Tocqueville, we have arrived!
I’m not sure what Tocqueville would have made of the Euromess, but I think it’s pretty easy to guess.
On the other hand, I think I may have discovered part of the core financial problem here in France. Sitting in the lobby of our hotel, waiting for a room to become available, we ordered (each) a 250ml Pepsi Max. Cost per Pepsi: 8 euros, or (doing some quick conversion) about $87/gallon. No, seriously. At that price, for what Steve Jobs famously dismissed as “colored sugar water” (though, in this case, simply colored water — it lacks even the sugar), I would expect an active commodities market.
I have not as yet acosted anyone to ask them about the Eurocrisis. In part, it’s because it’s cold and drizzly outside, which makes person-in-the-street interviews a bit tricky. Mostly, though, it’s because I wanted to shower, shave and freshen up a bit after wearing these clothes for the last 20 hours or so.
And, of course, having gotten a room around noon and having done all of the above, I then promptly violated every jet-lag-adjustment tip and crashing for nearly 5 hours after the hotel. Clearly the 250ml of Pepsi Max wasn’t enough to keep me awake.
Speaking of active commodites markets, now that we’re both up, we’re going to hit the Christmas market along the Champs-Elysees. I’ve seen at least one news report saying that such traditional markets here in Europe are suffering or might suffer because of the economic crisis.
We shall see. ..bruce w..