Wednesday, December 08, 2010

no, not to Berlin

One person’s chaos is another’s yawn. That’s the punch line.

Oh! Finally! A photo from this side of the ocean:


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Not Berlin, is it? You’re right. Not Berlin.

After a six hour wait for the second Berlin-bound flight (the first one was canceled), all the while watching the wet, cold, misty skies turn wetter and mistier, we finally board the plane. Departing on time. What a relief.

Except that it isn’t a relief at all. In the minutes before departure, I note how a two degree dip in the temperature outside can transform drizzle into light snow and then into heavier snow. And now we have a further delay.  There is a backup of flights waiting to be de-iced. And waiting, too, for available runways. And then, in the end, there are no open runways at all because the airport suddenly closes. Except that we are still on that plane waiting to go somewhere, but really nowhere at all.

Snow arrives in Paris and the city, unused to such nonsense, gives up for the day.

We spend four hours on the plane, waiting, waiting, the pilot nicely updating, the attendants handing out sandwiches. My seatmate to my left tells me – that’s the French famous singer in the row in front of us (Mirelle Mathieau). She was going on a tour of Germany... Snow storms do not discriminate. They make everyone wait and then, just when you've decided you can wait no more, they have you get off and wait in long lines to figure out what's next.

I ask my kind seatmate to my left for his cell phone and I call my little hotel in Paris. Do you have a room for tonight? Last one! You are lucky. Paris is fully booked tonight, because of the storm.

Chaos at the airport. Chaos in the city. The snowstorm has wrecked havoc.

We retreat, taking the train to town (running at half the speed), no suitcases – who knows where they are and when we will see them again – but with flight reservations for tomorrow. Maybe. If all goes well.

An inconvenience. A huge, terrible, head-spinning inconvenience.

Except, after all, it’s Paris.


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It’s late, but we have time to shower and set out for a dinner at the new and bright Ze Kitchen Gallerie bistro. It’s Fench, but it’s a bit Asian, but really French – a confusion of places, which is so right, because we are in the thick of a confusion of places.

All because four inches of snow fell, unexpectedly, over the city of Paris. Chaos. (Or, from the point of view of a Madison snow removal worker: yawn.)


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8 comments:

  1. Once, when flying from Prague to Chicago, I had the (mis) fortune to have an unexpected weekend in London because of plane delays at Heathrow....we were traveling with adult children too. It remains one of my favorite traveling (mis)adventures!

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  2. It is so amazing to those of us used to snow, how paralyzing four inches of snow can be. I've been watching the weather since we are all traveling too, in various groups and modes - and was wondering if you ended up for a night or two in Paris. [yawn] And of course, you had to dine at one of our favorites that you introduced to us. [wish I were there too - stranded by the snow] so enjoy, as I know you will.

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  3. Europe so pretty at Christmas. I will look forward to your pictures. Safe travels

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  4. Diane: Up the street from the beloved Ze Kitchen Gallerie where you cannot get a reservation these days unless you call way ahead of time, is their new little bistro, by the same name, but with the "bistro" added. Adorable and equally artsy, smaller, at smaller prices and not yet on everyone's radar. I wanted to post some photos but I pooped out and now am rushing to get to the airport before daybreak to take part in the chaos there.
    How's Florida??

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  5. Florida - in a word - cold, especially because our heat pump is simply not up to the job. Ze bistro! I'll tell M to put it on her list!

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  6. I love your attitude and ability to make the most of whatever life throws you. This time around, being thrown "Paris" in the snow is really not all that bad. I hope the rest of your trip isn't quite so eventful.

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  7. There is always something - usually positive - to be said for being an accidental tourist. Positive: At least you were not among the thousands stuck in Spain.

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  8. Yawn indeed, here in lake effect snow land, 4 inches is a dusting. I remember R got stuck in Kentucky one year when a few inches fell and they closed down the freeway.

    Love your beautiful night photos of Paris. Looking forward to seeing Poland with you.

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