Yesterday was a beautifully-unstructured, intentionally random walk throughout the city from 9 am to 2 am, hooking up with as many 11 FTers each creating their own montage of impressions from the cultural to the culinary, from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Fleeting moments which included:

* A progression of architectural visits, expositions, museums and concerts, punctuated by a progression of a half-dozen cafes; beginning with the Belle Epoque-era Café de la Paix, designed by the same Charles Garnier who designed the adjacent Opera, with concomitant flights of wine (beginning with a Rose from Anjou; ending with a Gewürztraminer Vendage Tardif from Alsace), pates and cheeses.
* Seeing the exhibit organized by the principality of Monaco within the 1st Arrondisement’s Hotel de Ville of Grace Kelly … a true and beautiful, fashionable, articulate and beloved princess.
* As it was the Fête de la Musique de Paris, there was music all around us. We saw African dancers, Norwegian marching bands, Scottish fife and drummers, Franco Hip-hop, and what briefly was an outstanding organ recital at the High Gothic Église de Saint-Eustache near Les Halles where the pipe organ console broke, requiring a technical overhaul of the six-tier console with the mechanics literally pulling out all the stops. Ending with the strident warbles of the thrash metal band Villina C
* The photography within Maison Européenne de la Photographie, the post modern art of Centre Pompidou, and the sequences of the Cathedrale de Rouen and “Impression: Sunrise” within the underappreciated Musée Marmottan-Claude Monet, far removed from the madding and obnoxious crowds at the other, more famous Impressionist museum.
* Shopping at the myriad antiquities dealers at the Louvre des Antiquaires, finding a Chinese Neolithic vessel of the Banshan phase circa 2500 BC that I might add to the collection.
* Exploring the Mariology of the statuary and the gargoyles around Notre Dame de Paris, and the monumentality of the Banque de France.
Learning the bloody history of St. Germain l’Auxerrois, the oldest church in Paris, which heralded the St. Bartholomew Massacre of the Huguenots in 1572.
* Window shopping at the various boutiques in and around Fauberg St. Honore.
* Wandering past the Gallo-Roman baths at the Thermes de Cluny, atop which the medieval frescoes of the Musée de Moyen Age- Hôtel de Cluny.
* Avoiding the seemingly ubiquitous con artists’ latest trickery, finding “gold” rings on the street, right in front of you. Not avoiding the used booksellers lining the banks of the Seine.
* Enjoying the pulsing music in the 30-meter-high atrium of Pershing Hall, the beautiful mansion that served as General John Pershing’s Parisian residence during World War 1, turned into an ultra-chic boutique hotel designed by Andrée Putman.
* Returning to the InterContinental Hotel to prepare Monday’s lecture at the Columbia University Business School.

The many FTers whose own explorations of Paris variously intermingled with mine today (thank God for cellphones, SMS and Blackberries!) are all a lovely, interesting, curious, multi-faceted and generous group of people, with whom I could discuss many topics, and of course FT. I’m proud to be part of this group, and thank Randy and OpenSkies for having had the opportunity for this nice toot to Paris.

A tout alors,
Vsevolod4

Wow vsevolod! That is a lot for one day. You sure you didn't watch the football or rugby matches too? ;)

After watching the Russians beat the Dutch ^, I went out on the streets of my little Burgundy town and there were no fewer than two dozen musical acts going at it well after midnight, plus various impromptu acts here and there. I'm glad you could enjoy some of the same in Paris.

Yeah, football fever was certainly in the air ... I remember the many cars driving up and down the Champs triumphantly brandishing their Turkish flags the previous night ... and they won on penalties so hard for me to get that excited.

Well, we all got back in one piece to JFK after a most successful and fun "do"; I'm now on the Belt Parkway, wending my way homeward.

Thanks again to Randy, Openskies, and wonderful meeting you all in person.

Wow, what an amazing weekend!^^^ Many thanks to Randy and OpenSkies for an amazing time. I don't even know where to start, from the awesome to the good to the bad to the wayyyy ugly.:D

It was a pleasure meeting so many new FT'ers!

I will post the trip report to my blog ASAP.

I would prefer to hear it in reverse order. :eek: :)

You are what my mother used to call a snip. :D

I agree what a fantastic opportunity and a fantastic weekend. I'm at the JFK RCC about ready to catch a flight back to SFO. This has been a long day.

Randy and OpenSkies, thank you so much for this opportunity.

cant wait for pics and report!

I've uploaded a handful of pictures of Paris and the flights here. Others will have more comprehensive photo-coverage of the flights but I hope this will whet your appetites.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27886280@N07/?donelayout=1

I must admit, these food shots really make me question flying AA :D

A bit OT, but what is the make/model/MegaPixels of your camera? Very impressive image quality ... except where I drooled on them, wishing I had been there! :D

Laduree macaroons!!!!! My mouth is watering. ;)

I have a Nikon D80 and absolutely love it (it's 10 megapixels) but it seems a bit excessive for inflight meal pics.

In addition to the pictures, I've begun a report which will be located at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=9920929

What a great time! Thanks Randy, OpenSkies and fellow travelers!

How lucky we were to be in Paris for the solstice all-night of music. Sorry, NYC, even you don't know how to party like that all over town.

First time I have ever seen the sun shine in Paris, and the flowers in bloom at Versailles.

Yes, the OpenSkies cabin crew was wonderful but the Laduree snack box was a highlight of the flight home.

Home safe and sound but too tired to upload pix to flickr tonight ...

BTW the 2-for-1 ticket offer posted in the announcements looks like a great deal! Not to start a debate, but in general the Prem+ equates to business on most airlines and the Biz to first.