Bonjour!
Our client, the International Genetics Epidemiology Society (IGES), held its 31st Annual conference in Paris (September 7-9), and we were fortunate enough to live stream their conference to those attendees who couldn't be there in person. Learn more about the 2022 IGES conference. When we weren't live streaming the conference our team was taking in the sights and eating our weight in French baked goods. This blog is a photo-heavy, itinerary-formatted timeline of our time in France.
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Travel itinerary
Sunday, September 4
SAT> DAL> Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
3:30 p.m. WCMG team arrives to SAT with four cases of equipment, plus carry-ons in tow.
Monday, September 5
Charles de Gaulle > Crowne Plaza Republique
1:35 p.m. (Paris time) WCMG lands at Charles de Gaulle airport -- 13+ hours of travel later.
Once we got outside with our luggage, we quickly noticed the humidity in the air and joked it was like we never left San Antonio. We took a 45 minute cab ride to the Crowne Plaza Republique hotel.
5:30 p.m. After unpacking and settling in, we narrowed in on a nearby brasserie for customary steak frites and sat outside to take in the action on the streets.
We watched mothers walking their kids home from school, businessmen in suits whipping around the corner on their mopeds, trash collectors keeping the streets clean, and older women walking back from the grocery with armfuls of groceries slung over their arms.
Tuesday, September 6
9:30 a.m. We enjoyed breakfast sweets and savories from Mamiche bakery in the Place de la République, a park that attracts skateboarders, tourists, families, and plenty of pigeons. (not pictured are the enormous brownies and sugar-coated cream-filled donut we had later on.)
12 p.m. We met with the event team to load our equipment into the event space and perform tech checks with the local AV team in the afternoon.
2 p.m. Lunch break - Ham, butter, and cheese roll with rose (not pictured) from Boullion Service
Sightseeing part 1
4 p.m. We venture back out and walk toward the Seine River stumbling upon the 2024 Summer Olympic Rings at the Paris City Hall.
7 p.m. We went out on the town with the event team and found another local brasserie where Adam tried his first escargot. --He is staying quiet on whether or not he will ever eat another snail in his lifetime.
10 p.m. We ended our evening with a trip to an unassuming laundry mat, Lavomatic, and recommend this stop to anyone who appreciates hidden bars that create environments that leave you feeling like you are at an exclusive party.
Wednesday, September 7
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. IGES Conference - Day 1 (9 session hours livestreamed)
7 p.m. Adam lucked out, and we found a sushi place near our hotel for dinner. The menu was mostly salmon variations, and after doing some googling, we learned that salmon ranks number one as the most consumed fish in France.
Thursday, September 8
8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. IGES Conference - Day 2 (9.5 session hours livestreamed)
Adam and I were both pretty tired by Thursday evening, but we managed to stay out long enough to capture some activity in Place de la République and near the Effiel Tower.
This was a great night to capture light trails.
Friday, September 9
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. IGES conference - Day 3 (9.5 session hours livestreamed, including patching in a guest speaker from Taiwan).
6 p.m. Equipment breakdown and load out.
7 p.m. With the conference officially wrapped, we joined the IGES Event Team for dinner and a trip to the Latin Quarter, crossing the Seine and walking by Notre Dame before heading back to the hotel.
Saturday, September 10
Sightseeing part 2
Elizabeth visits the Lourve to see a realistic number of paintings and sculptures in her desired two-hour visit.
These were some of her favorites:
Winged Victory of Samothrace (the inspiration for the brand Nike!)
Meanwhile, Adam took advantage of the overcast skies and spent his Saturday walking to the Louvre, The Panthéon, and one last trip to the Eiffel Tower.
4 p.m. Bringing back bread means something else when you are leaving Paris and coming home to a family expecting some tasty samples. We packaged and stowed away traditional baguettes and chausson aux pommes (apple tarts) from Utopie.
Sunday, September 11
Goodbye, Paris. You have been a delightful host!
Crowne Plaza Republique > Charles de Gaulle > DAL > SAT
7:30 a.m. WCMG heads to the airport.
6:35 pm (CST) 13 hours of (time) travel later, we land at SAT on Sunday, September 11.
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If you have never been to Paris and you get the chance to go, either for work or pleasure, we can offer some suggestions.
1. Learn at least a few key phrases. While most of the Parisians speak English, they appreciated that we attempted to greet them in their native language as a sign of respect which we were more than happy to do. 'Hello', 'thank you', 'please', 'do you speak English?' etc. are handy phrases to know.
2. Try French food! French cuisine is vast and can be rich on the palate, but you should try it. Everything from the steak tartare to their popular street food, jambon-beurre (ham and butter sandwich), is all sure to be good. If you don't feel 100 percent on trying escargot, aka snails, indulge in their traditional baguettes and croissants over an espresso. And seek out their raclette cheese, you will not be disappointed!
3. Do the touristy stuff, but don't be afraid to go off the beaten path. Paris is full of tiny shops, galleries, restaurants tucked away on side streets that you might miss if you confine your routes to the main drag.
4. Take photos and video. Paris is rich in history, and you will quickly realize it is a unique place for picture taking. No matter how amateur you might think you are, the Gothic architecture, sharp angles, cobble stone roads, short distances between buildings, and often overcast skies provide the ideal environment for capturing impressive images.
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White Cloud Media Group offers livestreaming and pre-recording services for events of all sizes and complexities. Are you interested in producing a virtual component for your next event? Email info@whitecloudmg.com to connect with our team.
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