Gary has begun to accept the idea of going to Paris, in part because every time he complains about the idea I chime in with, “It was YOUR idea.”
Last night I made him read the hotel part of the guidebook, because I wanted to cross-reference that list with my list that cross-references Concierge.com and Five Star Alliance. The hotel where Oscar Wilde died showed up on all three lists.
In bed that night, Gary said, “I think it would be a good idea to stay in a chain hotel in Paris.”
“Really, why?
“Because I think we can be assured they’ll know English, and they’ll be helpful.”
“I’m pretty sure everyone running a hotel in Paris would know English.”
“But they might not be helpful. I want the hotel Harrison Ford stayed at in Frantic.”
“Is that the one when his wife got kidnapped?”
“Yes. The desk staff were very helpful when he got the telephone message in French and they helped him translate it.”
“Well, okay. There’ll be enough exotic goings-on, it’s okay with me if the hotel is a known quantity.”
So, after a little investigation, I will be able to reassure Gary that if I am indeed kidnapped, the hotel staff at Le Grand Hotel Inter Continental, 2 rue Scribe Paris will be happy to lend a hand. Not like those people at the hotel where Oscar Wilde died, no, those bastards probably would just laugh. Vaches cruelles!
(Oh, my God, I just checked the rates at Le Grande Blah Le Blah. I’d better get kidnapped for that many Euros.)
15 responses to “Like Harrison Ford I’m Feeling Frantic”
Um…Gary does know that Frantic was a movie, and the people at the hotel were paid to be nice like that, right?
So long as you’re not staying in the place where Liam Neeson’s daughter stayed in Taken you’ll be fine.
Why not just let me explode with jealousy and stay at the Georges V?
http://www.fourseasons.com/paris/
Sherri- Well, he knows that, but he also knows that THEY know they have a reputation to uphold, now.Candy – Oh! Haven’t seen that. Don’t know if Gary has.Becs – NO. And I will tell you why. It is too fucking expensive. AND the bloom is off the rose because a guy at work already stayed there. He said the hotel was “nice” and the price was “disgusting.” I want a better balance.
Ooo, I stayed in a hotel in Taos where the hotel was “disgusting” and but price was “nice”. Given the choice – we didn’t have a choice because we were in our early 20s – I’d choose the other way around.
Amy in StL – ah yes, the Cancun Motel 6. I remember it well. I have been there.
They have a reputation for nicely translating ransom notes. Directions to the Louvre? Possibly not so much.
The girl was staying in a private home in “Taken”, so you’re cool.
Sorry to be an old bore, but I think renting an apartment is best for Paris. This is very very easy to do online. The only hotels I know about where you find American type amenities are really boring ones, like the Meridian (big yawn).
Caroline has a valid point there. A reputation for translating ransom notes nicely could mean a lot of things, excellence in hotel service not being one of them. Those who translate ransom notes nicely could also be in the business of making sure there are plenty of ransom notes to translate.
I wouldn’t risk it.
Caroline – All I ask is that they don’t yell unintelligible things at me.Tami – That’s a relief.Hattie – Oh, I know, and I would love to, and two nights ago said to Gary, “you know, Anne at work rented an apart -” “NO. Absolutley not.” He would not even discuss it.Sherri – Oh, true, and if my mother-in-law thought of it she would add that to valcanoes and terrorists as reasons not to go to Paris.
A giant sinkhole opened up in Guatemala and swallowed up an entire building. Do you think it’s wise to travel?
3 – I know! That is the awesomely round sinkhole. I think they blamed that on the oil spill.
No, but now I’ve seen it:
I don’t believe the picture of that sinkhole. It’s too perfect. It’s like those optical illusion chalk drawings by Julian Beever.
Or the latest Samsung ad with the TV screen waterfall – have you got that one?
https://news.samsung.com/us/samsung-smart-led-signage-nature-times-square-nyc