Rolling in Paris?

July 5 2003

So, in a little over a week, I'm leaving for Europe again....this time, (at least) Paris and Zurich.  The trip includes my first weekend away since China in March....with a customer meeting on Monday morning, it's pretty much unavoidable.  I'm trying to make the most of it.  My meeting in Paris is the 15th through the 17th.  Looking at the map, I figured that this might finally be the weekend for me to visit some family friends who live in Cluses, France, since it's sort of halfway between Paris and Zurich.  Makes sense.  Thus, the only decision was whether to TGV down to Cluses on Friday or on Saturday.  I've been to Paris many times, and while I really enjoy the city, I've never seen any other part of France.  Thus, it's a tough debate.
I think the debate gets solved if I can arrange to participate in a particular Parisian event on Friday night.  It's on the Travel Channel list of 101 things to do before you die which I have on my links page (of which I've done 25).  That thing is rollerblading through the streets of Paris, and it does indeed sound worthy of a place on that 101 things list.
This is not as simple a decision as it seems.  First, I'd have to schlep my rollerblades from the US, and then again in turn to Cluses, Zurich, and home (and possibly one other stop!).  I could consider renting, but two problems with that: 1) I'll be leaving for Cluses early on Saturday, thus no time to return the skates, and 2) as a lefty, I've modified my blades with the brake on the left foot.  Last time I rented blades, in NYC's Central Park, I was about 10 feet down the initial incline before I was down on the ground, trying to brake with the (brakeless) left foot....
The second factor is that the Paris Friday night skate is late on a Friday.  According to their website, the skate starts at 10 PM and goes to 1 AM.  Friday will be my fourth day in Europe, just about the time that I get really used to local time.  Aside -- the website doesn't look like it's been updated much in six months.  I hope that the meeting point and details are still accurate....It also gives me factor #3 -- how to get there.  From what I can tell on their site, there are challenges -- "Most of public areas are forbidden to skaters : metro, buses, big shops (except sport shops), museums of course. "
The final factor is that the skate is fast and unfamiliar.  I'm not in bad shape, but three hours of skating on unfamiliar streets may be a bit of a challenge.  To mitigate this last bit, I'm trying to find a colleague or friend of a colleague to go with me -- that will help in the unlikely event of any language issues as well.
Now, with all the thought and planning that has to go into doing this, I could end up hugely disappointed if it ends up being rainy/wet on Friday night the 18th.  Too hard to predict that right now.
What would you do? Any readers done this?  Mike W?  By the way, Mike, if I stay for Friday, then that might be our best shot for meeting for lunch or a coffee.  I can't decide whether to take the day off ... maybe see a museum I haven't seen before... or take advantage of being there and visit my colleagues in the office.   If I stay at all.   Hmmm.  I suppose there could be many worse decisions to make in life. :)

Ed Brill Highland Park, IL USA Category: Add/View Comments [9]

Post a Comment

  1. 1  jonvon http://jonvon.net | 7/8/2003 7:34:05 PM

    dude that sounds like crazy a55 fun. wow.

  1. 2  Ben Langhinrichs http://www.GeniiSoft.com | 7/6/2003 11:59:47 AM

    Ed - I must admit I haven't participated in this, but I have watched, and it is awesome and very fast and furious. We didn't even know it was going to happen but happened to be out on the streets and it started and I've never seen anything like it. Let us know if you do find a way to do it, but do be careful, as it is very fast and the streets are not exactly smooth.

  1. 3  Wild Bill  | 7/6/2003 1:09:55 PM

    Just avoid the obligitary parisien dog turd landscape is the only advice I can give.. Oh - and a decent pub - the Frog and Rostbif in Monmarte.. :-)

    ---* Bill

  1. 4  Michael Bourak http://www.hinkyminky.net | 7/6/2003 2:00:03 PM

    It's right the friday night skate ride starts around 10pm and returns around 1AM. It's really really worth doing it if weather is good. A way to go around Paris, silently and safely ! The trip often start just near my home (Place d'Italie) and this part of Paris is very Nice to visit too !

    Hope you'll do it !

  1. 5  Libby http://www.notesgirl.com | 7/6/2003 2:22:50 PM

    Like Ben, I've not done this, but I've watched -- it was fabulous looking and everyone really seemed to be just joyous about it. I've promised myself to do it the next time an opportunity presents itself, so if *I* were you, I'd make it happen... that way you can be my guinea pig and find all the good and bad stuff about it and warn me in advance. ;-)

  1. 6  Michael http://www.hinkyminky.net | 7/6/2003 5:00:19 PM

    It seems that the starting point is no longer "Place d'Italie" but "Montparnasse

    Place Raoul Dautry". There is an online site that'll give you the forthcoming itinerary http://www.prefecture-police-paris.interieur.gouv.fr/circuler/iti_rollers_vendredi.htm (watch it during week to get the correct date)

    About the speed, it's ok to do it if u are used to blading. I did it for the first time after 5 days of blade only...I was completely tired at the end but hey... ;-)

  1. 7  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 7/6/2003 5:16:39 PM

    Great information, Michael. I'll watch the Paris police website to find out what the route will be.

    Thanks all for the comments here so far. Yes, Ben, I'll be careful -- always wear my elbow/wrist/knee pads when I blade these days. Bill, yes, the dog turd (and pee) problem is big in Paris, isn't it. I'll watch out. And Libby, when in Paris, I would think that the testing animal is something more elegant than the idea of a guinea pig, but OK.

    I'm up for it...now just a matter of finding someone else who does this...Michael, is that you?

  1. 8  Michael Bourak  | 7/7/2003 3:37:33 AM

    sorry if I forgot to type my lastname on the second comment ;-)

  1. 9  Mike Werner  | 7/7/2003 4:36:00 AM

    Hi Ed,

    Yes the times and meeting are correct despite the fact that the web site hasn't been updated for a while. I regularly see them crossing Paris, and for roller bladers this must the the Holly Grail !! It is most impressive, and I think the site warns people that they have to be excellent bladers, and looking at them go, I'd say they're right.

    About meeting up, just let me know. Late afternoon (18:00) I'm off to our house in Normandy (which you're more than welcome to join for the weekend). So send me an email if you think you're able to meet and will fix a rdv somewhere. I'm available all day so no problem.