Wingfields In (Brussels) Atlanta: Happy Thanksgiving!

Kyle andI have been in Paris since Monday where we were both tourists and business people. I was finally the one that was able to bring Kyle on one of my business trips, but he was able to fit in some work of his own too (rather than lounge in the hotel tub and knit all afternoon).

I take notes for a British company every so often. Usually it is in Brussels, but this time they needed me to do it in Paris. Minus the unfathomable French lack of customer service, the trip was very nice. (For a total of six coffee breaks througout the two-day meeting at the hotel, we had to ask the front desk at least 10 times for things like hot water for the tea, more than five coffee cups for the meeting of 13 people, milk for the coffee, etc. When we did ask for things they looked at us like teenagers look at their mothers. The ultimate was when one employee flatly said to me, "That is not my job.")

I must admit though, I just don't get what everyone loves about Paris. Yes, it is a very nice city. I have found it to be clean, beautiful and filled with art and history. However, I feel like I read the guide books or hear people talking about stopping in cute little cafes and shops and I just don't ever experience that. We wandered, shopped and stopped for coffee and wine, but it just wasn't that great. Maybe the real problem is that I would love it if I just experienced it on my own, rather than having heard everyone's hype about it before.

I am sure the weather had an effect too -- the first time I visited Paris was in December when it was freezing, then in July when it was hotter than hell, and then this time in November when it drizzled rain on us the whole time. It also didn't help that the Paris public transportation system has been on strike for the last week. We were able to get on the metro, but it was definitely a Sure deodorant moment. For some reason the museums decided to strike also, just to show solidarity with the metro workers, so the Impressionism paintings at the Orsay were closed and we missed seeing another museum because it closed early for the strikes.

However, I did get to eat two amazing lunches that were made in a Michelin One Star restaurant. We also got to stay in a lovely hotel room, which is always a treat to me. For Thanksgiving we were both working and then took the train back to Brussels. We had been invited to a Thanksgiving dinner, but didn't get back in time for it. Instead, we did the next best American tradition and ate McDonalds!