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2 Weeks before the Mast

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Paris: Week 1

5/1/2007

I put together a Google map of the spots I plan to be seeing. Lisses and Dame Du Lac are basically the Mecca of parkour. Hopefully my wrist will grant me some time to enjoy them.

Google map fails to load. =(

5/2/2007 : Shipping deadline!

Our 500+ pounds of equipment is packed and ready to go.

It was heavy... And I'm certain there is something I've forgotten. It never fails.

5/3/2007

I packed. Nuff said.

5/4/2007 : Air France rocks.

Not quite as much as business class, but definite rocking.

About 3 hours into the flight and passing over White Butte in some state. Tomorrow will be my first day on the ground. Very excited at the moment. Could be the Diet Coke in my veins... the Imogen Heap in my ears... the lack of O2 up here... Who knows.

5/4/2007 - 5/5/2007 : Tonight... We Dine... In HEL..FRANCE. I mean France.

Well, I loved flying for about one more hour after the last post. Then it sucked. Only managed to get 2 hours despite being drugged into a stupor. yay drugs. Weather was a little disappointing among arriving. Very grey and actually still wet on the ground in places.

After nearly a half hour taxi ride to get to my hotel in the Opera quarter, I sought out the business items I needed to finish before leaving. Unpacked in what was a surprisingly large room considering this is Paris.

After two hours I found I was unable to get our stupid Walmart "unlocked" GSM phone to work here. Then it took another hour and change to get the train ticket to Cannes. So since it was past 4, I abandoned the idea of parkour today and just wandered around getting my Paris-legs. Got to the Musee D'Orsay at 5 and found that they close in an hour.

Walked to the Arch De Triomphe and took the obligatory photo from the middle of the street.

Went to the Eiffel tower as well. They have a new display at the end of the "lawn of kids". Some sort of multinational display with what I assume is the word "peace" written in lots of languages. Very tasteful.

Had dinner at an excellent steak place that Jess recommended.

5/6/2007 : PKCali in Paris!

Woke up early and took the metro to La Defense. Great place to go but I have a feeling I missed the fantastic playground that everyone made it out to be. I looked all over the plaza too. Basically covered the entire square mile around the plaza. That being said I found plenty to drill and after four hours I left exhausted but happy.

Also some videos...

In my wanderings of the surroundings at La Defense, I found this 30 foot tall thumb. I just don't get art.

Only other thing I did today before my feets give out is visit the Musee D'Orsay. Turns out I showed up on Free Admission Sunday so the place was kindof packed. The museum is in an abandoned railway station and is breathtaking.

Unfortunately, the contents are all impressionist crap so I found very little I liked. These were good though.

Don't knock the polar bear. He's awesome.

On the way back to the hotel, I saw a demonstration outside what I assume to be the presidential candidate lady's office. Hope she doesn't lose. All these people will be pissed.

5/7/2007 : Lisses NOT called on account of rain.

Despite the weather-psychic's prediction of showers, I decided to go to Evry and Lisses today anyway... And holy god am I glad I didn't wuss out. This place *is* the fantastic playground that everyone makes it out to be.

Getting to Dame Du Lac was simple enough if you followed the roads and once you're there, you really do find everything. Seriously... Do any of these look familiar??? I apologize for the lack of pictures of me doing stuff. I was having too much fun to take the time to setup the tripod and figure out composition. Just picture me being generally parkoury all over these.

I have been tested in the fires of Lisses and I have passed. I have left my mark with the legends and I have seen how short I fall.

Sorry, but this was as close as I get to a spiritual experience and poetic words are required. See?

Everything here is bigger than you expect. The French game is really on a whole other level. Both humbling and inspiring. I kneel before you, French Traceurs.

Stopped by the Louvre for an hour and a half after the blissing. It was as spectacular as I remembered it, however the pain in my legs and feet prevented me from running the whole thing.

Got to see a few things I liked.

Also got to see some weird things and stuff I didn't like. I guess it was student artist week at the museum or something.

Boom Operator in the Louvre! I've been immortalized in something temporarily in the greatest museum in the world. The guy even looks like me! Tshirt and jeans and a freaking boom. I've never been prouder to have worked sound for a friend's movie before.