a better demise than getting lost in Arcadia or Torrance.
So this looks like any other show we do, except that it's small. Yes, very small. We're running it off of a 17" PowerBook. There is only one tape being shown. But the finance people whose meeting this is don't even get such niceties, and the show will look better than anything they are used to. So say those who know.
Oh, hey, I didn't mean to dis the 17" PowerBook! Oh, no. It's plenty powerful enough for this gig and other of a much grander scale!
Yes, only two pictures today. And not just two pictures out of a handful worth posting... only two pictures taken! Talk about your boring...
Though I'm in France, really, when you're on a show like this, it could be anywhere. Well, except maybe with the fakey colorful atmosphere and the characters running around... Okay, it could be any DISNEYwhere.
Sad note: Chococat is gone. Yes, the silly plastic bracelet I've had since September 2005 is missing. I probably left it at the Radisson, but I triple-checked that room before checking out. I didn't know Chococat was gone yet, but triple-checking, I assume I would have seen him/her/it sitting on a table or something. Maybe Chococat snapped off my wrist somewhere in the city. I hope so, because then at least Chococat was lost in Paris, France. That's a better demise than getting lost in Arcadia or Torrance.
So this looks like any other show we do, except that it's small. Yes, very small. We're running it off of a 17" PowerBook. There is only one tape being shown. But the finance people whose meeting this is don't even get such niceties, and the show will look better than anything they are used to. So say those who know.
Oh, hey, I didn't mean to dis the 17" PowerBook! Oh, no. It's plenty powerful enough for this gig and other of a much grander scale!
Radio City Conference Room
Date: Dec. 10, 2006
This is the presentation set-up. Yes, as you can see, the budget was not quite large enough to even get black drape behind the screens or a nice plant package. Maybe they could have gotten those things with the money it took to bring Sylvia and I out here, but then they'd be doing a bunch of black-on-white Arial presentations ion PowerPoint.
I guess when you consider it, that's the more important thing: A nice-looking, professional presentation.
There was literally nothing else of interest to mention today, except that we could not get in to eat at the Chicago Steak House because it is so incredibly busy here. We had to settle for a 20-minute wait at Planet Hollywood.
I know, right?
I guess when you consider it, that's the more important thing: A nice-looking, professional presentation.
There was literally nothing else of interest to mention today, except that we could not get in to eat at the Chicago Steak House because it is so incredibly busy here. We had to settle for a 20-minute wait at Planet Hollywood.
I know, right?
Running the Show
Date: Dec. 11, 2006
DAY 4
Ah, presentation day! All day sitting in butt-cramping hotel chairs and listening to folks go on about Trade Spend and Siebel.
Huh? Siewhat?
Exactly.
Did I mention this is a finance meeting? Well, it is, and, boy, could you tell. We must have a litmus test for interestingosity. We all nearly fell asleep many times.
Thankfully, the kitchen is right behind the podium wall, and, this being the Bizarro Disneyland, no one back there made any effort to be quiet. There were clankings and clunkings and loud French utterances all day. I turned to Sylvia and said, "I'd love to hear a huge, crashing disaster back there. That would make me laugh."
No sooner had I said that (or was it two hours later?), I got my wish. There was a jarring, amazing cacophony of what must have been trolleys laden with empty chafing dishes and pots and pans and silverware all crashing to the hard floor.
Yes, we have ways of making you stay awake!
Ah, presentation day! All day sitting in butt-cramping hotel chairs and listening to folks go on about Trade Spend and Siebel.
Huh? Siewhat?
Exactly.
Did I mention this is a finance meeting? Well, it is, and, boy, could you tell. We must have a litmus test for interestingosity. We all nearly fell asleep many times.
Thankfully, the kitchen is right behind the podium wall, and, this being the Bizarro Disneyland, no one back there made any effort to be quiet. There were clankings and clunkings and loud French utterances all day. I turned to Sylvia and said, "I'd love to hear a huge, crashing disaster back there. That would make me laugh."
No sooner had I said that (or was it two hours later?), I got my wish. There was a jarring, amazing cacophony of what must have been trolleys laden with empty chafing dishes and pots and pans and silverware all crashing to the hard floor.
Yes, we have ways of making you stay awake!
Fake Skylights
Date: Dec. 11, 2006
This being Bizarro Disneyland, the land Imagineers forgot, our conference hall ceiling was festooned with false frosted glass (that being plastic), meant to impart a sense of light streaming into the room from a skyfull of white, puffy clouds. But it simply made everyone in the room look like poorly-colored Sunday funnies characters.
Since no spots had been brought in to light the podium, we had to keep the lights mostly full, which in turn washed out the screens, which made out presentations look like poorly-colored Sunday funnies panels.
Since no spots had been brought in to light the podium, we had to keep the lights mostly full, which in turn washed out the screens, which made out presentations look like poorly-colored Sunday funnies panels.
Stéfane et Patric
Date: Dec. 11, 2006
These people are, from left to right, Stéfane and Patric, respectively.
Stéfane is our video guy and has a streak of rebellion. He's made some of the slower portions of the production much more amusing. Patric is the sound guy, and he's more reserved, but very friendly.
We trade witty banter in bilingual exchanges that would, perhaps, be more amusing if we all were better versed in being bilingual in the first place.
I do still miss having Chuck here to provide me with amusing quotes for posting. I did have the good fortune to chat with him just now, though, via IM:
Me: I hope your Monday is fantastic. Mine is OVER! HA HA HA!
Chuck: I hate you.
Me: That's not very Christian of you.
Chuck: I know.
Me: Well, nail me to a cross and call me toast.
Chuck: Bang, Bang, Bang, "TOAST."
Stéfane is our video guy and has a streak of rebellion. He's made some of the slower portions of the production much more amusing. Patric is the sound guy, and he's more reserved, but very friendly.
We trade witty banter in bilingual exchanges that would, perhaps, be more amusing if we all were better versed in being bilingual in the first place.
I do still miss having Chuck here to provide me with amusing quotes for posting. I did have the good fortune to chat with him just now, though, via IM:
Me: I hope your Monday is fantastic. Mine is OVER! HA HA HA!
Chuck: I hate you.
Me: That's not very Christian of you.
Chuck: I know.
Me: Well, nail me to a cross and call me toast.
Chuck: Bang, Bang, Bang, "TOAST."
Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls o' Disney!
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
DAY 5
Today, more fun with boring finance stuff... though I think it was more accounting stuff this time. Well, whatever it was, you won't be subjected to any of that here. Instead, I have pictures from after the presentations, where I got to go into the city for some walking and eating.
After packing up the show gear and changing into warmer clothes (it's been very cold here), I walked to the train station. On the way, I had to snap this picture because something had bothered me about a change that was made at Disney Village. Indeed, since the last time I was here, they'd removed the ugly strings that went between the ugly copperelle and stellette towers and added GIGANTIC, GLOWING SPHERES.
Why? Why was this done? What they should have done is torn down all those ugly towers entirely. But Disney does not seem capable of making wise creative decisions at the parks these days, especially not in the Paris parks. This place is almost Disney, but not quite.
Today, more fun with boring finance stuff... though I think it was more accounting stuff this time. Well, whatever it was, you won't be subjected to any of that here. Instead, I have pictures from after the presentations, where I got to go into the city for some walking and eating.
After packing up the show gear and changing into warmer clothes (it's been very cold here), I walked to the train station. On the way, I had to snap this picture because something had bothered me about a change that was made at Disney Village. Indeed, since the last time I was here, they'd removed the ugly strings that went between the ugly copperelle and stellette towers and added GIGANTIC, GLOWING SPHERES.
Why? Why was this done? What they should have done is torn down all those ugly towers entirely. But Disney does not seem capable of making wise creative decisions at the parks these days, especially not in the Paris parks. This place is almost Disney, but not quite.
Le Louvre sans les Gens
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
One snoozy train ride and some blocks of chilly but wonderful walking later, I met Sylvia at the Louvre courtyard.
Since I hadn't needed her for today's show, Sylvia went into town earlier and saw some sights. Though the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, we decided to meet there so she could at least see the outside and get a glimpse of how Tom Hanks would never have been allowed to walk on the top of the upside-down pyramid in that one movie about the one renaissance guy who wrote some code.
After meeting, it was off to walk on the Rive Gauche! I was heading to a place called Mariage Frères to pick up some tea and jam for volleyball friend Spiro. After buying stuff for ourselves as well, we spent a nice time in the Salon du Thé drinking some very nice tea and eating some very nice desserts.
Yes, once again, we were having dessert before dinner.
Since I hadn't needed her for today's show, Sylvia went into town earlier and saw some sights. Though the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, we decided to meet there so she could at least see the outside and get a glimpse of how Tom Hanks would never have been allowed to walk on the top of the upside-down pyramid in that one movie about the one renaissance guy who wrote some code.
After meeting, it was off to walk on the Rive Gauche! I was heading to a place called Mariage Frères to pick up some tea and jam for volleyball friend Spiro. After buying stuff for ourselves as well, we spent a nice time in the Salon du Thé drinking some very nice tea and eating some very nice desserts.
Yes, once again, we were having dessert before dinner.
Place de la Sorbonne
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
Full-Size Camera Original
[Aug. 2007: The full-size isn't working right now, following a software update. I'll try to figure out what went wrong!]
(I'm still not too sure I like my new camera. I love all the fancy features, but the pictures, especially in low light, seem lacking. I had hoped to post most of these pictures full-size. However, thanks to camera shake with slow shutter speeds and no flash—and thanks to some pretty lousy image artifacting, even at 10 megapixels—I had to size the others down until they were more presentable. Only three of the pics are full size.)
After tea, we walked around the 5th arrondissement, which I hadn't been to before. This is where La Sorbonne is. Here is one of the buildings. And a fountain.
Pay attention to the rest of the pictures from today, because you'll see why Paris is The City of Lights. Everything is lit, and quite beautifully.
[Aug. 2007: The full-size isn't working right now, following a software update. I'll try to figure out what went wrong!]
(I'm still not too sure I like my new camera. I love all the fancy features, but the pictures, especially in low light, seem lacking. I had hoped to post most of these pictures full-size. However, thanks to camera shake with slow shutter speeds and no flash—and thanks to some pretty lousy image artifacting, even at 10 megapixels—I had to size the others down until they were more presentable. Only three of the pics are full size.)
After tea, we walked around the 5th arrondissement, which I hadn't been to before. This is where La Sorbonne is. Here is one of the buildings. And a fountain.
Pay attention to the rest of the pictures from today, because you'll see why Paris is The City of Lights. Everything is lit, and quite beautifully.
Le Panthéon avec les Arbres de Noël
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
Next, the Panthéon. In front of this impressive building was a tasteful display of Christmas trees.
Sylvia and I noticed that Paris is devoid of the garish, reality-show-like affrontery that is American Christmas decoration. See if you can spot the other tastefully applied celebrations of the season in the following pictures!
Sylvia and I noticed that Paris is devoid of the garish, reality-show-like affrontery that is American Christmas decoration. See if you can spot the other tastefully applied celebrations of the season in the following pictures!
Rue Mouffetard
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
This was part of the reason I suggested we head to where we did tonight. Stéphane and Patric gave us many suggestions on what to see, but this one struck me as being the least touristy.
The blue Christmas lights were strung over the entire length of this street and made the night stroll very serene. It was turning into a great night of wandering.
The blue Christmas lights were strung over the entire length of this street and made the night stroll very serene. It was turning into a great night of wandering.
Sylvia et Moi à Gaudeamus
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
After turning up a tiny street named Rue de la Montagne St. Geneviève, Sylvia and I stopped into a small but welcoming little restaurant for dinner. I had yummy boeuf stroganoff, and she had some incredibly fresh salmon. It was so fresh, I did not smell it. Not a whiff.
The restaurant had sections of the wall artfully sectioned off, where the drywall or plaster or whatever it was had been left off and so the original, rough stonework of the building could show through. Part of the fun of Paris (or any old city like this) is paying attention to the small details of how the old buildings were made.
The restaurant had sections of the wall artfully sectioned off, where the drywall or plaster or whatever it was had been left off and so the original, rough stonework of the building could show through. Part of the fun of Paris (or any old city like this) is paying attention to the small details of how the old buildings were made.
L'Eglise St. Étienne du Mont
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
This was the sight outside Gaudeamus that made us turn down the street in the first place: A church
Yes, I know, you run into a church or cathedral every three metric steps in Paris, but I liked this ones particularly tall spire.
I was happy to see it was called St. Étienne. Étienne was my French name all through my seven years of studying the language. (You'd think I'd remember more after that much French class!)
Yes, I know, you run into a church or cathedral every three metric steps in Paris, but I liked this ones particularly tall spire.
I was happy to see it was called St. Étienne. Étienne was my French name all through my seven years of studying the language. (You'd think I'd remember more after that much French class!)
St. Étienne et le Panthéon
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
Full-Size Camera Original
Rounding the corner as you approach St. Étienne, the Panthéon looms into view. We'd made a circle.
You can see I've cleverly started bracing my camera on things, like the earth, to prevent the camera from shaking during these flashless shots. Ten megapixels is not very forgiving in this regard.
Rounding the corner as you approach St. Étienne, the Panthéon looms into view. We'd made a circle.
You can see I've cleverly started bracing my camera on things, like the earth, to prevent the camera from shaking during these flashless shots. Ten megapixels is not very forgiving in this regard.
Une Rue Parisienne
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
Some other street whose name I forgot to record. See the clever ground bracing?
La Seine de Pont au Double
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
My God, every single angle tonight was gorgeous. The streets were light with people, and every structure looked clean and grand.
La Derrière du Notre Dame
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
Finally, our semi-goal for the night: Notre Dame. This is, of course, it's backside.
The grey sky captures the chill of the evening, the serenity, and the ease of wandering in this beautiful city.
The grey sky captures the chill of the evening, the serenity, and the ease of wandering in this beautiful city.
Notre Dame la Nuit
Date: Dec. 12, 2006
The grandeur of Notre Dame never fails to bowl me over. The last two times I was here, it was partially covered by scaffolding for cleaning. Now, all that is done, and the cathedral shines.
Notre Dame et l'Arbre de Noël
Date: Dec. 13, 2006
Full-Size Camera Original
The Christmas tree in front of Notre Dame may not be as big as The Grove's, but I'll take it over that poor, over-decorated thing any day. This tree did have flashing lights, but they were very small and very few.
The Christmas tree in front of Notre Dame may not be as big as The Grove's, but I'll take it over that poor, over-decorated thing any day. This tree did have flashing lights, but they were very small and very few.
Notre Dame et les Arbres de l'Hiver
Date: Dec. 13, 2006
It was about midnight, and this picture was taken on the way to Centre Pompidou. That landmark was, as always, kinda ugly, but I had to show it to Sylvia at least.
Finally, after Pompidou, it was time to trek back to Disneyland and hit the hay for the trip home tomorrow.
As it's almost 5:00am for me now, I guess I missed the hay entirely! Thank goodness I was wearing protective gear.
Finally, after Pompidou, it was time to trek back to Disneyland and hit the hay for the trip home tomorrow.
As it's almost 5:00am for me now, I guess I missed the hay entirely! Thank goodness I was wearing protective gear.
Happy Mix
Date: Dec. 13, 2006
DAY 6
I'm back home now, unpacked, and ready to crash. Even though I slept for about 8 hours on the 12-hour flight from Munich to L.A., I'm still "not up to snuff." (That's a slang phrase they use in Paris for "not feeling well.") And I'll be back in the air in a week to start my holiday travels.
The end of the trip is fairly anti-climactic. Apart from terrorists taking over the plane with mascara, toothpaste, and pudding, there's not much else that would make it anything but.
Anyhow... the last day...
Sylvia was getting sick, and we were both tired from our night wanderings, so we had a very quiet trip to Charles de Gaulle. We waited in a tedious line for the one security scanner, and then found out the Lufthansa lounge was before security. So back out we went.
The lounge did not have any cereal, which I was craving, but it did have Happy Mix. Happy Mix! How delightful. Like a vase of flowers, I didn't eat any, but I was glad it was there.
Turns out the Happy Mix portended future events in the Lufthansa lounge...
I'm back home now, unpacked, and ready to crash. Even though I slept for about 8 hours on the 12-hour flight from Munich to L.A., I'm still "not up to snuff." (That's a slang phrase they use in Paris for "not feeling well.") And I'll be back in the air in a week to start my holiday travels.
The end of the trip is fairly anti-climactic. Apart from terrorists taking over the plane with mascara, toothpaste, and pudding, there's not much else that would make it anything but.
Anyhow... the last day...
Sylvia was getting sick, and we were both tired from our night wanderings, so we had a very quiet trip to Charles de Gaulle. We waited in a tedious line for the one security scanner, and then found out the Lufthansa lounge was before security. So back out we went.
The lounge did not have any cereal, which I was craving, but it did have Happy Mix. Happy Mix! How delightful. Like a vase of flowers, I didn't eat any, but I was glad it was there.
Turns out the Happy Mix portended future events in the Lufthansa lounge...
Happy Campers
Date: Dec. 13, 2006
As Sylvia and I sat in the nearly empty lounge, ready to pass out but trying not to because we had important snacks to eat, who should enter our corner but Collette and Sarahbeth! Two of the fun people from Burbank! They were not in Paris for the finance meeting, so it was a Happy Mix surprise that we would run into them here.
Colette and Sarahbeth were finishing up a trip to London and Paris... Now that BVHE is a global group, they have been doing lots of traveling to take stock of our operations overseas.
Amid much loud greeting and hugging and general happy surprise, I asked Yannick, another Disney person, to take our picture.
Colette and Sarahbeth were finishing up a trip to London and Paris... Now that BVHE is a global group, they have been doing lots of traveling to take stock of our operations overseas.
Amid much loud greeting and hugging and general happy surprise, I asked Yannick, another Disney person, to take our picture.
Happy Loungers
Date: Dec. 13, 2006
Oh, but the surprises were not quite over yet! Laura was there, too! That made a triumvirate of fun Disney cohorts.
We all sat and exchanged travel stories. I helped Sarahbeth make some stills from two movies on her camera (she'd saved them for over a year, hoping someday to have this done). And we all posited our own guesses as to whether the cheese Sarahbeth had bought would be allowed past security. There was also the tale of the white truffles, which goes something like this:
My coworkers were eating at a very old, classic, fancy restaurant in Paris. Laura ordered the white truffles. At 15€, it sounded like a bargain. The waiter came out with the dish (pasta? risotto? what was it?) and a bowl of truffles. He put on white gloves, then asked how many ounces Laura would like. Everyone raised their eyebrows. How many OUNCES? Oops!
She chose the smallest truffle she could, the man picked it from the bowl and grated it over the dish. The tiny mushroom was 9 ounces, and so, at 15€ an ounce, the appetizer only cost about 135€. Well worth the price, I'm sure.
We all sat and exchanged travel stories. I helped Sarahbeth make some stills from two movies on her camera (she'd saved them for over a year, hoping someday to have this done). And we all posited our own guesses as to whether the cheese Sarahbeth had bought would be allowed past security. There was also the tale of the white truffles, which goes something like this:
My coworkers were eating at a very old, classic, fancy restaurant in Paris. Laura ordered the white truffles. At 15€, it sounded like a bargain. The waiter came out with the dish (pasta? risotto? what was it?) and a bowl of truffles. He put on white gloves, then asked how many ounces Laura would like. Everyone raised their eyebrows. How many OUNCES? Oops!
She chose the smallest truffle she could, the man picked it from the bowl and grated it over the dish. The tiny mushroom was 9 ounces, and so, at 15€ an ounce, the appetizer only cost about 135€. Well worth the price, I'm sure.
Munich Airport Design Series I
Date: Dec. 13, 2006
Okay, so, security a second time, on the plane, left my cell phone at the X-ray machine and had to run off the plane to get it, blah blah blah. Cut to Munich.
This time, we flew through Munich instead of Frankfurt. What a gorgeous airport! It felt very, very new, and it is spectacular. Very German in its spare design, but so impeccably thought out. Quality everywhere you look. This picture only shows a very small sample of the design.
Glass is used liberally throughout. The walls and ceilings (well, not this ceiling) are glass. Sun comes in from everywhere. Much of the airport did not feel like an airport. The mall in the center was beautiful, and had some high-end stores and some inviting café areas.
This time, we flew through Munich instead of Frankfurt. What a gorgeous airport! It felt very, very new, and it is spectacular. Very German in its spare design, but so impeccably thought out. Quality everywhere you look. This picture only shows a very small sample of the design.
Glass is used liberally throughout. The walls and ceilings (well, not this ceiling) are glass. Sun comes in from everywhere. Much of the airport did not feel like an airport. The mall in the center was beautiful, and had some high-end stores and some inviting café areas.
Munich Airport Design Series I.I
Date: Dec. 13, 2006
Here's a close-up of the monitors and signs. These and the clocks and the grids above the gate desks all hung from those round poles. The monitors were beautiful, perfect for boarding announcements and images. And everything shown on them was designed for 16x9, unlike other, stupider places (America?) where 16x9 monitors are installed to be all cool, and then everything on them is stretched 4x3. But I digress.
After seeing a well-designed airport like this, deplaning at LAX made me feel like I was getting off in a dump. LAX is ugly. Ugly! UGLY! I wish this country weren't so God-damned concerned about the bottom line and would spend some cash on beauty for a change.
Oh, wait, but there is the Denver airport... That's nice...
After seeing a well-designed airport like this, deplaning at LAX made me feel like I was getting off in a dump. LAX is ugly. Ugly! UGLY! I wish this country weren't so God-damned concerned about the bottom line and would spend some cash on beauty for a change.
Oh, wait, but there is the Denver airport... That's nice...
Toasting in the Terminal
Date: Dec. 13, 2006
Alas, the airport experience was marred by smoke. Germans, I guess, are still into smoking in public places. It was a bummer, because I smelled like smoke the rest of the trip.
But why let a little smoke get you down? Here, Sylvia, Laura, and Sarahbeth toast to the wonders of water! Ah, water. Making mouths less dry since 1842.
But why let a little smoke get you down? Here, Sylvia, Laura, and Sarahbeth toast to the wonders of water! Ah, water. Making mouths less dry since 1842.