Tuesday 31 July 2012

Olympic Fever - London 2012


This weekend was the perfect balance between Olympic excitement and exploring London!

I hopped off the train at St. Pancras station and the first thing I saw was those five beautiful rings that hung in Vancouver only two years ago. It was all I could do not to grab the person next to me and say, “Can you believe where we are right now?!” That might have made other people uncomfortable, so instead I practical skipped through customs.

The next thing that hit me was that it was the first time in two months I was in an English speaking country! Getting around was going to be a cinch! No more using rusty high school Spanish or switching my thoughts into French before asking someone a question! It wasn’t until I went up to the currency exchange desk and said, “Pardon monsieur mais… I’m sorry, I’m in London aren’t I?” It was at that moment I realized how much I needed a weekend in my first language!

I spent that first afternoon walking along the river, window shopping and eventually finding myself standing in front of Big Ben and West Minster Abbey. After a quick coffee break and rest for my feet, I stepped back out into the crowded streets of London and stumbled across a massive swarm of people. I was swept along with them and ended up standing at the intersection when the flame passed by! Now, being vertically challenged made it hard to see exactly what was going on, but I was able to push my way near the front and see the parade that was passing and cheer along with all the other onlookers. After this amazing moment and welcome to London, I met my friend Iain who I was staying with in Covent Garden for some drinks on a roof top patio. What a civilized beginning to an amazing weekend.

The next day I was up early and met a fellow bike about guide from Paris, Mikayla, for a traditional English breakfast. She had also come to London for the weekend and we had decided to take a bike tour around London to see the city. Off we went to meet our group and had a blast seeing everything from the Tower of London to the oldest wig shop in the city. It was a blast, such a great way to see a city that big. We stopped mid way through the tour for the best muffins in London – which I will agree with - and to watch the street performers in Covent Garden before continuing on.

After the bike tour, Mikayla and I walked over to Borough Food Market and tried a cornish pasty before heading to an English pub five minutes from the opening ceremonies! The fighter jets that were in the opening ceremony actually flew over us! We stayed at the pub for the duration of the opening ceremonies cheering as everyone in the pub cheered for their home country.

Saturday was shopping day! I dragged Iain to the world famous Harrods store! We had English tea across the street and then wandered over to the Olympic store.

That afternoon, I met my friend Karl I hadn’t seen since first year in university! We caught up while walking through Hyde Park watching the roller bladders skate through the park and then caught some of the men’s cycling before making our way over to one of the big screens across from Tower Bridge to watch the volleyball. After cheering the Italian vs Dominican Republic game, I headed back to Iain’s to go to attend a fancy Olympic party.

My last day was Sunday and I spent the morning exploring Oxford street before stumbling into an English pub exhausted from walking. They were also broadcasting the Olympics. It was raining so we ordered some pints and some English specialties. My brother told me I couldn't go to London without trying bangers and mash, so I had that while watching the women's 140km cycling race. During the last 20km of the race Iain and I ran to across London in what can only be qualified as a rain storm toward Buckingham Palace to watch the end of the race. There were loud speakers all along the last kilometer of the race and thousands of people were lined up along the street. We pushed our way through and with the hoards of people cheered the athletes across the finish line. You should have heard the crowds erupt when team GB took the silver!

What an end to an amazing weekend. I wasn’t ready to leave London on Sunday but then I remembered I was returning to Paris… Oh ya, it’s not so bad after all ;). 

Monday 23 July 2012

Job swap


You know how analysts say the next generation is going to have multiple different careers in their lifetime? Well try different jobs during a world holiday! Yes, about a month ago I switched mine. You see, I’m not really cut out for retail. Or at least not when being a guide for bike tours is an option! I’ll explain…

About five days after I arrived in Paris I took a bike tour my previous employer in Vancouver suggested. Bike About Tours (http://www.bikeabouttours.com/) is the name of the company and they do tours in English that are different from your average “hit all the main tourist attraction” tours.

I was scheduled to take the early tour, but I got lost trying to find Notre Dame and missed it. Fortunately, they allowed me to switch my tour time to the afternoon. I arrived for that one a bit flustered but excited to see Paris from a local’s perspective. When I arrived, I met one of the owners. We talked for maybe two minutes and then he said, “Do you have a job?” Now, it had only been the day before I was hired at the gift shop, and I still hadn’t worked a shift yet. I felt obliged to say yes because I thought I should give the gift shop job a chance. He said it was too bad, but to stay in touch in case I change my mind.

After two weeks at the gift shop I was bored and wanted something I bit more... interesting. I met with Paul, the business owner who had offered me the tour guide job, and accepted. After about a week of training I was ready to take my own groups out around Paris!!

The tour is a chance to see Paris through the eyes of a local, as every guide lives in the city - most longer than I have - we can show our clients a unique side of Paris. I love doing the tours! Each one is a bit different, but the people are always a blast! I have a great time joking around and teasing people on my tours, and we all get to enjoy the city together.

I can’t tell you how many hours I have spent studying French history, but I have a pretty good handle on it now! I’ve watched so many documentaries it would make your head spin. So much for graduating university! Who knew I’d take a summer job right after I graduated that had me taking notes on documentaries an being tested by my employers on historical facts!

Either way, it’s been a real ride - pun intended! I work four hours a day giving me the majority of the day to do as I please. For a work holiday this job is a dream. Or as the French call it a “Vacance travail” – a much better name since it puts holiday before work, which is much more fitting I think.

We North Americans have so much to learn from the French!

Wednesday 18 July 2012

Yoga me Paris


Four years ago I stumbled into a Bikram yoga class totally unprepared for the +40 degree temperature, the strength and balance it demanded, and length of the class. After an hour and a half of sweating every last ounce of water in my body I collapsed on my mat looking like a prune, and I vowed to never return to Bikram yoga.

As many of you know, I have been practicing Bikram yoga for the past four years and loved it – I have even dragged many friends and family members to classes with me. As a runner, I have put a lot of strain on my joints and muscles and this practice has been my treatment for all the injuries I have acquired and even improved my running!

Bikram yoga is a type of hot yoga that is the same 26 postures in the same order every time. Because of this, they say you can practice in any language since it’s always the same. I decided to attend a French class and see what it was like! The dialogue in French is almost identical as the English one, which I find fascinating. It’s clear the Bikram instructors are all taught the same way.

What is different however is the culture. In Canada, classes are all taught in English only – Montreal may be an exception. In Paris, the Bikram studios offer an English class at 11am every day! That got me wondering why in a city so headstrong about their language, they offer a class in English? What’s more peculiar still is that all the instructors are fluent in English and the majority are second language French speakers. Yesterday I went to a French class and there was a guy speaking to the instructor afterward who said, “I’m glad it looked like I knew what a I was doing… I don’t speak a word of French!”

And then there’s the lululemon. Some how, on the other side of the world where there are no lululemon stores, at yoga everyone is nonetheless decked out in it! Generally that can strike up conversations as you ask each other, “Oh are you Canadian or American? I noticed your lulu shirt!” Since lululemon isn’t sold here in Paris, it’s like our own private inside joke!

Sunday 15 July 2012

Barcelona, te quiero!


What a weekend! Up at the crack of dawn, Allison and I hopped on a flight to Barcelona early Friday morning, to join in the celebration of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. The trip was a weekend excursion so we arrived to party for the opening night and drive back to Barcelona the next day. Then we'd have a nice in the city before returning to Paris on Sunday.

In Spanish tradition, running of the bulls dates back to the 14th century. While framers were transporting their cattle to the market through the streets in Spain, young men would try to impress their friends, families and mostly the women by running along side the cattle. After many years of this, it turned into a competition! The men would risk their lives by running with the bulls which became the basis for this celebration. 

Dressed in the traditional colours of red and white, Allison and I joined a group of six and hit the ground in Pamplona at 11pm for the concert. It was an all night celebration, so we were in for the long haul! We danced, sang, drank sangria and I practiced my very rusty Spanish. Throngs of people were partying in the streets, and it was next to impossible to make your way through the crowds. It was probably the biggest party I have ever attended in my life. Around 6:30 am, we made our way towards the finish line of the race to find good seats, and perched on a statue we waited an hour and a half for the four minute race. Hundreds of men ran through the fenced of streets. It was pretty clear when a group was near a bull because those groups were always faster than the rest. The first few to go through the gate were almost walking, while the guys near the back with in all out sprints! 

Back on the bus at two o’clock Saturday afternoon, we slept the whole way back to Barcelona then Allison and I checked into our hostel. Walking the streets in search of a place for dinner, we stumbled across a tapas place with the nicest server and owner I have ever met. I was having difficulty with my phone, and the owner called the phone company trying to solve it for me! The food was fantastic - I have fallen in love with Spanish food. After we ate, we walked to the harbor front and saw all the lights from the boats along the water. The next day we made our way through the markets to the beach and saw a parade. Dragging our feet, we made our way back to the airport and returned to Paris.

The trip was fantastic, but far too short. I’m going to have to return to Barcelona very soon! ;)

Monday 9 July 2012

Chez Allie


There is a place in the 11th arrondissement of Paris that has come to be known to family and friends as ‘Chez Allie’. With the number of visitors coming to visit me while I am here, it only seems fitting to call my apartment that!

After the music festival, Tara stayed with me for 5 days. We had an absolute blast seeing the Moulin Rouge, being educated on fancy French wines in a wine cellar and eating FAR too much rich French cuisine.

Canada day happened to fall on the same day as the finals for the Euro cup, so after meeting up with a few other Canadians in Paris, we went to the Great Canadian Pub located on the seine. Ironically, there was only a handful of Canadians there, and the pub was packed with Euro cup spectators! I guess Canada day is not quite as important as soccer in France…

The highlight of the week was our last dinner. We had done our wine tasting at a place called O Chateau on Monday and were given coupons for 10% off if we went back, so for our last night we decided to return for the best meal I’ve had since coming to Paris! We sat at the bar and chatted with the bar tenders who explained the wines we were drinking and the dishes we were about to eat.

After a week like that, I say to all of you… Come stay at Chez Allie! Expect, however, to return home and hit the gym with vigour after consuming all the delicious food Paris has to offer!

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Old friends, new friends and a music festival


Two weeks ago I received an email from my friend Tara saying she had found a cheap plane ticket to Europe. Six days later she arrived for two weeks!

I planned to go to a music festival the following weekend to see a very old friend of mine, Julia, who I hadn’t seen in 18 YEARS, so Tara came along! Bright and early, Thursday morning, we grabbed our bags and took off for the metro. Not realizing the time, we managed to completely miss the train. Running through the metro like maniacs and pushing people out of the way didn’t seem to help, and we ended up taking a train and bus for five hours to get there instead of what would have been a direct two-hour trip.

When we arrived, things went much more smooth. We were just outside Dijon in the beautiful countryside for the weekend, and it was really nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of Paris. Julia met us at the train station and took us to Flavigny, a small medieval town near where she lives in Semur to see it. This was also the set of the movie Chocolate, so we enjoyed seeing the church and shop from the movie. We then went back to her place to get ready for the music festival the next day.

Tara and I spent the next day navigating the streets of Dijon, trying all the flavours of mustard that exist and braving the sales in the stores along the way! In France, June 21st is the start of all the sales in France, so we were taking advantage of that! That night, Julia took us to the festival with all our stuff to camp on the grounds.

The festival is called Vacarm le rouge (http://vacarmlerouge.com/), and Julia and her friends organize it annually. They do everything from building all the tents and BBQs, making the food, organizing the washrooms, bar and sleeping arrangements and it seemed to go off without a hitch! The bands were great, many from the area and the turn out was fantastic.

After two days of late nights, heavy drinking and tons of dancing, Tara and I were ready to head back home, so Sunday morning, we once again took off at the crack of dawn for our train home. Of course, we missed the early one! Forced to sleep in the train station like hoboes surrounded by our things, we vowed to never risk missing another train again.