Paris 2006
Bonjour!
It was quite a time getting here. The airport had extremely heavy security. At least one guard every few yards and also security with guard dogs cruising everywhere. We were sent to Gate 111 which was all the way in the back of the airport where there were only the people for our flight. I wondered how we would board the plane as we were at street level and all kinds of vehicles were parked in front of the gate area. Eventually we were led to a shuttle bus that transported us along the runways, stopping now and then for planes. It took about 10 minutes or more until we reached a small cement structure that we entered and followed a sloping path up to the entrance of the plane. When we boarded and we noticed there were very few people on the flight. The woman next to me moved closer to her brother and I thought I would have both seats to myself, as did others. Then they announced there would be a delay for the 200 people stuck in immigration. Too bad.
We arrived in Paris about 1 1/2 hours late. The baggage took a while to arrive on the turnstile and that's when I discovered that the 200 passengers we were waiting for were from the military. And how did I figure that out? The last to arrive to board the plane, the first to get their baggage. Out came 200 duffle bags and backpacks in army camoflauge material. It seemed endless and couldn't see how they could distinguish whose was whose. Once I got my baggage, I had to go to the service desk to pick up the shuttle to my hotel. I was in 2A and I had to get to 2F which was at the other end of the airport. That took another 1/2 hour. I had deja vu; recalling the time I arrived in'04 and tried to find the train station. It was the same route, only this time I did not have to rush to catch a train.
The hotel I stayed at my first night has been highly recommended by Rick Steves. I stayed there last year on my first night too and liked it. This time it was not so nice. I was on the top floor next to a community shower. The room was not so clean -- I found pieces of a broken fake nail in my bed and stepped on a large piece next to my bed. Water pressure in the shower was almost non-existant. The next morning I had what I think are bug bites on my shoulder. At 9am the cleaning lady knocked on my door and although I was standing at the door telling her I was in there, she began to unlock my door anyway. One of my pet peeves are hotel cleaning personnel disturbing me long before check out time especially when I have a "do not disturb" sign out. What if I was in the shower when it happened? Should I bring my valuables in the bathroom with me just in case!? I think because I was so mad, the force of me holding the door shut did not allow them to open it even a crack. After breakfast as I was finishing packing, I got a call from the front desk asking when I was expecting to check out.
Went to meet M Guerin at the apartment but the code he gave me to get into the building didn't work. As I had hoped, someone came out and I grabbed the door before it closed. It was very nice to be back in the apartment. I have unpacked, purchased groceries for the week and am ready for anything.
Looking forward to three weeks of adventures, discoveries, connections and memories to bring back with me. More later . . .
It was quite a time getting here. The airport had extremely heavy security. At least one guard every few yards and also security with guard dogs cruising everywhere. We were sent to Gate 111 which was all the way in the back of the airport where there were only the people for our flight. I wondered how we would board the plane as we were at street level and all kinds of vehicles were parked in front of the gate area. Eventually we were led to a shuttle bus that transported us along the runways, stopping now and then for planes. It took about 10 minutes or more until we reached a small cement structure that we entered and followed a sloping path up to the entrance of the plane. When we boarded and we noticed there were very few people on the flight. The woman next to me moved closer to her brother and I thought I would have both seats to myself, as did others. Then they announced there would be a delay for the 200 people stuck in immigration. Too bad.
We arrived in Paris about 1 1/2 hours late. The baggage took a while to arrive on the turnstile and that's when I discovered that the 200 passengers we were waiting for were from the military. And how did I figure that out? The last to arrive to board the plane, the first to get their baggage. Out came 200 duffle bags and backpacks in army camoflauge material. It seemed endless and couldn't see how they could distinguish whose was whose. Once I got my baggage, I had to go to the service desk to pick up the shuttle to my hotel. I was in 2A and I had to get to 2F which was at the other end of the airport. That took another 1/2 hour. I had deja vu; recalling the time I arrived in'04 and tried to find the train station. It was the same route, only this time I did not have to rush to catch a train.
The hotel I stayed at my first night has been highly recommended by Rick Steves. I stayed there last year on my first night too and liked it. This time it was not so nice. I was on the top floor next to a community shower. The room was not so clean -- I found pieces of a broken fake nail in my bed and stepped on a large piece next to my bed. Water pressure in the shower was almost non-existant. The next morning I had what I think are bug bites on my shoulder. At 9am the cleaning lady knocked on my door and although I was standing at the door telling her I was in there, she began to unlock my door anyway. One of my pet peeves are hotel cleaning personnel disturbing me long before check out time especially when I have a "do not disturb" sign out. What if I was in the shower when it happened? Should I bring my valuables in the bathroom with me just in case!? I think because I was so mad, the force of me holding the door shut did not allow them to open it even a crack. After breakfast as I was finishing packing, I got a call from the front desk asking when I was expecting to check out.
Went to meet M Guerin at the apartment but the code he gave me to get into the building didn't work. As I had hoped, someone came out and I grabbed the door before it closed. It was very nice to be back in the apartment. I have unpacked, purchased groceries for the week and am ready for anything.
Looking forward to three weeks of adventures, discoveries, connections and memories to bring back with me. More later . . .
posted by Paper Architect @ 10:10 AM
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