" Les Soldes"

So tomorrow is the BIG day - the official start (8am, because we Parisians need time for coffee and croissants) of the sumer sales in Paris. It has been so entertaining to hear everyone's game plans for the day tomorrow. That's right - I will be one of the only ones in the office. I won't lie - if I didn't have my first event starting next Wednesday, there is no way in H-E- Double Hockey sticks (Gram, that one was for you) you would find this pretty little, shoe obsessed girl in the office. My priorities got the best of me and I will be exploring in the evenings and ALL weekend long : ) Whether it is suits, shower curtains, shoes, frying pans or accessories EVERYTHING will be on sale tomorrow at the "Soldes". After a little research I found out exactly why these sales are so tempting and widely anticipated, read on for my kind of history lesson!!

• So the "Les Soldes" in Paris are held twice a year. Typically the last week in June to the first week in August AND then again in the winter from what I read starting in January to February. The sales consist of 5 weeks in which ALL of the stores present their best bargains. In order to preserve and upkeep the small businesses in Paris "legally" stores can also offer two - one week or one- two week sale before or after these sales, with all sorts of other regulations. If a store is to hold a "Soldes" and actually use the word, the buzz on the street is that the store can actually be fined. Now who on earth would want that. So I have started to train my for "promotions" and "-20" or "-30"  as soon as I see that I know I have hit something good. I got off track with my history lesson there but then again history was never my strong suit.......

Case in point for the next 5 weeks, you can almost guarantee to see new purchases shared with everyone who happens to stumble upon this little thing I like to call my blog.... any suggestions on what my first :Les Soldes" purchase should be?????

Bon Weekend

A successful weekend in Paris it was. The weather was unbelievable and the walking shoes were on. I tried to go visit some places I had yet to see since my arrival (which was a month ago!!! Crazy right?!?!?!) Besides some beautiful pictures, I was also able to get some sun, exercise and a few new additions to the wardrobe. I have no idea how I am going to control my shopping here - it is just too much to control. Let's digress for a second and talk about the shopping. So in Paris they don't have constant sales like we do back home.  I think they regulate these types of things to help promote small business, and being here, I completely understand why. So what they do instead is have 2 HUGE sales- pretty much an entire month of Black Friday from what I have been told. It just so happens that the summer sale starts next week - cha-ching : ) I will keep you posted on that one.  Now back to the weekend. Yesterday I took the metro to St.Michael and just wandered around until I came across a nice little park to set up shop. Bought myself a panini(which blow away any that I have ever had before) a bottle of water and laid out in the grass with a good book. I have to be honest I didn't get much reading done because the people watching was much more interesting. After a few hours there I decided I would try and get myself home by foot so I could get to the market before it closed. My sense of direction - not so good yet!! Haha, good thing I do have a good understanding of the Metro though. This morning I decided I would do the same thing but I had a goal - get to the Arc de Triumph and the Champs de Elysee. One of the most famous streets in Paris. I knew it was relatively close to my apartment but I didn't realize just how close until I arrived. Once you arrive at the Arc it's just a matter of walking around it in a circle until you find the side street you want to explore - mine was almost on the other side, but no worries. I take every step as just a little more exercise!! As I strolled along the Champ, I passed stores that just blow your mind - Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Nike Paris - window shopping galore. I strolled the entire length then decided I would just keep going until I ran into someplace that I knew. This place ended up being the Jardin Trocadero - right near the Eifel Tower. Once there I found a nice little cafe - in the shade (note to self - purchase sunscreen asap) and took a leisurely lunch and took in the scenery AND the best cup of coffee I have had since I arrived. Here are some tasty little shots of the weekend::

 

Success

Made it through my first official strike in Paris. Actually to be honest, since I only take one Metro line direct to and from work, I barely noticed a difference. So score 1 for Heather 0 for the Strikers. Let's hope that I stay this lucky during the course of my stay in Paris. On another note, I was eating dinner this evening (with a delish piece of soft, moist and tasty fresh bread) when all the sudden a trumpet player starts down the street playing "It's a Wonderful World". Live, free and amazing music while I enjoy my dinner. Great way to end my not-affected strike day : )  AND I found out about this delightful like thing called "RTT". Every month you are required by law to take an "RTT" day - not a vacation day, not an unpaid day, a beautiful little "RTT" day.  Seeing as there are only 4 more work days in this month I found out at just the right time. All in all I would have to say today was a SUCCESS!!

Nationwide Strike

According to this nifty little notice we got at work today, on June 24th there will be nationwide strikes. This will be quite interesting.... for a few reasons:

1. I have no idea how to read the information on the RATP (transportation website) because it is all in French, so I should probably have someone look into that for me tomorrow
2. From what I have been told this will be my first of many strikes that I will live through in the City of Lights. 

France: Notice of nationwide strike June 24, 2010 

The Inter-CGT-CFDT, UNSA, FSU-Solidarity-CFTC called for a day of strikes and demonstrations on June 24 to protest against government plans to reform pensions. (Side note - can you even imagine what would happen if people decided to strike against all of the government choices that have happened in the last year or two - MADNESS- ok back to the notice) Many disturbances are expected both in the air at the level of rail traffic 

Air France 
Five unions of Air France (CGT, CFDT, CFTC, UGICT / CGT, UNSA) require employees to work stoppages of one to 24 hours. www.airfrance.fr 
Civil Aviation 
The Union of Civil Aviation personnel CFDT also voted a strike notice for that date. 

SNCF 
The four unions representing the SNCF - CGT, UNSA, SUD Rail and CFDT - had filed a strike notice for that day. www.infolignes.com 
RATP
The state of the RATP will follow on www.ratp.fr 

It could be worse.... they could not warn us right??

In other good news, haha - the SUN made it's first Summer appearance and let me tell you what - it made the walk to and from the office so delightful. It is days like today when walking is truly a beautiful thing..... word on the street it the good (and sunshine filled) weather is going to continue on right through the weekend. Maybe my whiter than white skin can experience some good old fashioned Vitamin D????

Fête de la Musique

Apparently the 21st of June is not only the first day of summer in Paris it is also a day to celebrate music. Everyone at work had been telling me about this and had explained there would be bands and music around the city but I have to be honest I did NOT expect to see someone playing some sort of musical instrument in every direction you turn. It was probably the most entertaining walk home from work I had ever had. I haven't been feeling so hot the last few days (stupid sinuses) and really didn't want to do much except curl up in bed once I left the office - but as soon as I stepped out of the Metro my entire mood changed. The sound of acoustic guitars and jazz singing just rang through the street. The further I got down the street the more I saw, kids playing buckets and home made drums, a group of "grandpa's" playing french horns , a punk rock/ska band and 4 guys singing Man Of Constant Sorrow (imagine that with a French accent - AWESOME). So after changing, I had on incredibly adorable peep toes today but less than conducive for walking and exploring, I headed out with my camera.

Check this out:: Fete de la Musique

3 Weeks and my first house guests!!

So I have been here for 3 weeks and let me tell you what, they have been jam packed with visits, getting lost, eating unbelievable food and of course a little shopping. Paris truly is an amazing city, I think I could get off a different metro stop everyday that I am here and just wander around and never pass the same thing twice. Work is a whole new world (in a very good way) and I think it will will require some posts just about that. My schedule is only one of the new things I have to get used too - one perk - I get to sleep much later in the morning : ) Back to the adventures, last week I had my first set of visitors - Jess and Joe. Good times had by all. They stayed for about a week and I am willing to bet they are still full and their legs are still sore. I wasn't able to take anytime off of work (too early and a big integration project going on) and so they were left to their own two feet for the weekdays........ I think they did quite alright - take a peek::

Bonjour and Bienvenue à bord d'Air France 

Somewhere along their first adventures

First night out on the town  

Spent the day at the Palace of Versailles - IT'S HUGE

so cute!!

We explored restaurants, Versailles, a crazy market with everything you could imagine and of course crepe stands. It was so exciting and really cool to be able to spend one of my first weeks here exploring with people that truly appreciated being here as well. So sante Jess and Joe - thank you times a million for spending our vacation with me...... <3

Bonjour Paris

Ahhhh ... a few minutes before lunch for a quick update. These will become a daily thing as soon as I have internet connected in my apartment. I am hoping sometime this week so keep your fingers crossed!! I arrived on Friday, May 28, 2010 and since then everyday has been nothing short of interesting. I am unpacked and mostly settled in my new home and it is just lovely. The area is perfect for me - I am surrounded by markets and a stores and I have already stumbled into one or two shoe stores : ) No purchases yet but that is coming soon!! I am about a 5 minute walk from the train station and then only about a 15 minute ride to the office. I can make the walk-train- walk to the office in about 35 minutes - no complaints there. Work has been great, everyone has been very welcoming and I have really just jumped right in to the projects. Ok - lunch time.... more to come soon.