So I just got home a few hours ago. The flight left on time and landed early. You read that right - US Airways left on-time and landed early in Philly, during a rain storm, on the worst travel day of the year. Someone might want to check Hell and see how much snow they have at the moment. I'm just saying...
The 8 hour trip went by fast and it's good to be back in the States. I miss Paris too and can't wait to go back. Not too much to say at this point. I'll probably write one more post to wrap up the week, that is after I catch up on some sleep. It's 4 AM Paris time right now, but I'm going to try and hang for another hour or two.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sightseeing - Saturday
Saturday was a very busy day for sightseeing. Most Temple students hit multiple spots around the city and tried to catch any last sights they missed during the week. I had quite an ambitious day planned and was eventually able to hit all of my targeted spots.
The day started with a visit to the Catacombs of Paris. The Catacombs were created in the 18th century because Paris was running out of burial grounds and needed a large scale place to house the remains. After walking down a long spiral stair case y0u enter this underground passage way. You follow the passage way for about 500 meters and are suddenly surrounded by human skulls and bones. It's not nearly as creepy as it sounds and is quite intriguing.
After the Catacombs it was off to Jardin du Luxembourg, the largest public park in the city. The garden is huge and a favorite spot for local joggers.
Next up was a short walk back to Notre Dame and it's neighbor on the island, Sainte-Chapelle. I had visited Notre Dame on Sunday but was unable to get pictures at that time. I stopped back to snap a few pictures before making the trip to Sainte-Chapelle. Sainte-Chappele has many large stained glass windows that depict the entire story of the bible. The chapel also hosted the Crown of Thorns and a piece of the Cross before they were dispersed after the French Revolution. The chapel was very small but so incredibly beautiful. The light coming through the stained glass and the extensive detail of the windows was just so neat to see.
After Sainte-Chapelle, it was up the Seine to the Musée d'Orsay. Along the river are small little stands called "quais." Think of a flea market or yard sale stand. A lot of old books and pictures/copies of famous Paris scenes or works of art. A lot of my classmates raved about the Musée d'Orsay, which has a large collection of impressionist art. The big draw was a showing of the Picasso/Manet Luncheon on the Grass paintings. I wasn't overly excited about d'Orsay, especially compared to the Louvre, but I am glad I was able to visit there.
Next I headed across the river to vist Musée de l'Orangerie on the recommendation of a classmate. The Musée de l'Orangerie is home to Monet's Nympheas (water lillies) paintings. There are 2 very large rooms, each with 4 paintings that surround the rooms. You can't tell where one painting begins or ends. The whole setup is really neat and worth seeing if you're ever in Paris.
The final leg of my Saturday journey led up the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe and out to the Grande Arche. Along the Champs-Élysées there are many small booths setup for the Christmas holiday. Each booth represents one of the countries in the EU and sells products or food that are popular in that country. Think of the boardwalk but in Paris during Christmas time. A little further up the Champs-Élysées you will find a bunch of high end stores, and at 5 PM on Saturday, a zillion people. Maybe 2 zillion. Then comes the Arc de Triomphe which is a monument to those who fought for France during the various wars. The Arc also contains the Tomb of the Unknown Solider from WWI. Standing next to the Arc is a very cool feeling. The monument is huge and located in amongst a circle of swirling traffic. Two gigantic flags swirl above the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier. A very epic feeling.
So the Louvre, Champs-Élysées, and Arc de Triomphe sit along an imaginary line that extends out to the Grande Arche. This was my last tourist stop of the day and I happened to get there just after nightfall. The monument is HUMONGOUS! I think the Arc de Triomphe could sit inside this square shaped monument. The Arch sits amongst some of Paris's skyscrapers and lends a great element to the skyline.
Here are pictures of the day's travels.
Back to the hotel for a quick shower before my last dinner in Paris. A few of us decided to visit Le Dome, which is considered the best seafood restaurant in Paris. I'm not much of a seafood guy but wanted to share the company and "live it up" on my last evening in Paris. I finally got to eat Frog Legs and even ordered fish for dinner. The restaurant was fantastic - a great way to end my trip to Paris. Tomorrow it's out of bed, off to the airport, and back home!
The day started with a visit to the Catacombs of Paris. The Catacombs were created in the 18th century because Paris was running out of burial grounds and needed a large scale place to house the remains. After walking down a long spiral stair case y0u enter this underground passage way. You follow the passage way for about 500 meters and are suddenly surrounded by human skulls and bones. It's not nearly as creepy as it sounds and is quite intriguing.
After the Catacombs it was off to Jardin du Luxembourg, the largest public park in the city. The garden is huge and a favorite spot for local joggers.
Next up was a short walk back to Notre Dame and it's neighbor on the island, Sainte-Chapelle. I had visited Notre Dame on Sunday but was unable to get pictures at that time. I stopped back to snap a few pictures before making the trip to Sainte-Chapelle. Sainte-Chappele has many large stained glass windows that depict the entire story of the bible. The chapel also hosted the Crown of Thorns and a piece of the Cross before they were dispersed after the French Revolution. The chapel was very small but so incredibly beautiful. The light coming through the stained glass and the extensive detail of the windows was just so neat to see.
After Sainte-Chapelle, it was up the Seine to the Musée d'Orsay. Along the river are small little stands called "quais." Think of a flea market or yard sale stand. A lot of old books and pictures/copies of famous Paris scenes or works of art. A lot of my classmates raved about the Musée d'Orsay, which has a large collection of impressionist art. The big draw was a showing of the Picasso/Manet Luncheon on the Grass paintings. I wasn't overly excited about d'Orsay, especially compared to the Louvre, but I am glad I was able to visit there.
Next I headed across the river to vist Musée de l'Orangerie on the recommendation of a classmate. The Musée de l'Orangerie is home to Monet's Nympheas (water lillies) paintings. There are 2 very large rooms, each with 4 paintings that surround the rooms. You can't tell where one painting begins or ends. The whole setup is really neat and worth seeing if you're ever in Paris.
The final leg of my Saturday journey led up the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe and out to the Grande Arche. Along the Champs-Élysées there are many small booths setup for the Christmas holiday. Each booth represents one of the countries in the EU and sells products or food that are popular in that country. Think of the boardwalk but in Paris during Christmas time. A little further up the Champs-Élysées you will find a bunch of high end stores, and at 5 PM on Saturday, a zillion people. Maybe 2 zillion. Then comes the Arc de Triomphe which is a monument to those who fought for France during the various wars. The Arc also contains the Tomb of the Unknown Solider from WWI. Standing next to the Arc is a very cool feeling. The monument is huge and located in amongst a circle of swirling traffic. Two gigantic flags swirl above the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier. A very epic feeling.
So the Louvre, Champs-Élysées, and Arc de Triomphe sit along an imaginary line that extends out to the Grande Arche. This was my last tourist stop of the day and I happened to get there just after nightfall. The monument is HUMONGOUS! I think the Arc de Triomphe could sit inside this square shaped monument. The Arch sits amongst some of Paris's skyscrapers and lends a great element to the skyline.
Here are pictures of the day's travels.
Back to the hotel for a quick shower before my last dinner in Paris. A few of us decided to visit Le Dome, which is considered the best seafood restaurant in Paris. I'm not much of a seafood guy but wanted to share the company and "live it up" on my last evening in Paris. I finally got to eat Frog Legs and even ordered fish for dinner. The restaurant was fantastic - a great way to end my trip to Paris. Tomorrow it's out of bed, off to the airport, and back home!
Last Day of Class - Friday
Sorry for the delay in getting these last few posts online. I haven't had internet access since class was over on Friday.
Friday marked the last day of International Business Strategy at ENPC. (Sobs...) Most of the class time was spent on group presentations. We finished up a little early because the professor was feeling under the weather. Class ended with thoughts of the take-home final and some final words from the professor. The professor did a great job considering the logistical challenges we faced throughout the week. I am very glad I was able to study under him.
Later that night, one of our ENPC classmates opened up his apartment for an end-of-class party. Most of the Temple students were able to attend as well as a few of the ENPC students. It was a great way to end the week and celebrate the end of class. From what I heard, most of the party hung around until 4 or 5 AM. Some of us left around 1:30 to rest up for flights home or sightseeing plans on Saturday morning.
Fun Paris fact of the day: The expectations for tipping are a lot different from the States. When dining out, the tip is built into the check. It is customary to leave the change on the table. When taking a cab or something along those lines, a 1 euro tip is sufficient.
Friday marked the last day of International Business Strategy at ENPC. (Sobs...) Most of the class time was spent on group presentations. We finished up a little early because the professor was feeling under the weather. Class ended with thoughts of the take-home final and some final words from the professor. The professor did a great job considering the logistical challenges we faced throughout the week. I am very glad I was able to study under him.
Later that night, one of our ENPC classmates opened up his apartment for an end-of-class party. Most of the Temple students were able to attend as well as a few of the ENPC students. It was a great way to end the week and celebrate the end of class. From what I heard, most of the party hung around until 4 or 5 AM. Some of us left around 1:30 to rest up for flights home or sightseeing plans on Saturday morning.
Fun Paris fact of the day: The expectations for tipping are a lot different from the States. When dining out, the tip is built into the check. It is customary to leave the change on the table. When taking a cab or something along those lines, a 1 euro tip is sufficient.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thanksgiving Day – Paris Style – Thursday
Happy Thanksgiving! It was a little weird to wake up this morning and know that it’s Thanksgiving back home. We just got home from our Thanksgiving dinner in Paris. One of the American ENPC students was kind enough to find a restaurant that served a turkey dish and could hold about 30 people. The Parisians are known for having very slow dining experiences. They like to take their time and savor the food, the company, and the dining experience. This restaurant was no different as we were there from about 7:30 – midnight. The Thanksgiving dinner was actually just the plat du soir (plate of the night) – Turkey stuffed with Foie Gras. While not a true turkey-stuffing-mashed potatoes dinner, it was a nice way to celebrate the holiday with 30 friends.
Class is pretty much wrapped up at this point. We have a little bit of material to cover in the morning and then group presentations for the rest of the day. Due to the numerous logistical problems around internet access, the professor shifted our schedule a bit to accommodate the group project. He has also been ending class a little early so the groups can meet somewhere with internet access. Because of the reduced schedule, the professor has changed our in-class final to a take-home exam. So the pressure is off for tomorrow and we have been able to relax a little bit this evening.
I believe this will be my last bit of rest in Paris. After class tomorrow the partying will begin. Saturday is my last full day in Paris and I’m planning to see as many sites as possible. At this point we’re looking at the Catacombs, Luxembourg Gardens, City Hall, Notre Dame (just for pictures since my camera was dead on Sunday), D’Orsay Museum, numerous photo opportunities along the Seine, up the Champs de Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe and the Grand Arch of Defense, then back home with a pit stop at the Pompidou Center which is open late. If I still have energy by Saturday night, I’m sure there will be some more partying to be found. Then Sunday up early and off to Charles Du Galle airport where the return adventure to Philly will begin. This week has gone by too fast and I will miss Paris.
Fun Paris Fact for the night - This one is actually a Fun European Fact, but here goes: In Europe, when clinking glasses during a toast, each person must look every other person directly in the eye before sipping the drink. Those who fail to acknowledge each person will be cursed with 7 years of bad sex.
PS - Just saw McNabb rebounded from his benching and led a big Eagles win last night. Go Birds!
Class is pretty much wrapped up at this point. We have a little bit of material to cover in the morning and then group presentations for the rest of the day. Due to the numerous logistical problems around internet access, the professor shifted our schedule a bit to accommodate the group project. He has also been ending class a little early so the groups can meet somewhere with internet access. Because of the reduced schedule, the professor has changed our in-class final to a take-home exam. So the pressure is off for tomorrow and we have been able to relax a little bit this evening.
I believe this will be my last bit of rest in Paris. After class tomorrow the partying will begin. Saturday is my last full day in Paris and I’m planning to see as many sites as possible. At this point we’re looking at the Catacombs, Luxembourg Gardens, City Hall, Notre Dame (just for pictures since my camera was dead on Sunday), D’Orsay Museum, numerous photo opportunities along the Seine, up the Champs de Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe and the Grand Arch of Defense, then back home with a pit stop at the Pompidou Center which is open late. If I still have energy by Saturday night, I’m sure there will be some more partying to be found. Then Sunday up early and off to Charles Du Galle airport where the return adventure to Philly will begin. This week has gone by too fast and I will miss Paris.
Fun Paris Fact for the night - This one is actually a Fun European Fact, but here goes: In Europe, when clinking glasses during a toast, each person must look every other person directly in the eye before sipping the drink. Those who fail to acknowledge each person will be cursed with 7 years of bad sex.
PS - Just saw McNabb rebounded from his benching and led a big Eagles win last night. Go Birds!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Finally, the Louvre - Wednesday
Hey everyone. A short post tonight because it's late and I've had a busy day. The Louvre stays open until 10:00 (22:00 in Paris) on Wednesday nights so I was finally able to visit the museum. A fellow classmate and I made the visit after class finished for the evening and spent most of the night there. The vividness of the paintings and the details of the sculptures are something the pictures just cannot convey. Despite the short post, there are ample pictures of the Louvre for your viewing pleasure.
Also here are a few shots of 2 more mini Arcs located along Bd Saint-Martin.
Back in the States it's Thanksgiving eve, generally the busiest party night of the year. Hope everyone stays safe and has a fun time. Save me some leftovers, I'll be back on Sunday. As the French say: Bon Appetit!
Also here are a few shots of 2 more mini Arcs located along Bd Saint-Martin.
Back in the States it's Thanksgiving eve, generally the busiest party night of the year. Hope everyone stays safe and has a fun time. Save me some leftovers, I'll be back on Sunday. As the French say: Bon Appetit!
Day 2 of Class - Tuesday
Today was the best day of the trip by far, because I finally tracked down the new Guns N' Roses CD. Before leaving the states, I found out the CD was being released on the day we arrived in Paris (a day earlier than the US). I was planning my whole arrival around finding the CD, but once we got here things just got busy between check-in, dinner, and seeing the sights. On one of our cab rides I noticed a Virign Megastore that was fairly close to the hotel. I finally decided to make the trip tonight. OK I know what you're thinking... Guns N' Roses hasn't been relevant for 15 years, no one is left in the band except Axl so it's really not GNR, dude you're in Paris and all you're worrying about is a CD, we came here to read about Paris not about GNR... I know I get it. Tough cookies. GNR is the best band ever and I know it's really not GNR and I'm going to be disappointed, but I'm still as giddy as a 12 year old at a Miley Cyrus concert. Don't deny me my joy.
So let's work today in reverse. It's currently 1 AM and I can't fall asleep for some reason. I've spent the past 3-4 hours reading homework and preparing a group project. We already know about the Virgin Records trip. Dinner tonight was at the lovely Pizza Pino, located across the square. Our waiter didn't speak English but luckily the menus have English descriptions for each disc. A lot of pointing and gesturing led to a very tasty dinner: 4 cheese ravioli, which I thought would be ravioli stuffed with 4 cheeses. Actually, it was ravioli in a 4 cheese sauce, baked in an oven. I think they even melted a few small wheels of Brie on top. Delicious.
Class was pretty uneventful today. The days are moving quicker than I thought. Lots of good information about industry analysis, key success factors, resource based views, why Nucor steel and Coach handbags are successful. Bet you wish you were here!
A few of the local students have organized a Thanksgiving dinner for Thursday night. Thankfully, we will be able to celebrate the holiday in some fashion.
The subway experiences in Paris make me long for Septa. The trains here are great. They run every few minutes and can take you almost anywhere. The ticketing system seems pretty good once you figure it out. Taking a train during rush hour is a different story though. We have to transfer between the 11 train and the RER B train at a very busy, hub-style station. At 8:30 AM, the crowds line up 4 or 5 deep, shoulder to shoulder, down the whole length of the platform. I think the train was late today because the crowd was extra thick. When a train pulls up, the crowds part ever so slightly; just enough to let the passengers off the train. Then the pushing begins. Pushing that compares to some of the fiercest rock concerts I've ever attended. Men, women, seniors, children. All of them pushing for the train. People stop pushing when the train is clearly full, but there are still a few people breathing down the back of your neck. I got left off the first train but was right on the edge of the platform, 2 inches from the edge, as the train left the station. Not the most comfortable feeling when you're standing on the edge of the platform, looking down onto the tracks with another train pulling up. Patco, Septa - I miss you... at least during Paris rush hour.
After 3 or 4 days of eating cold and runny scrambled eggs for breakfast, I think I'm developing a taste for them. They were quite tasty this morning.
Paris fun fact for today: The ground floors on elevators are "0" instead of G or L or 1. Very easy to understand. Underground floors are negative.
So let's work today in reverse. It's currently 1 AM and I can't fall asleep for some reason. I've spent the past 3-4 hours reading homework and preparing a group project. We already know about the Virgin Records trip. Dinner tonight was at the lovely Pizza Pino, located across the square. Our waiter didn't speak English but luckily the menus have English descriptions for each disc. A lot of pointing and gesturing led to a very tasty dinner: 4 cheese ravioli, which I thought would be ravioli stuffed with 4 cheeses. Actually, it was ravioli in a 4 cheese sauce, baked in an oven. I think they even melted a few small wheels of Brie on top. Delicious.
Class was pretty uneventful today. The days are moving quicker than I thought. Lots of good information about industry analysis, key success factors, resource based views, why Nucor steel and Coach handbags are successful. Bet you wish you were here!
A few of the local students have organized a Thanksgiving dinner for Thursday night. Thankfully, we will be able to celebrate the holiday in some fashion.
The subway experiences in Paris make me long for Septa. The trains here are great. They run every few minutes and can take you almost anywhere. The ticketing system seems pretty good once you figure it out. Taking a train during rush hour is a different story though. We have to transfer between the 11 train and the RER B train at a very busy, hub-style station. At 8:30 AM, the crowds line up 4 or 5 deep, shoulder to shoulder, down the whole length of the platform. I think the train was late today because the crowd was extra thick. When a train pulls up, the crowds part ever so slightly; just enough to let the passengers off the train. Then the pushing begins. Pushing that compares to some of the fiercest rock concerts I've ever attended. Men, women, seniors, children. All of them pushing for the train. People stop pushing when the train is clearly full, but there are still a few people breathing down the back of your neck. I got left off the first train but was right on the edge of the platform, 2 inches from the edge, as the train left the station. Not the most comfortable feeling when you're standing on the edge of the platform, looking down onto the tracks with another train pulling up. Patco, Septa - I miss you... at least during Paris rush hour.
After 3 or 4 days of eating cold and runny scrambled eggs for breakfast, I think I'm developing a taste for them. They were quite tasty this morning.
Paris fun fact for today: The ground floors on elevators are "0" instead of G or L or 1. Very easy to understand. Underground floors are negative.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Vacation is OVER! - Monday
What a horrible way to start the day. Waking up in this beautiful city of Paris and realizing that I am going to spend the majority of my day sitting in a classroom. We were really unsure what to expect of the class, the professor, our classmates, and the University. The logistics for our trip were constantly shifting and these numerous changes left us a little unsure about what to expect. Classroom times and locations had moved once or twice. Our hotel was booked due to its proximity to the original classroom but we found out last week that our classroom was being moved 30 minutes away - yikes! A 2 block walk is now a 2 train commute. Apparently the government overtook the old ENPC building and the original replacement classroom wasn't large enough to accomodate the class size. Our class is now meeting at the Cite Universitaire in a large multi-purpose room. Not the best setup for 50 students, but we'll be able to manage. And yes, that was 50 students... Our original expectation was that the class consisted of the 18 students making the trip from Philly. Again, we found out on Friday that the class consisted of the folks traveling from Philly, Temple International MBA students currently studying in Paris, and students from ENPC.
Now a quick explanation: The folks who traveled from Philly are predominantly Part-Time MBA students, plus one Full-Time MBA student and one MS Finance student (I think?). All of our classes are located in Center City Philly or Fort Washington. Temple IMBA students spend a few months studying in Paris or India, then a few months in Philly, then a few months in Tokyo. They complete their degree in about one year's time compared to the 3+ years for most of the PMBA students. While in Paris, the IMBA students study under the ENPC's International MBA program. They attend the ENPC classes with the ENPC students and have the credits transfer back to Temple. So all told, our class has 18 students from Philly, 12 Temple IMBA students, and about 18 ENPC students. All ENPC courses follow the same schedule we have for this course - 3 credits in 1 week.
Despite the logistical issues, and the fact that we're wasting a perfectly good opportunity to enjoy Paris, the day went pretty well. Sitting in class for 8 hours can be pretty rough, but the professor did a good job of engaging the class. The professor is French-Australian and speaks with an Australian accent. Quite interesting to hear for the first time. Most of my apprehension about the class was put to rest after the first day. The class will involve a lot of work: a lot of readings and case studies to prepare for class, a pretty significant group presentation that must be completed in about 2 days, and a 3 hour final. A good amount of work but something I can find a way to manage. After class finished for the day, Temple/ENPC hosted a happy hour reception. This gave us an opportunity to meet and network with our fellow classmates from Paris.
Now onto another logistical issue - we don't have internet access at the hotel, and access at Cite U has been hit or miss. The hotel has internet, but 24 hours of access costs about the equivalent of one month back home. During the reception, a few students recommended that we try to gain access to the ENPC building that was close to our hotel. A very nice student gave us a map and the internet passwords, even scribbled down a French phrase that says "We're stupid foreigners let us in" or something to that affect. Once we got back to the hotel a few of us wandered over to the ENPC and found a very dark building. Ringing the doorbell eventually summoned a security guard who spoke zero English. Thankfully we had the "stupid foreigners" phrase scribbled on this sheet of paper. He was very nice and accommodating though we clearly could not understand each other. He pointed us towards the back and let us know that the building closed at 23:00. After wandering the building and getting lost in a maze of stair cases, he once again returned to help us find the computer lab located in the back of the building. Upstairs, round the corner, downstairs, hang a left, back up stairs... I can't make this up. The nice security guard even offered us coffee. Who says the French are rude?
Fun Paris fact for Monday - Paris is surrounded by a highway called Boulevard Périphérique. The total population within the city = 2 million. Including the surrounding suburbs population = 11 million.
Fun Paris fact for Sunday - Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements (districts) numbered from 1 to 20 starting at the Louvre and expanding outward. The last 2 digits of an address's zip code indicate what district it's in.
Now a quick explanation: The folks who traveled from Philly are predominantly Part-Time MBA students, plus one Full-Time MBA student and one MS Finance student (I think?). All of our classes are located in Center City Philly or Fort Washington. Temple IMBA students spend a few months studying in Paris or India, then a few months in Philly, then a few months in Tokyo. They complete their degree in about one year's time compared to the 3+ years for most of the PMBA students. While in Paris, the IMBA students study under the ENPC's International MBA program. They attend the ENPC classes with the ENPC students and have the credits transfer back to Temple. So all told, our class has 18 students from Philly, 12 Temple IMBA students, and about 18 ENPC students. All ENPC courses follow the same schedule we have for this course - 3 credits in 1 week.
Despite the logistical issues, and the fact that we're wasting a perfectly good opportunity to enjoy Paris, the day went pretty well. Sitting in class for 8 hours can be pretty rough, but the professor did a good job of engaging the class. The professor is French-Australian and speaks with an Australian accent. Quite interesting to hear for the first time. Most of my apprehension about the class was put to rest after the first day. The class will involve a lot of work: a lot of readings and case studies to prepare for class, a pretty significant group presentation that must be completed in about 2 days, and a 3 hour final. A good amount of work but something I can find a way to manage. After class finished for the day, Temple/ENPC hosted a happy hour reception. This gave us an opportunity to meet and network with our fellow classmates from Paris.
Now onto another logistical issue - we don't have internet access at the hotel, and access at Cite U has been hit or miss. The hotel has internet, but 24 hours of access costs about the equivalent of one month back home. During the reception, a few students recommended that we try to gain access to the ENPC building that was close to our hotel. A very nice student gave us a map and the internet passwords, even scribbled down a French phrase that says "We're stupid foreigners let us in" or something to that affect. Once we got back to the hotel a few of us wandered over to the ENPC and found a very dark building. Ringing the doorbell eventually summoned a security guard who spoke zero English. Thankfully we had the "stupid foreigners" phrase scribbled on this sheet of paper. He was very nice and accommodating though we clearly could not understand each other. He pointed us towards the back and let us know that the building closed at 23:00. After wandering the building and getting lost in a maze of stair cases, he once again returned to help us find the computer lab located in the back of the building. Upstairs, round the corner, downstairs, hang a left, back up stairs... I can't make this up. The nice security guard even offered us coffee. Who says the French are rude?
Fun Paris fact for Monday - Paris is surrounded by a highway called Boulevard Périphérique. The total population within the city = 2 million. Including the surrounding suburbs population = 11 million.
Fun Paris fact for Sunday - Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements (districts) numbered from 1 to 20 starting at the Louvre and expanding outward. The last 2 digits of an address's zip code indicate what district it's in.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
