Vive la France – Day 1

I hope this post makes sense to someone, but if not, you’re going to have to forgive me. I woke up at 7am Sunday EST, hopped on a plane around 5:40pm EST, arrived in Paris at 6:00am (their time) and then went to work. I’m exhausted. I haven’t gone this many hours without sleep in a very long time. Makes me wish I were a bit younger.

Juicy fact of the day. If you’re ever in Paris, take a taxi unless you have a deathwish. During the course of driving from the airport to my hotel, and then my hotel to my client, I nearly died numerous times. If you’ve been to Boston and thought the drivers there were crazy, then been to New Jersey and thought they were worse, let me tell you something. You haven’t seen anything till you’ve been to Paris. Riding with a cabbie is almost enough to make an atheist start to pray. Scary doesn’t begin to describe it.

So, my spiffy new Garmin Nuvi 660 GPS device hasn’t worked yet. Granted, I really haven’t had it in a location where I would expect it to get some decent satellite readings, but being in a car should be good enough. Makes me even happier that I didn’t rent a car. Did I mention the drivers here are nuts? I’ll try and take photos. It really can’t be described.

I made a few last minute phone calls to try and get in touch with some interview candidates before I left for Paris, apologizing profusely to all of them for being forced to call on a Sunday. One phone screen didn’t pan out, as the person on the other end said he didn’t think he had enough experience. I can’t say how much I valued his honesty. I can’t afford to make a mistake with my first hire.

Oh. And my cell phone doesn’t work here either. I’m supposed to be meeting a friend who is working in London for the next couple years, and my phone doesn’t work. Go figure.

Juicy tidbit of the day. In Paris, they drive on the right hand side of the road. I always thought they drove on the left for some reason. Maybe that’s just England.

Well, I’ve had enough for one day. I’ve gone more than 36 hours now without sleep and I think I’m starting to hallucinate. Welcome to France.