Work/Study Report - Chris Bannister in France

My job started on June 15th, 1986 (in
Strasbourg) at the Hotel du Pont de
l'Europe, part of the world wide chain
P.L.M. which has hotels based in the U.S.,
Africa, and throughout Europe. It is
situated in the Parc du Rhin and
approximately 100 meters away from the
France/Germany border. The traffic is
always heavy, as Strasbourg is a main entry
route into France. The hotel has 93 three-
star rooms, each with TV, shower and bar.
Its restaurant, the Liseron, is very
exclusive and caters toa limited clientele
as it seats only 120 people. Outside there
are two terraces, both of which overlook
the Rhine. The atmosphere here is one of
complete relaxation. The small terrace,
which converts into a restaurant for
dinner, seats 150 people, the larger
(seating 200) is used for the consumption
of petit dejeuner and drinks; for large
groups, weddings and conventions, there
are four reception rooms. The three large
salles hold 100 persons each, and for large
groups such as a wedding, bi-fold doors
are opened and the three salles together
‘can hold up to 350 people. The small
reception room holds 20 people and is used
for small groups and card games. These
rooms are in constant use.

The Hotel du Pont de l'Europe is well
located and attracts a large number of
clients. It is always busy throughout the
week, especially on Saturdays, but Sundays
take the cake. It is absolute madness. It
seems that all of Strasbourg comes to the
PLM hotel on Sunday. The main clients are

with a bed, sink, closets, desk and a
couple of chairs. The toilets and showers
were at the end of the hall. It was just
fine because I worked 95% of the time. All
I did there was sleep and eat an occasional
meal.

My normal work day began at 9:00 am. I
took bus 2, 12, 22 or 32 to the Pont du
Rhin. Before my job started, I bought a

bus pass (very similar to those in

Vancouver) which saved me money. Buses

leave every 15 or 20 minutes. They begin

“Sausages and eggs ‘over easy’ don’t
exist there, nor do Fruit Loops,
waffles, or pop tarts.”

“| have never seen as many tourist
buses in my life as in Strasbourg.”

the tourists travelling in large groups by
bus. The number of buses that come into
the PLM hotel is astonishing. The tourists
arrive, eat dinner, sleep 8 hours, have
breakfast at 6:45 a.m. and are gone by
7:00 p.m. when the next group arrives. I
have never seen so many tourist buses in
my life as in Strasbourg.

I lived at the City University in
Strasbourg where I had my own small room

at 5:30 a.m. and end around 11:15 p.m.
Some days, for example, when there is a
festival, the buses run only every hour

and finish somewhat early. I was lucky

because the hotel lent me a bike for the
month of August. It certainly beat the bus
and it was free! When I had to take the
bus, it took me 10 minutes to walk to my

t bus stop.

My bus took 8 minutes to get to the Pont
du Rhin. I then went by foot through the
park to the hotel. On arriving I always
had that all important cup of coffee to
start my body going. The coffee in France
is incredible—it's half the size of a
North American cup but tentimes as strong!
After one small coffee your body is high
for hours. A typical breakfast in France
consists of coffee, croissants, orange

juice, ham, cheese, and more coffee.

Sausages and eggs, “over easy" don't exist
over there, nor do Fruit Loops, waffles,
or pop tarts. My croissant consumption
definitely increased, especially when I
served les petits dejeuners.

After coffee, my day commenced. If my day
began at 6:00 a.m. I helped to serve
breakfast and deliver them to many of the
93 rooms. If I started at 9:00 a.m. I
usually began in the bar by cleaning up
and making espressos, tea and even the odd
drink for those early morning drinkers.
There is no law over there which says that