[2022] France-Poland Business Trip Record (Local Affairs Edition)

(Updated from November 9, 2022)

Hello,

Eyeglasses/sunglasses brand from London

A wide selection of unique items, including METRONOME®️

Online select shop

This is METRONOME-Tokyo Online.

This time, it will be positioned as a special edition.

I would like to give you a report on my recent business trip .

If you have any photos, please add them and update accordingly.

I hope it will be okay.

Now,

Coronavirus restrictions in European countries

Some countries are beginning to abolish it.

In short

" Corona Finish ."

(According to a local taxi driver)

Before departure ~ Departure from transit point

First, just before leaving the country,

Let's look back at the journey up to departure from Doha.

The takeoff point was Narita Airport .

In the terminal before immigration

Compared to my last business trip (September 2021)

It seems like there are more restaurants open now.

However, souvenir shops etc. are still

Many stores were closed.

(Japanese airports are still quiet)

Although we are still on alert for the coronavirus

Destination (France) has COVID-19 restrictions

It may have been abolished,

The departure procedures were completed without any problems.

Duty-free shops up to the gate are open

There seemed to be a relatively large number of stores.

However, if there is nothing special to do

All we have to do is wait for takeoff time.

It takes about 10 hours to reach the relay point.

As expected, it is inside the plane,

There was nothing particularly worth talking about.

Safely arrived at Doha (Qatar)

We arrived. (Thank goodness...)

It was early in the morning,

Although I was starting to feel a bit jet-lagged,

I took a walk around the airport where many people were coming and going.

Qatar still requires masks to be worn

It seemed to be recommended.

There are people wearing masks and people not wearing masks in the airport.

My impression was that it was about half and half.

Now,

Transit in Qatar is also moderate

Depart for Paris, France.

This takes about 6 hours.

If you think about it, this is also a long flight.

We landed safely in Paris (thank goodness!).

After a bit of a wait, I received my luggage.

We head to the setup venue.

Local transportation is by train,

Or take an UBER taxi.

Cost-effectively, the train is better.

however,

If you have a lot of luggage,

If you are traveling with multiple people, it is better to use UBER.

It may end up being cheaper as a result.

(Exit at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, France)

Not a local taxi

The benefits of using UBER

• You can specify your destination in advance using the app
• Prices are determined in advance (no need to worry about being ripped off)
• You can also specify a pickup point on the app, so they will come when you call them.

And so on.

Arrival in France - Setting up

Now,

Arriving at the venue

We continue preparations for the "exhibition" the next day.

Display shelves etc.

Rent the equipment provided by the venue,

You can prepare it yourself.

(Inside the SILMO venue during setup)

Will small supplies and equipment be procured locally?

I think it will be carry-on.

It depends on the item, but as much equipment as possible

It might be better to source locally.

Even if you bring it on an airplane from Japan

Due to the capacity and weight issues of the trunk

You may be stopped before you even leave the country.

For overweight trunks

Rather than paying extra

It's cheaper to get supplies locally.

Fortunately, the exhibition in Paris was held near IKEA.

It was a certain venue,

Most of the things were available there.

(SILMO venue at dusk)

Once the venue is set up, we return to the hotel.

After dinner, I prepared for the exhibition.

The general trend was that everyone took a break.

(This is the general flow during the event)

There are supermarkets nearby,

Because it closes if it's late

Stock up on as much of what you need as possible.

I think it's good.

More exhibitions to come,

I would also like to write about other local experiences.

(November 8, 2022 ↑)

(November 9, 2022 ↓)

SILMO PARIS2022

Now,

2022 SILMO PARIS

Last year's exhibition will be a "post-COVID exhibition."

In this different situation,

"Now, what will happen?"

Preparations with a mixture of excitement and anxiety

We were progressing.

Fortunately, this time the staff

I was there in plenty of time so I got there on time.

Preparation is complete.

While occasionally adjusting the layout of the exhibits

Visitors to the METRONOME booth

I met with all the buyers.

Among the buyers

Newcomers and those with whom I have had a long-standing relationship

There are some

The thing they all say is,

"So, what's new this year?"

As expected from discerning buyers,

If you are familiar with it, choose something that you think is "this"

I'll keep adding them to my order list.

(The order taker couldn't keep up lol)

From 9am to 6pm in the evening,

They come one after another in roughly this manner.

We will continue to hold business negotiations with buyers.

Particularly popular was

METRONOME®️ and its design

Take over and improve cost performance

This is an adjusted Resonance®️.

METRONOME®️ has been specially treated with "surface processing"

The frames were popular.

Our shop also offers "fossil processing" and

It's a "matt finish."

(METRONOME “Distortion Melancholia 2023ver”)

Resonance has new clear frames and

Many orders for two-point sunglasses

Thank you.

(Two new Resonance products. Lens shapes and sizes vary.)

By the way, during the exhibition

Lunch is a bit of a worry.

There is a coffee stand and

There are hamburger shops etc.

It's not that there's nothing to eat,

It's a little pricey due to the weak yen.

You can also buy it cheaply at supermarkets outside.

This may be the secret to getting through an exhibition cost-effectively.

On the other hand, for dinner, choose a good restaurant nearby.

If you find one, you won't have any problems during your business trip.

In our case, we have Chinese, Vietnamese,

Great value for money, including steaks, a staple overseas (?)

I managed to find the restaurant.

Coffee you'll want to drink overseas

The venue price is reasonable (from 2.5 euros)

By the way, it depends on the country.

In France, Italy, etc.

Coffee = Japanese espresso

The image is close.

In a cup the size of a sake cup

Strong coffee is the key.

When you want to drink Japanese coffee

"I'd like an Americano, please," I asked the waiter.

If you ask, they can make it thinner.

If you ask without knowing, you'll hear, "I said coffee.

Espresso?

Coffee lovers beware.

Exhibition ends ~ Walking around France

Now,

This is where the sense of privacy comes in.

I will write about the second half of my business trip.

The stage moved south from the SILMO venue.

It's in Paris.

The subway in Paris is as good as Japan's.

The railway network is becoming more and more detailed.

If you are familiar with the subway,

Use it to see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and more

It's much cheaper to travel to tourist spots.

UBER is about 10-20 EUR/trip

It is expensive, whereas by train

The journey costs around 3-5 EUR.

"Then the way to the airport

You might think, "I can just go by train."

That's basically fine.

however,

(Notice of train closure)

In fact, if the timing is wrong

Trains may be closed.

(*Trains between Paris city center and airports, etc.)

It seems to be only available on limited routes...

Not all trains will stop

Be careful of traffic in this area too.

When I encountered it, it was around the bus stop.

It was crowded with people carrying trunks.

Take the secret UBER taxi to Paris

Moved.

by the way,,,

"Even the big trunks

Wouldn't it be a hassle to drag it all the way to Paris?"

For those who are wondering, "Airport Luggage Storage Service"

I recommend using it.

Please check here for more details.

Too many souvenirs bought,

Trunks and other items that you don't need to carry around

You can leave it at the airport.

In our case, after the exhibition

Basically, it contains items that are never opened.

I kept my trunk etc.

The fee is calculated based on the number of days and weight.

This is a system where you pay in advance using a credit card.

There are many such stations and airports in large cities.

There is a luggage storage and lockers

If used properly, your trip will be more comfortable.

I think that will be the case.

The view of Paris

Speaking of the city,

There was a lot last year

The "PCR testing tent" was gone.

In 2021, coronavirus restrictions were still in place.

There are tents all over the city

Simple PCR tests are now available.

(When you think of France, you think of the Arc de Triomphe.)

Corona restrictions will end in 2022.

At the same time, the inspection station also completed its role.

*You must take a PCR test before returning to your home country.

PCR testing sites for travelers and business travelers

It's a bit of a hassle because it's gone down

It seems that it was.

I think many of you already know this.

As of 2022,

When overseas travelers return to Japan

Meet one of the following criteria:

It is necessary.

1. Have proof of receiving three doses of the designated coronavirus vaccine
2. Documents proving that you have tested negative at your destination within 72 hours prior to departure

In other words, if you do not have proof of vaccination (1)

(If you haven't been vaccinated in the first place)

You will need to undergo a PCR test at your destination.

Finding this testing site is quite a hassle...

If your destination has lifted coronavirus restrictions

Furthermore, the number of places where testing can be done is limited.

It seems like a hassle.

In the case of France

At Charles de Gaulle International Airport

You can take a PCR test designated by the Japanese government.

Yes, you can (*Reservation required in advance)

Regular tests start from 50 euros,

For rush delivery, there will be a +@ charge.

The author goes to Poland

Now,

After finishing my work in France

The author (OKD) headed to Poland.

(I waited and waited for my luggage to arrive, but it ended up being lost)

We also have business with buyers from Poland.

The author personally had a connection with Poland.

Since I had the chance, I decided to take a look around and take a look around.

Poland, like France,

Corona restrictions have been lifted,

I was able to move smoothly without any particular problems when entering the country.

just,

This time I had a companion

The person's luggage is taking a long time to come out...

When I opened the lid, I found that the baggage was lost.

In other words, the airline lost the luggage.

Go to the designated counter and fill out the required information on the document.

I was asked to fill it out and have it searched for.

(* Fortunately, the luggage was found and taken to the hotel where we were staying.

I was able to get it delivered.)

(The journey between France and Poland takes about two hours.)

Because there are things like this,

"Do not pack any particularly important items in your checked baggage."

(Not to mention money and valuables.

Items that are difficult to replace, such as transformers and chargers)

I also read about this inthe blog of a friend who accompanied me.

You can read it if you'd like.

But Poland

This is my fourth or fifth time here, four years since my last visit.

(It's going pretty well)

I came here after starting my eyewear business.

I noticed something.

" Aren't there a lot of opticians in Poland? "

On the same floor of the shopping mall

It is not uncommon for a store to have two locations.

(Battleground)

Poland itself is a growing country.

Walking around the city with a sense of business

They were parading around.

Moving around in Poland

Trams (streetcars)

It's very convenient.

Like the French subway,

It runs all over the city.

There are many buses, so this is also

Highly recommended (much cheaper than UBER!)

(It is recommended to buy snacks when traveling long distances by train.)

Travelling between cities in Poland

We will use high-speed trains (known as the Shinkansen in Japan).

Seat specifications vary depending on the vehicle you choose.

There may be a grade.

(Image of Green Car and Regular Car)

If it's a cheap grade,

Travel between cities costs around 3,000 yen per person.

However, it is the cheapest model

The size of one tatami mat (maybe it was a little larger?)

Six people can sit together in a space of about this size,

So it's quite a challenge to travel for 2-3 hours.

(Image of three seats facing each other on a Shinkansen train)

Even with a vehicle of a certain class

You can ride for 5,000 yen one way.

I don't think it's ever "too extravagant."

(However, if you are careless and leave your luggage unfolded,

Don't fall asleep. Pickpockets do happen.)

Poland's tourist attractions (my opinion)

Since it's such a good opportunity (?)

Tourist attractions in Poland

I'd like to write a little about it.

The capital of Poland is Warsaw.

This area is home to a building called the Old Royal Palace,

There is also the presidential palace and museums.

It is a well-worth-seeing tourist spot.

(Being the capital, Warsaw is lined with buildings.)

In particular, the city center is dominated by trams.

Because I run a lot

If you can learn how to ride

You can move around quite easily.

A ticket valid for 20 minutes costs around 100 yen.

At least this is ok for one way.

Ticket vending machines installed near the station

It seems that it can also be purchased at convenience stores.

Tickets can also be purchased from ticket machines inside the tram.

*However, tickets cannot be purchased on board the train.

Only with "touch credit card"

You can make a payment.

Recently, I've been using Google Maps to find out which station I should get on at.

Which station should I get off at?

It's convenient because it gives detailed instructions.

When you go abroad, rent a global Wi-Fi

Contract for a SIM card that can be used overseas

I recommend it.

for example,

In my case, I had a contract with ahamo.

In the case of ahamo, up to 20G can be used overseas

You can use it at the same communication speed as in Japan.

(However, if it exceeds 20G, it will be automatically

Please note that communication speed will be reduced.)

So I took an early morning walk around the old royal palace.

(It was early in the morning, there were few people and it was cloudy.)

From the city center by tram

It's just a little over 10 minutes away (you can also walk there).

It was early in the morning, so there were few people.

It was a little cold.

By the way, about the food,

Generally, breakfast is served at the hotel in the morning.

I ate lunch and dinner at restaurants.

(Just like a picture-perfect hotel breakfast)

In Warsaw, it is directly connected to the central station.

There is a shopping mall

The food court there is well-equipped,

I used to go there often.

There are many chain stores,

Polish cuisine

There are stores that offer it, so you can rest assured.

Suddenly going to a local restaurant

I recommend this to anyone who is brave.

It's a hotel,

In Warsaw it's called "Metropol"

I stayed at a hotel near the station.

A mid-range hotel in Warsaw

Although it is ranked,

Personally, I like the interior and breakfast.

I think it's fair to say it's intermediate+.

Another attractive feature is that it is only a 5-minute walk from the station.

actually,

I stayed here for the first time in Poland in 2016.

I liked it so much at the time that I bought it again.

That's how it is.

(Breakfast was great as always!)

Travel by train to the former capital, Krakow

On the second day after arriving in Poland

It takes about 3 hours by train to get to the former capital

I visited the area called Krakow.

I often hear people say "The image of Kyoto, Japan"

It is said that...

(Krakow's tourist attraction, Wawel Castle)

As the expression says,

There are many tourist attractions such as churches and castles.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum

It is also famous as the nearest city.

This time, we focused on visiting museums.

I came to Krakow.

actually,,,

This photo taken during the trip to Krakow

Not much...

It was raining on the day

I left my rain gear at the hotel.

It was quite difficult.

There was a lot of travel and the schedule was very tight.

Here's the last photo I took.

(Popular Krakow restaurant "Chłopski Jało")

This is also my first time here since 2016.

This is a repeat visit.

The quantity, taste and price are all great, so I highly recommend it.

The amount is "quite" large,

It might be fine to share one dish between two people.

As an aside

This shop has a service fee

It is good manners to leave it behind.

I think about 10% of the total bill is fine.

(The receipt says "This amount does not include a service charge.")

It clearly says "Not included!")

The central square, which is also a tourist attraction, looks like this.

(Krakow in the afternoon with a clear sky and a beautiful sunset)

After this, another long distance

We took the train back to Warsaw.

I think I wrote this at the beginning too

When traveling long distances by train

I recommend using the first class carriage.

A dedicated seat is the best for tired bodies.

The next day we will return to Paris.

Paris again

After completing my inspection (sightseeing?) in Poland

The authors returned to Paris.

There is a reason for this,

In short, to obtain a negative PCR test result.

The plan is to return home via Paris.

(Saying goodbye to Warsaw and heading to Paris @ Warsaw Chopin Airport)

I mentioned it briefly in this blog.

As of October 2022, to enter Japan,

Proof of vaccination of three or more doses,

Or proof of a negative PCR test taken at the departure point

Submission is mandatory.

The author, OKD,

I have proof of vaccination

Accompanying persons must obtain a negative test result.

So I searched for a testing site locally,

An inspection was conducted.

(*By the way, the test result was "negative")

Before September 2022,

Even if you have been vaccinated

You will need to obtain a negative test certificate overseas.

This response is a bottleneck, and I don't travel abroad much.

I don't think it was growing.

(In the first place, Japan's reception system

Finally, after September 2022

It is being eased.)

In the case of France

It is the main international airport

At Charles de Gaulle International Airport

PCR tests can be conducted.

(I heard that reservations are required.)

From the international airport to Paris city

Transportation facilities such as trains and buses,

Or you can travel by taxi.

Depending on the number of people and luggage, you can take a taxi.

I think it's good value for money.

After arriving in Paris, the next day I was on my flight home.

I was planning to ride

Using all means of transportation

I went around to the places I had planned to visit.

Hotel prices are quite high in central Paris.

For those who don't mind traveling by train

A hotel a little further out of town might be better.

After this,

It was decided that he would be able to return home safely.

We each returned to Japan on our own flights.

(*Actually, it was a separate flight.)

(Once)

That's it!

OKD