Author Topic: FOUX DE FA FA: The Official Thread of Synthesizer Patel Visits LA FRANCE (Read 9308 times)

Howard Alan Treesong · « **on:** February 10, 2008, 09:09:47 PM »

[youtube=425,350]FUVagbFcSUU[/youtube]

[youtube=425,350]TmS0DU1ERNQ[/youtube]

So, in about an hour the shuttle is going to come pick me up and take me to Paris for a week for work. Wow, so awesome! I have a lot of meetings and such during the day but I should have most evenings free. I have a really nicely located hotel near the Champs Elysees (or, as the French call it, "le Champs-Élysées") so I should hopefully get some sightseeing in. I have my camera and will be taking lots of fotos.

I want to:
- Visit a comic store (I mean bande dessinées lol, I mean le rire)
- Visit a game store and find GO GO BECKHAM
- Shack up with a lonely French girl on Valentine's Day somewhere in LA CITE D'AMOUR, HOH HOH HOH

I will keep this thread update with MES ADVENTURES!! A BIENTOT MES AMIS!

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2008, 09:11:29 PM »

Have a great trip!

Eric P · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2008, 09:11:34 PM »

if you could do me an absolutely awesome favor. could i convince you to snag for me a copy of Persepolis in french? I can pay you for the book and for shipping when you return home. it would make an excellent gift for a friend.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2008, 09:12:56 PM »

sure, I'll keep an eye out 4 it. I am also gonna try to find the UK Fluffy

Van Cruncheon · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2008, 10:16:19 PM »

va te faire foutre, tu es un taco

(note that it is pronounced cigarillo-oh)

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2008, 10:18:13 PM »

Have fun and hopefully your trip will rid your of your Asian fetishes.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2008, 10:28:13 PM »

Quote from: Smooth Groove on February 10, 2008, 10:18:13 PM

Have fun and hopefully your trip will rid your of your Asian fetishes.

France has a pretty big soft spot for Asian culture, actually.

drew · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2008, 10:43:05 PM »

Prole's phrase is good, here's another one you can't get by without:

"Mange merde et mordie"

translation: eat shit and die

Use at your own discretion, I recommend trying it on beggars.

warcock · « **Reply #8 on:** February 11, 2008, 02:14:00 AM »

When you feel like a sad panda and some frenchie mocks your american heritage use this:

"mange de la marde, tabarnak"

Himu · « **Reply #9 on:** February 11, 2008, 02:21:08 AM »

have a good time

T-Short · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2008, 03:12:58 AM »

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on February 10, 2008, 09:09:47 PM

- Visit a game store and find GO GO BECKHAM

hoho, good luck with that

spoiler (click to show/hide)

if you find one, i'll kill you for it

[close]

TVC15 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2008, 03:37:35 AM »

Have fun, Patel!

Ichirou · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2008, 04:21:19 AM »

I bet you made this thread just to make the rest of us jealous. Well, it worked, at least in my case. Have a great time, take a few pictures, shag a few french hotties.

Eric P · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2008, 08:17:35 AM »

oh and remember, ask a frenchman "sprechen zie deutsch?" when they say "non" you say "you're welcome"

tiesto · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2008, 09:42:29 AM »

Lucky bastard, I loved Paris... if you have the time, I recommend checking out some of the castles outside of the city limits - Chambord, Chenonceau, and of course Versailles. I loved that shit. I don't think I've ever seen a higher concentration of ass than when I was in Paris and a high school let out. Definitely hook up with a French girl if you get the chance...

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2008, 02:44:27 PM »

L'UPDATE: I am in PAREE, at the Rive Gauche Marriott

I managed to sleep almost 8 hours on the plane, which is unheard of.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/parst-paris-marriott-rive-gauche-hotel-and-conference-center/

I just paid 100 Euros for a week of hotel Internet. I can expense it back but holy fucking Jesus.

I will try to take a picture out my hotel room before din din.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2008, 03:05:02 PM »

Gotta run, photos later tonight

T-Short · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2008, 03:44:36 PM »

100 euros??? that's incredible.

Mr. Gundam · « **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2008, 04:13:07 PM »

I remember being shocked to find a Virgin Megastore connected to Lourve when I visited Paris back in 1997. It just seemed wrong, for some reason.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #19 on:** February 11, 2008, 06:48:24 PM »

Back!

Went to dinner at an awesome French restaurant called Chez Papa (http://www.chezpapa13.com/), or as the Seattlites would call it, "Daddy's House." Had foie gras, escargot, and an awesome sliced duck breast in pepper sauce with fried potatoes. Other table goers got duck breast in a peach creme sauce that was stupendous, and a yummy yummy cassoulet.

I will not get to eat this nice every evening.

Some photos:

View from my hotel window.

Metro entrance/exit near my hotel.

Chez Papa. (That is not me mosaiced.)

Chez Papa sign.

I give this store a 6.8!

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #20 on:** February 11, 2008, 06:51:29 PM »

Also: French girls are totally hot. I realize now that I don't have an Asian fetish so much as a non-American fetish. America! THE WORST WOMEN IN THE WORLD!

TVC15 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 11, 2008, 06:56:30 PM »

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on February 11, 2008, 06:51:29 PM

Also: French girls are totally hot. I realize now that I don't have an Asian fetish so much as a non-American fetish. America! THE WORST WOMEN IN THE WORLD!

That's basically right!

brawndolicious · « **Reply #22 on:** February 11, 2008, 08:24:12 PM »

Quote from: distantmantra on February 10, 2008, 10:28:13 PM

Quote from: Smooth Groove on February 10, 2008, 10:18:13 PM
Have fun and hopefully your trip will rid your of your Asian fetishes.

France has a pretty big soft spot for Asian culture, actually.

yeah, paris has some sort of japanese culture museum.

but paris is a total hell hole. french people, at least those in the south in Nice, are really nice but people in paris are arrogant as hell. you could visit the Louvre but don't be a douche and spend a lot of time around the Mona Lisa like most tourists, it's underwhelming. there's a lot of cool statues though. you could go around the eiffel tower too but that's just a big-ass tower. you can only walk up the first 300 steps though. you have to pay for an elevator ride the rest of the way.

and paris people are really proud. claim you're canadian, because they'll throw shit wrapped in crepes at you if they find out you're american (exagerration but seriously claim you're american).

brawndolicious · « **Reply #23 on:** February 11, 2008, 08:27:07 PM »

I went on bastille day, they were probably sick of tourists.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2008, 12:17:32 AM »

Quote from: Genghis Cohen on February 11, 2008, 07:09:05 PM

What kind of wine did you have?

oh look it's 5 AM and I'm awake

um, a 2002 red. I forget the name. a cabernet something.

I am not a wine connosieur. a wino?

Smooth Groove · « **Reply #25 on:** February 12, 2008, 12:20:36 AM »

Don't French women only shower once a week?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #26 on:** February 12, 2008, 01:22:44 AM »

PROTIP

If it's 6 AM and you can't get to sleep, don't turn on the TV or you might see This Video:

[youtube=425,350]rNdvAe78TFM[/youtube]

brawndolicious · « **Reply #27 on:** February 12, 2008, 01:35:01 AM »

Try not to watch tv in Euroland.

I forgot to tell you this tip: Don't drive anywhere far. The highways are confusing (well, different) and they charge a toll every time you go on them.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #28 on:** February 12, 2008, 05:59:05 AM »

I just traded 30 Twinkies for the original floppy run of Milligan's Enigma.

Europe

Oblivion · « **Reply #29 on:** February 12, 2008, 06:00:03 AM »

Potentially stupid question, but you didn't have to pay for your tickets or lodging, did you?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #30 on:** February 12, 2008, 06:02:10 AM »

no, I'm on the Business Express

Oblivion · « **Reply #31 on:** February 12, 2008, 06:05:59 AM »

Ah, coolies then.

If anyone gives you a hard time, just remind them who saved their asses from the Germans. Twice!

Eric P · « **Reply #32 on:** February 12, 2008, 08:40:56 AM »

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on February 12, 2008, 01:22:44 AM

PROTIP

If it's 6 AM and you can't get to sleep, don't turn on the TV or you might see This Video:

ew

what hath electro wrought?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #33 on:** February 12, 2008, 01:06:59 PM »

ugggh a week of meeting with external vendors is going to melt what little of my jet-lagged brain remains

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #34 on:** February 13, 2008, 06:37:16 AM »

ugh, yesterday was 14 hours of internal/external interviews. dinner was nice, though; lamb chops, haricot s vert and pomme frites, and, uh, an apple tarte tatin. nom nom nom.

I was up for 20 hours so I finally got close to kicking jet lag, except I only got like 6.5 hours sleep in the end. ugggh.

tonight is LA LOUVRE

bork · « **Reply #35 on:** February 13, 2008, 07:55:54 AM »

This thread is awesome!

More please!

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on February 12, 2008, 01:22:44 AM

PROTIP

If it's 6 AM and you can't get to sleep, don't turn on the TV or you might see This Video:

[youtube=425,350]rNdvAe78TFM[/youtube]

Is it bad that I like this? (The song, anyway)

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #36 on:** February 13, 2008, 09:51:35 AM »

Lunch was an Andouillette sausage in a mustard cream sauce

Say, what's in an Andouillette anyhow?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andouillette

just kidding, it's really

Eric P · « **Reply #37 on:** February 13, 2008, 09:56:04 AM »

Quote

French andouillette, on the other hand, is an acquired taste and can be an interesting challenge even for adventurous eaters who don't object to the taste or aroma of feces.

what?

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #38 on:** February 13, 2008, 09:56:37 AM »

yeah I have no idea what that Wikipedia entry is on about

my lunch hardly tasted like pig poo at all

Eric P · « **Reply #39 on:** February 13, 2008, 09:59:26 AM »

well fuck. now i'm curious.

demi · « **Reply #40 on:** February 13, 2008, 09:59:39 AM »

lol, fries and green beans. i thought only blacks ate that.

tiesto · « **Reply #41 on:** February 13, 2008, 10:40:38 AM »

Quote from: demi on February 13, 2008, 09:59:39 AM

lol, fries and green beans. i thought only blacks ate that.

No, they eat fried chicken and watermelon, get your stereotypes straight!

spoiler (click to show/hide)

fried chicken and watermelon kick ass

[close]

Akala · « **Reply #42 on:** February 13, 2008, 01:23:54 PM »

Throw a Euro into the "St. Michael smiting a demon" statue in the Latin Quarter! It's pretty near Ile de la cite, if memory serves. It will bring you good luck!

I loved Paris. I was there for about two months a few years back.

If you have a chance/urge to do anything touristy, I recommend Sacre Coer.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #43 on:** February 13, 2008, 01:37:42 PM »

actually it turns out that Andouillette's stuffing is known in the US as "chitlins." so maybe demi's racism is more on target than he knew.

disgruntled_jojo · « **Reply #44 on:** February 13, 2008, 07:59:11 PM »

Quote from: lyte edge on February 13, 2008, 07:55:54 AM

This thread is awesome! More please!

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on February 12, 2008, 01:22:44 AM
PROTIP

If it's 6 AM and you can't get to sleep, don't turn on the TV or you might see This Video:

[youtube=425,350]rNdvAe78TFM[/youtube]

Is it bad that I like this? (The song, anyway)

Yes it's bad. I'm right there with you, though. Also, the video's not all bad either - the asian chick is kinda cute.

TVC15 · « **Reply #45 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:07:24 PM »

So patel basically gave a hog analingus?

demi · « **Reply #46 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:18:35 PM »

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on February 13, 2008, 01:37:42 PM

actually it turns out that Andouillette's stuffing is known in the US as "chitlins." so maybe demi's racism is more on target than he knew.

don't spin this like i'm the bad guy. you tossed a dead pig.

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #47 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:26:11 PM »

dinner tonight was at the Paris modern art museum, the Centre Georges Pompidou. an inside-out post-industrial building brutalist complex slapped together in the 1970s much to the chagrin of Parisians everywhere. it is a rather awesome building though.

the 5th floor is the "Kandinsky library" but it's only open to "authorized persons" and "credentials needed." I'm trying to figure out what credentials are needed tomorrow so I can falsify them on Friday and go back to the museum on Saturday.

The museum restaurant was way too hip for its own good, decor-wise, and the waitresses were all undernourished waifs wearing brightly colored potato sacks. The veal was way overcooked, but the escargot-in-shells starter and cheesecake tart with white cheese ice cream were both excellent.

Great view of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, etc. at night. Some pics to follow tomorrow. For now, back to bed for another 6 hours of sleep...

bud · « **Reply #48 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:39:05 PM »

did you taste the $10 coffee yet? tell me if it's worth it.

TVC15 · « **Reply #49 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:44:06 PM »

Quote from: Synthesizer Patel on February 13, 2008, 08:26:11 PM

dinner tonight was at the Paris modern art museum, the Centre Georges Pompidou. an inside-out post-industrial building brutalist complex slapped together in the 1970s much to the chagrin of Parisians everywhere. it is a rather awesome building though.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

the 5th floor is the "Kandinsky library" but it's only open to "authorized persons" and "credentials needed." I'm trying to figure out what credentials are needed tomorrow so I can falsify them on Friday and go back to the museum on Saturday.

The museum restaurant was way too hip for its own good, decor-wise, and the waitresses were all undernourished waifs wearing brightly colored potato sacks. The veal was way overcooked, but the escargot-in-shells starter and cheesecake tart with white cheese ice cream were both excellent.

Great view of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, etc. at night. Some pics to follow tomorrow. For now, back to bed for another 6 hours of sleep...

OH MY FUCKING GOD I AM CUMMMMMING

I need to go to Paris

warcock · « **Reply #50 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:59:14 PM »

vive la france literature.!1

OH wtf is sacre coer did you mean sacre coeur... pilgramage!?

Akala · « **Reply #51 on:** February 13, 2008, 11:04:19 PM »

Quote from: warcock on February 13, 2008, 08:59:14 PM

OH wtf is sacre coer did you mean sacre coeur... pilgramage!?

Sacre Coer/Coeur is the most awesome church ever, even if you're not really into that sort of thing.

The church sits on a very high hill in the Montmartre district of Paris. The advice I got, that I repeat to everyone, is that once you start your ascent, don't look back until you've reached the church doors. The view is staggering. You also have the option at that point to keep climbing up to the spires. I consider it the best view in Paris.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #52 on:** February 14, 2008, 07:48:35 AM »

ugh, VPN is broken and I can only do it from the hotel

this means I am going to be out until 1 AM tonight being entertained and then get back to the hotel and have 1-2 hours of work to do BEFORE waking up at 730 AM tomorrow to come into the office for more vendor interviews

VIVA LA FRANCE

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #53 on:** February 14, 2008, 08:03:05 AM »

J'AI FAIM

JE VOUDRAIS MANGER QUELQUECHOSE

GO AWAY STUPID VENDOR

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #54 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:33:44 AM »

PERSEPOLIS GET

32€

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #55 on:** February 14, 2008, 10:53:05 AM »

so I took an hour or so off this afternoon after lunch, while my boss is meeting with vendors that I don't need to. I went to a nearby MALL and enjoyed French retail.

First, I went to an fnac (http://www.fnac.com). This is kind of like a French Best Buy (movies, music, games, electronics) but it also has an extensive book section. I was kind of surprised by how expensive games were--most next-gen titles were 60€ or 70€ (euros), which is like $90 to $105. Wow just wow. I know that direct currency comparing is pretty stupid, especially with a third-world currency like the U.S. dollar, but that is goddamned expensive. Prices in general are dollars, only with a euro sign instead. Gee.

The Persepolis DVD just went on sale, so there was a big push on that, but only French and Polish subtitles.

I also went to a comics shop called Album (http://www.album.fr/), which is where I got the Persepolis book. I was surprised by the breadth of genre--I knew that France had a vibrant comics scene, but I couldn't really find any unifying "genres" the way that a lot of Japanese stuff falls into shonen/shojo, harem, etc. There were a lot of western (as in cowboy) comics, pirate comics, spy/assassin comics, diary comics, etc. Most of the English stuff I saw in translation was diary stuff like American Elf, Blankets, etc.

I was also surprised by the main format--it was the prestige "album" of the store's title; kind of like a TPB, only just 48 pages long or so. I didn't see any floppies at all; even first-run comics seemed to release in these thin hardcover "chapters." There were a bunch of comics that looked pretty damn interesting--too bad about my French. I saw one called Sept Psychopathes about a group of seven British psychopaths contracted to assassinate Hitler. Killer 7 x killing Hitler = now that's a high concept!

I was also surprised to see a (relatively) robust first-run French-language manga parody series. c.f. Death Joke:

I guess I was most surprised because the Japanese market is based on black-and-white artwork turned around quickly and cheap, disposability. The French market appears to be thriving on a totally different model based around glossy color first-run hardcovers.

American comics

fucking goddamned superhero bullshit motherfuck, MOTHERFUCK

anyways, that's this afternoon's update

bagofeyes · « **Reply #56 on:** February 14, 2008, 11:00:14 AM »

Reminds me of the prices of things back in Australia. Regardless of how well the dollar is doing everything costs double the American price.

Tauntaun · « **Reply #57 on:** February 14, 2008, 11:03:00 AM »

that's pretty awesome, those comics

tiesto · « **Reply #58 on:** February 14, 2008, 11:29:31 AM »

Yeah I remember FNAC, going in there and getting an early Chemical Bros album (my first trip to Europe ironically coincided with me getting into EDM), and then I saw a copy of FF7 PAL, and it was like 350 or so francs, it was ridiculous... Plus Europe didn't get shit when it came to good games for a long while (and they still get fucked over constantly), man I would hate to live there for my gaming hobby (but for my dating cute women hobby, no other place is more ideal).

Howard Alan Treesong · « **Reply #59 on:** February 14, 2008, 12:02:07 PM »

complete lack of sleep
x
trying to do work via webmail client
x
single on valentine's day in paris
x
manic street preacher's the holy bible
=
total mental breakdown

News:

Author Topic: FOUX DE FA FA: The Official Thread of Synthesizer Patel Visits LA FRANCE (Read 9308 times)