I almost spent this weekend in Paris.
After four days at IEEE I2MTC 2026 in Nancy, I planned to take a train to Paris, meet a few friends from the industry, and enjoy a quiet weekend.
A French friend gave me a simple piece of advice:
"Don't come this weekend."
PSG was playing the Champions League Final.
He told me that whether PSG wins or loses, parts of Paris often become chaotic afterwards.
So instead, I went to Versailles.
What struck me was how different the experiences were.
The researchers I met in Nancy were thoughtful, polite, and passionate about measurement science.
Versailles was calm, elegant, and peaceful.
Yet only a short train ride away, another France was making headlines around the world.
After more than 20 years in Europe, I've learned something:
The country you see on television and the country you experience in person are often two very different places.
Perhaps that's part of Paris' charm.
Or perhaps that's simply modern Europe.
La situation dégénère près du Parc des Princes après la victoire du PSG.
Plusieurs départs de feux. Charge de la police pour faire intervenir les pompiers.
#PSG #PSGARS #Arsenal #UCLfinal #Paris