Paris
I went to Paris last week. I have been delaying posting about it because (a) I wanted to wait for the photos to be developed, and (b) I have been writing a Masters Thesis, and if that doesn’t count as Better Things To Do then I don’t know what does. Regardless, the photos are now uploaded and the thesis can handle a few minutes’ break, so I shall pen a few lines to let everyone know I’m still alive.
The excuse for Paris was the 7th International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, in particular the Gathering of Animated Lifelike Agents at which ERIC (remember him?) was competing. (Yes, he won a prize.)
The other attraction to the whole experience (apart from Paris itself of course) was the experience of the new high-speed ICE, which I took in both directions. Thundering across Northern France at 300+ km/h is rather an experience. Also an experience is having the power cut out on the way home as we cross the German/French border, leaving us stranded for two hours 5 km/h out of Saarbrücken. Almost home! even with Saarbrücken buses driving along the road next to the track … if you would only open the doors… But not to worry, we’ll just try rebooting the train from scratch, sorry folks, this means even the emergency lighting will go out, it’ll be pitch black for a while, please don’t panic.
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Oh, well, that didn’t work. Never mind, we’ll phone a train from Frankfurt to come and tow us into Saarbrücken. Sorry for the inconvenience. Szank yew for traffeling vis ze Deutsche Bahn.
Regardless, the way to Paris was uneventful (give or take 15 minutes’ delay leaving Saarbrücken …), and at 300+ km/h you really do have to pinch yourself to remind yourself that you really are in Paris already, not just dreaming of it after falling asleep on the train somewhere around Metz. I stayed in a wonderful hostel/hotel in Montmartre called the Montclair which I have no reservations about recommending, it was clean and cheap and everything you expect from a hostel. Montmarte itself - and of course all of Paris - was also lovely, particularly around sunset. But you can see the photos for yourself.
Since then I have been mainly writing away at this thesis. On Friday I went to Frankfurt to sort out some visa issues, and stayed overnight to see the AFL Grand Final at the Aussie Bar there, since the No Worries Australian Pub here in Saarbrücken had never heard of the AFL. (”Grand what?” “please tell me you are joking”) A nice change from all the other Geelong Grand Finals I’ve watched (to say the least…) I’m a bit far away from the festivities at home, but I’m wearing my vaguely blue-and-grey striped jumper proudly even if nobody here knows why it brings a grin to my face.
Anyway, I’d better head back to the grindstone, plus there’s an apartment to be cleaned and that rare commodity called sunshine outside, which might be worth taking advantage of before it disappears again.
