Day 1

A memorable week it was. In retrospect now, everything seems so chimerical. Being in Paris in an 18^th century abbey which has been converted into a four star hotel with the best of bathroom fittings and rooms, and yet so rustic and beautiful, retaining something from the past just like a dreamland. Green meadows, a long zig-zag mud path, ducks tiptoeing across to the other side towards the lake, a red wooden boathouse. The view from my window. At night, sitting on the edge of my window, I can see the castle in front, a vast expanse of greenery on my left, lighted by the moonlight and the light from the abbey, the moon in the lake which looks absolutely delectable, so near as I zoom in with my camera and try to capture and preserve this surreal image forever, and yet, so far, and so cold. This is the first night in Paris. I am very tired. Its 11 in the night. We had a long day. The flight landed at about 810 in the morning, we spent an hr in the airport since we got off at the wrong terminal. I nevertheless clicked a few snaps, as much as my battery allowed me to. The airport was huge and I saw people all around dressed so fashionably, looking gorgeous. Unmistakably, I was in the fashion capital. We somehow managed to find our luggage and were greeted by the organizers. From there we drove to the hotel and from there we were taken for a guided tour of Paris. All I needed at that time was a cup of hot tea and nice bed to crash on and yet I was listening to the guide in the bus who was telling us about the city. Hold on I want to hear this but Zzzzzzzzzzz. Anyway, we stopped at the Eiffel tower for 20 minutes. Hmm..20 minutes, just the amount of time I needed to look at this monumental tower. This was followed by the first serving of the numerous pastas that were to follow in the coming week in a pretty restaurant in the heart of Paris. It was time to go to the place that was to become our home for the next whole week. Vaux de Cerney. Beautiful, unbelievably beautiful. Better than what I could have imagined my dwelling for the week to be. Room allotment, the luggage odyssey towards the abbey, a few minutes away from the clamor, the presentation preparation, working on the technical aspects, an hour of listening to presentations about 6 countries, some laughs, followed by dinner, desserts, 6 more country presentations. At night, sitting on the edge of my window I can see the abbey in front, a vast expanse of greenery on my left, lighted by the moonlight and the light from the abbey, the moon in the lake which looks absolutely delectable, so near, as I zoom in with my camera and try to capture and preserve this surreal image forever and yet, so far, and so cold. This is the first night in Paris. I am very tired. Its 11 in the night. It was a long day.