Four great days in Paris, Now To London

It's been an interesting four days in Paris and now we head to London. Paris is absolutely an amazing city (the word amazing is used way too much, but it really is here). One of the coolest things was the Hotel I stayed in Mama Shelter. It is in the art district of Paris and is this really hip establishment. Each room is small but furnished with odd decorations like Superman and Dean Martin lamp shades. They have an Apple interactive screen in each room that plays music, dvd, and acts as a TV. I have been listening to Radio Nova which is the cool eclectic station that plays funky french rap and jazz along with rips from American music.

The weather here has been awful. Cold and damp and dreary, but it hasn't brought us down too much. It does become annoying.

McDonald's is the like the most interesting thing in Paris for the locals. I dropped in one yesterday to find a "real tasting coke" and it was the hippest McDonald's I have ever seen. They actually had a Ronald McDonald kicking it in the establishment hanging with kids. And yes, they really do call the quarter pounder with cheese the Royal with Cheese.

We walked everyhwere and it was an awesome experience being led around the City by Rick Grossman, an expat. He has lived in Paris for like 15 years and he knew the history and the cool hangouts and the best restaurants. One restaurant we went to was the Le Bergerie. It has maybe 50 chairs in the whole restaurant and it is only open for lunch and it is located in the 16th district, which is the affluent area of Paris. It was really good.

The cafe's were cool and there seems a cafe is on every corner where they not only serve cofee but wine as well. Small little cafe's that have a bar and tables. What is interesting is that you pay one price for a glass of wine or tea if you order from the bar and a more expensive price at a table. That is because you are "renting" a table.

We made some really cool contacts including two very influential doctors and a very cool actress named Heike who helped with our meetings. It looks like we are going to set up our European operation in Paris and serve Africa and Eastern Europe through our Paris office. France's health care is so good that everyone is covered fully, even if you are an "illegal alien" in the country. Its amazing. But the French feel a need to help their former colonies and there seems to be perfect fit for Limbs for Life and our strategy in Paris to help other countries.

The Louvre was simply breathtaking. And the Eiffel tower was alright. But that the whole 16th area was really cool. Yes, there was cool shopping, but didn't partake. It's a city of walking and busses, but if the weather is good, I definitely recommend walking. To see all the architecture and to see and hear all the culture was quite the experience. Really really cool.

We are heading to London today by the 300 mph train. More updates later.

The Planning Continues

So there will be some down time during our many meetings in Paris. And there must be a way for me to achieve one of my dreams and that is to ski in the French Alps. Today was a stuggle to get that done as I was informed by my contact in Paris, who by the way wife's grandfather built the original Chalet for the 1924 Winter Olympics, that everything is sold out as it is the highest of high seasons for skiing in France. And its like a three hour trip including a bus ride up the mountains. Is he discouraging me? Never! Alas, I will not give up even if I have to stay an extra few days. And a visit to Switzerland has to be included as well. My 8 day trip may turn into a 10 or 11 day trip. Hmmm....its only money, right?

And that tatoo thing is becomming more interesting. How about a tatoo for every country I set up an operation. Hmmmmmm....

Only three days left to prepare.....plenty of time!

John

The First Blog and the Set Up...

So....this is the first blog to keep a record of my own great adventure. Recently divorced and begining an adventure of traveling the world to help the cause of Limbs for Life and to experience all that is out there beyond my own fears and limitation.

The adventure starts with examining my own life and trying to live the life that I can only dream of and not being limited by own self imposed limitations and by what society expects of us in social norms. Further, my passions involve pushing myself physically through outdoor sports and helping both collegiate and adults understand sports business. This includes teaching at the University of Oklahoma and leading Limbs for Life through an international strategy.

Limbs for Life is a non-profit that offers prosthetic limbs that can't afford them....www.limbsforlife.org. We have an outstanding board who is very committed to the cause and everyone contributes in fantastic ways. Mine is to try to expand LFL throughout the world.

This Sunday, February 1, I leave with two of my good friends Jerry Isbell and Craig Gavras (executive director of LFL), both OU grads, to Paris, Italy and England to begin the preparation of establishing a European division. We will be in these countries for 8 days and possibly longer if all goes well.

We have established a "triangle operation" in the Dominican Republic that is just underway after two years of establishing relationships and attempting to understand the culture of this beautiful country. I am going back down to the D.R. at the end of Feb. for the Masters of the Ocean run by one of my new friends Marcus Bohm. (www.mastersoftheocean.com). The Masters is quickly becoming one of the most respected water sport competitions featuring surfing, kite boarding and wind surfing. The competition is based in Cabarete. I hope to support my friend, get a little surfing in, and help promote Limbs for Life to the media that will be attending. One of the residents in Cabarate is a dude that lost a leg in a motor cycle accident and he surfs and kite boards with one leg. It is truly amazing. We are going to get him a prosthetic limb as well, if he will accept it.

My plan is to update this each day of our travels. The Dominican was first, then Europe with possible trips to Tokyo in March and Sierra Leone in June.

These trips are always an adventure because of the amazing things that happen along the way. I refuse to sleep on these trips because so much can happen at any time of the day and night. And that is what is all about right? Experiencing all that life can offer....

John