The official "I don't guess the weather or opening dates thread"

[Grassi21]

Paris itself is historic. Lots of history there. Like any other city, it is polluted and sometimes smelly. The food is OK...like anywhere else, it gets better as you pay more.

The people there try to act like New Yorkers...busy, always trying to be fashionable, and rude. But it's a feeble attempt. The fashion would go over better if they showered more than once a week. And the cigarettes! Holy crap these people are smokestacks. In the end, Paris was my least favorite part of France. The rest was wonderful though.

As for places to go, you must see the Louvre. And don't miss a walk through the Latin quarter of Paris where the artists live. Very bohemian. The Eiffel tower is OK too, but the gardens and fountains that surround it are the real attraction.

Jim, I have to agree with you. I tried to keep my assessment of locals tame. But I do get the feeling that the locals os badly want to be NYers.

We hit the Latin Quarter last night. My outlook on Paris dramatically changed. It is a really cool area. So manly little spots to eat and bars. Notre Dame was impressive, even at night with some fog. Time for more training. I love how this thread turned into the Paris/Mod fight thread, funny.

 

[JimG.]

i am with JimG on this one.

:beer:

now back to your regularly scheduled season.

I thought you might be Steve.

I look at the Mt. Washington cam each day and I'm amazed at the total lack of snow cover...you must be going nuts too.

Back to the silliness.

 

[JimG.]

Jim, I have to agree with you. I tried to keep my assessment of locals tame. But I do get the feeling that the locals os badly want to be NYers.

We hit the Latin Quarter last night. My outlook on Paris dramatically changed. It is a really cool area. So manly little spots to eat and bars. Notre Dame was impressive, even at night with some fog. Time for more training. I love how this thread turned into the Paris/Mod fight thread, funny.

I totally forgot to mention Notre Dame, a must see.

I too enjoyed the time I spent in the Latin Quarter. There is alot of family history there. My uncle Max on my mom's side was a painter who lived in the Latin Quarter in the 1920's and 30's. Max was my favorite relative...an artist all the way, weird and quirky but a genius too.

 

[skiprob]

Vive La France

I proposed to my wife on the Place du Trocadero in front of the Eiffel Tower in the summer of 1991.

We had a blast in Paris and all of France from the first moment we arrived. We got lost and someone drove all the way across town as we followed them to our hotel just off Place St. Germain.

Upon checking in, the gentleman behind the desk said he was beginning to worry about us. Wasn't that nice?

My preference was for the brasseries and bistros. I enjoyed the bustle and liveliness of those settings.

While walking around town, we learned very quickly to eat and drink standing at the bars in the cafe. Prices are higher at the tables and exterior tables are even more expensive.

I found my impression of the french was mostly positive. I recall two things. There was a definite propensity to flirt. This occurred a lot with my wife but some with me too...mostly in the latin quarter... oh well.

The second thing was that the French seemed to love a crisis. When we got lost, the people at the gas station seemed to come together as a group to decide what the best way to help would be.

Later, in Grenoble, our car was broken into and our bags were taken. The response from this family that was walking by was amazing. I was taken by the arm to the Gendarme. They seemed more outraged than us.

We were driven to the National Police station, where a motorcycle cop took our report (for insurance purposes) and arranged for a hotel for us. He had lived in Schenectady, NY for ten years (Navy dad, French mom). The next day, we got the lock fixed and a woman waiting for her car offered to bring us shopping for clothes.

After a great trip, we got home and there was a letter from the American Consul General, stating that our bags were found. We made the necessary arrangements and our bags were returned with all the exposed roles of film still there.

We had a blast in the Loire Valley, Versaille and in the Haute Savoie - Annecy.

There's a couple guys at work here who are British and love to abuse the French - mostly in fun. I always take the opportunity to defend the honor of the French. I especially enjoyed it during the last world cup.

Oh, and I skied on the glaciers above Zermatt on that trip. That was nice too.

Fondue was about six bucks a pot. We honeymooned at Whistler where they charged $25.

 

[Grassi21]

As I said earlier, my opinion was swayed last night by the Latin Quarter. Up to Sacred Heart tonight for dinner. We will do the quick tour at ND this weekend and hit that museum, what it called.... ahhh u know. ;-)

 

[JimG.]

Fondue was about six bucks a pot. We honeymooned at Whistler where they charged $25.

And the great wine! When I was there an awesome bottle of wine cost about $2.

Most Americans gauge their perception of France by Paris...that can be fair or unfair depending on the person. But if you spend time in the countryside in areas like the Loire valley, you can't help but love the place.

 

[skiprob]

Vive La Prix Fix

The Prix Fix menu took the guesswork out of ordering and it always included a demi-litre of wine that was always great. I just said I wanted beef, fish or chicken. My wife always ended up with creampuffs for desert. I always ended up with things like pears poached in champagne.

I felt that the food in general was far superior whereever we went to what is available in the states. I suspected that all the produce was locally grown. It was always bursting with freshness and flavor. I imagine this is one of the benefits of subsidizing family farms and preventing urban sprawl into the countryside. I wonder if the EU impacted this.

When we drove from Paris, we did not take the major highways. We took the two lane national roads through the central massif. I still regret that we drove right through Lyon.

The scenery was magnificent. There were fields of sunflowers that rolled for miles.

 

[ctenidae]

Up to Sacred Heart tonight for dinner.

Be prepared to be dissapointed. That area is totally touristed out. I'd wander over to Opera for dinner, if you're near Sacre Couer anyway.

 

[JimG.]

The Prix Fix menu took the guesswork out of ordering and it always included a demi-litre of wine that was always great. I just said I wanted beef, fish or chicken. My wife always ended up with creampuffs for desert. I always ended up with things like pears poached in champagne.

I felt that the food in general was far superior whereever we went to what is available in the states. I suspected that all the produce was locally grown. It was always bursting with freshness and flavor. I imagine this is one of the benefits of subsidizing family farms and preventing urban sprawl into the countryside. I wonder if the EU impacted this.

When we drove from Paris, we did not take the major highways. We took the two lane national roads through the central massif. I still regret that we drove right through Lyon.

The scenery was magnificent. There were fields of sunflowers that rolled for miles.

The food stores with live chickens and rabbits were all I needed to see regarding the freshness of the food.

 

[billski]

looking better

Here's the NWS forecast for Morrisville (Jay-Stowe)
Looking better, the 4-letter word beginning with"R" is missing after friday. Not a lot of precip, but good temps.

Pray for

riday Night: Periods of rain and snow, becoming all snow after midnight. Low around 29. Breezy, with a east wind 18 to 28 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a west wind between 17 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Sunday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Chance of precipitation is 40%.


(don't burn witches, you'll just contribute to global warming)

 

[JimG.]

Here's the NWS forecast for Morrisville (Jay-Stowe)
Looking better, the 4-letter word beginning with"R" is missing after friday. Not a lot of precip, but good temps.

Pray for

riday Night: Periods of rain and snow, becoming all snow after midnight. Low around 29. Breezy, with a east wind 18 to 28 mph becoming west. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a west wind between 17 and 22 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Sunday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Sunday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday Night: A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tuesday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 26. Chance of precipitation is 40%.


(don't burn witches, you'll just contribute to global warming)

Excuse me sir...you have posted this info in the wrong thread.

We here in this thread don't predict the weather.

We here drivel on about silliness and France.

Please, do not make any posts about projected ski area openings.

Thank you.

 

[billski]

Excuse me sir...you have posted this info in the wrong thread.

We here in this thread don't predict the weather.

We here drivel on about silliness and France.

Please, do not make any posts about projected ski area openings.

Thank you.

:-D:-D:-D:-D
Great line. My profuse convulsive apologies for becoming too serious about critical environmental dynamics. I'll take another sip of "whine.":lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[JimG.]

:-D:-D:-D:-D
Great line. My profuse convulsive apologies for becoming too serious about critical environmental dynamics. I'll take another sip of "whine.":lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Don't feel too bad...At 7:30 this morning it was 60 degrees at my house and it felt warmer outside than inside. I stood in my driveway and stamped my feet, then pointed up in the sky and uttered expletives loudly. My wife and kids think I'm crazy.

 

[Marc]

We here drivel on about silliness and France.

Isn't that like, the same thing...


:dunce:






OH!

 

[riverc0il]

I look at the Mt. Washington cam each day and I'm amazed at the total lack of snow cover...you must be going nuts too.

Back to the silliness.

i can't say i am really going nuts. i am already ahead of the game, so i really am in no condition to complain. my biggest concern right now is not how december skiing is going to be, but rather how january through april will turn out. i just hope the lack of early season base depth does not negatively effect the rest of the season. if it does, i'll go nuts mid-season. no reason to even be concerned at this point. for crying out loud, it isn't even december yet. 50+ years ago, no ski areas would have even been open even if november had been a good month, let alone average.

 

[Marc]

i can't say i am really going nuts. i am already ahead of the game, so i really am in no condition to complain. my biggest concern right now is not how december skiing is going to be, but rather how january through april will turn out. i just hope the lack of early season base depth does not negatively effect the rest of the season. if it does, i'll go nuts mid-season. no reason to even be concerned at this point. for crying out loud, it isn't even december yet. 50+ years ago, no ski areas would have even been open even if november had been a good month, let alone average.

Yes well, there was a time when people had to kill their next meal before cooking it over an open fire, and fortunately those times are behind us.




Well, for some of us they are, anyway.

 

[billski]

Yes well, there was a time when people had to kill their next meal before cooking it over an open fire, and fortunately those times are behind us.




Well, for some of us they are, anyway.

so are ski straps, cubco bindings, poma lifts, leather boots and 20 skier per hour lift speeds.

 

[Grassi21]

Be prepared to be dissapointed. That area is totally touristed out. I'd wander over to Opera for dinner, if you're near Sacre Couer anyway.

I disagree. We found a small place on a side street. I tried duck confit for the first time. I didn't need to know that duck leg slowly cooked in its own fat tastes SO GOOD.

 

[snoseek]

duck fat rules!!!

 

[Grassi21]

duck fat rules!!!

indeed it does.