Metro

Riding on the Metro-oh-oohhh in Paris is a great way to get around. A funny thing about the Metro is the little warning sticker they have on every window. I haven't found anywhere else in Paris to have some sort of cartoonish spokesperson for anything, yet on the Metro, this cute pink little human-like rabbit shows you what not to do. It's kind of ridiculous.

Day 1 in the office

We had our first day in the Ubisoft office discussing the new game. I think it all was 80% there. The two guys in charge have become friends of ours since the first time they flew us out here. They were great all day today... But there's a new guy on board who we still have to win over. I think he views us as a bit of competition and the main reason I feel this way is that - every time we mention one of our ideas (specifically an idea we were given the OK to develop) his first response is "Yeah, I thought about that one. I've been working on it for a while..." Boo. I don't think he's telling the truth 100% of the time. We'll see how this relationship blossoms over the next few days.

After our time in the office we went out for a bit of a shopping excursion just to breathe a little. This is the Galleries Lafayette near a giant, old Opera house. It was pretty incredible and pricey.
Across the street from Lafayette was a large store called Printemps (which I don't know the meaning of) that we walked around in for far too long. One funny thing though this name brand rack of clothes: yikes. On the other cross street was the store that was equal to an Asian Gap. This store did not belong anywhere in Paris, but maybe Tokyo. Just get a look at the front stairs walking in to this place. Even if you're not prone to seizures, you will get one if you stay on these stares any longer than the one minute you stop to wonder why in the world you're stepping into a store like this.
Finally - we met up with a friend of Amanda's name Manu and decided to eat at Amanda's favorite Paella place in Bastille. It was great (though a bit on the pricey side). For instance here's an image to my 5.50 Eur bottle of Coka Light. That's close to 10 American dollars. For a soda beverage. I will be sure to look at the prices on the menu BEFORE I order something again.
Hopefully a full nights rest will be had and we can tackle tomorrow as soon as we step into their office. We'll see how we do!

so very cool.

Everything is so much cooler in Paris. Even the junk food.

Catching up to present time

Well, it's Monday, 1:33 am Paris time (Sunday, 4:33 pm Portland time) and I'm catching up with my activities. Seeing as how my phone doesn't work as a phone - I'm using it as a camera.
I arrived at CDG airport around 6:20 this morning. I eventually passed through customs (didn't take very long at all. The officer behind the desk asked "Where you from?" I said "America". He snarled a bit, stamped my passport and I went through) found my luggage and got on the RER train into Paris. Which is where I found this: Apparently the seats on the train are for: people with kids, one legged people, pregnant women, people with scoliosis and cool pimps that walk with canes and wear sunglasses. That's fun.
The section of Paris I'm staying in (again) is Bastille. And my hotel, believe it or not is le Pavillon Bastille (that was the dude that was in my room before me. I only think that because he left the hotel moments before I was able to finally check in).
Check out my tiny bathroom!
It's been great. I got all my work done and am ready to see what they have for me tomorrow. I will do my best to keep this updated through the week!

some updates from the plane

Portland time: 6pm -
According to the little map on the screen in front of me, I'm about halfway to Paris. Over the Atlantic Ocean traveling at 678 mph at 37000 feet.
I wonder why traveling is such a tiresome activity. I'm not actually doing anything. I should be doing more ("work" work - the whole reason I'm going to Paris in the first place) but, I'm not. I'm over 100 pages into the Klosterman book and it's getting a little repetitive.
Maybe I'm just tired.

Portland time: 7:45pm -
900 miles away from Paris. I've got about an hour and a half of travel, but I'll be landing in the Future! Take THAT, Portland!
I got a fair amount of "work" done and feel good about 75% of it. I've got another day to bring that up. I'm confident it will be fine. At the time of my arrival, I've got some time to kill (4 hours) before I can check in to my hotel (see previous post) I'm taking the train into Paris from CDG Airport. I need to find an electronic converter so I'm able to plug my computer in.

i have arrived

i made it to Paris safe and sound. I can*t check in to my hotel for another two hours, so I found an internet cafe. Problem is, it has a French keyboard (of course) which takes me twice as long to type anything on. I must purchase a power addaptor to charge my own computer battery with;

Paris Trip day 1

I am flying to Paris for a work trip and thought I would document it.
I woke up at a crip 5:45 AM in my bed in Portland, with my dog Arlo and my lady
Stacey by my side. We were out the door and headed to PDX by 6:15. (Thanks, Stacey)
PORTLAND, OR.
The first leg of my trip is a 4 hour 20 minute plane ride to Washington DC. I've never been to Washington DC, but here I am in the Airport. Where I am currently sitting for my two hour layover, paying 6 bucks an hour for internet service. Am I working? Nope, I'm starting my blog update. I did work a fair amount on the plane, so this is my deserved break.
My Destination: Looks like the same place, right?
I spent a little over a week in Paris two years ago working on the same project I'll be there working for now. Gosh, I write good.
So far - not a lot of news. I watched the movie UP on board my first flight. It's good.
Also reading Chuck Klosterman's book, Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs loaned to me by a friend (Thanks Laura.) It's witty.
A lot of people mope around airports. I find myself forcing myself to look cheery. My faux smile isn't too catchy... eek. I guess I can see why.