Des Mauvaises Choses, des Bonnes Choses

As the seriously overpriced shuttle wisked us off to Beauvais to catch our plane to Stockholm, I was beginning to have serious doubts about whether or not I really wanted to go through with the trip to Sweden. By the time we had landed, and boarded yet another ridiculous bus, I was petrified with fear to be in an expensive country whose language I do not know. That and, I discovered my camera screen had broken.

Then something amazing happened. Football.

I wasn't sure if our group was going to be able to catch the Turkey-Croatia quarter final game, but we saw several groups of people shouting and waving flags, so we figured we'd be able to follow them to a local bar with a TV. Instead, we found ourselves in one of the city squares in front of a giant screen projecting the game to at least 2,000 exuberant Turkish supporters. Fish and chips in my belly, a semi-familiar language in my ears, and I was feeling much better.

The best part of the night was that Turkey won. After pulling off an impossible tie in the last thirty seconds of overtime stoppage, Turkey crushed Croatia in penalty kicks. Even without pictures, I know I will remember tonight forever.

Un peu de Salsa

I try to keep an open mind, but I never really expected to eat a burrito in France.

Last night, however, I did just that. I might also add that it was free, and pretty darn good for a French burrito, except that the cheese was certainly not right.

I'll put up a video of the salsa dancing when I have time.

La Tour Eiffel

I'd have to say I'm with the French on this one-- the Eiffel Tower is pretty ugly during the day. Set against the bright backdrop of the Champs de Mars, it doesn't look half bad, but with the low-lying old-style city below, it's downright garish.


However, when it starts to get dark, the rest of the city fades away, and the tower really becomes glamorous.



You could even say it sparkles. :)

Versailles

Deux Musées et le Marais

In the past two days, we have visited two art museums, seen four or five different neighborhoods and walked several miles (both intentionally and unintentionally). For some reason, we keep visiting museums after lunch, which makes them extra boring because I’m so sleepy.

On Wednesday, we went to the Musée d’Orsay, which houses primarily Impressionist paintings. It is my personal opinion that this museum is only worth about twenty minutes of your time. Just long enough to take in the marvelous architecture of the interior, see the sculptures on the main floor, and run up to the Impressionist wing just to take a look at how much paint these guys used. Layers upon layers of thick, toxic, oil paint. It’s mind-blowing. Then, stop by the gift shop after your twenty minutes are up, and pick up some posters, which are just as beautiful, in my opinion. Or better yet, Google image “Monet” or “Impressionism” and you will have approximately the same experience without the entrance fee.

The Musée Picasso, on the other hand, must be seen to be believed. I’m not even particularly fond of Picasso, but there is so much depth to his work that it looks completely different when you are in the room with it. It is also in a very beautiful location—an old house actually. These old-money collectors didn’t want to pay several million in taxes, so they donated the mansion, and the art, to the French government. Lucky for us, I guess.

Des Leçons

I am learning some very important things here in France.

1. Wifi service is intended for the public areas, not bedrooms, so when I am downstairs it is actually really fast.

2. French people are much less anxious and busy than Americans, but they are also much less friendly. They're very patient with my limited French, but they don't reach out and try to help if I don't ask questions. So, it's better to flounder like an idiot than sit quietly and plead for assistance with my eyes.

3. To look French, all one has to do is squint his/her eyes and scowl faintly.

Air France et mon premier jour a Paris

June 9, 2008 9:48pm/June 10, 2008 5:48 am

As I’m typing, I am three hours away from Paris, somewhere in between Greenland and Iceland. The past six hours have gone very smoothly. The plane is nice and roomy, and there are only two people in my three-person row down the center of the plane. We leave the middle TV screen on Géo Vision, and I can’t help but take pictures of the screen every time it changes. I love maps.

So far, I have slept a little, watched two movies, and had the best airplane food of my life.

We even got little baguettes and a single serve wedge of camembert. I heart Air France.

I’ve been having a great time talking with everyone in the group, and I finally think I know everyone’s name. It’s quiet now though, so I think I’ll try to go back to sleep.


June 10, 2008, 7:16am/ June 10, 2008, 4:16pm

I am very tired. Partially because I've had very little sleep, and partially because I've already been walking around a lot.

It's very warm. Hardly a cloud in the sky all day.

I purchased a ten hour, use-as-you-like pass from the company that provides wireless internet to the building. It wasn't terribly expensive, but it works very poorly in my room, so I'm going to have to try and find something better. In the meantime, I am here, I am safe, I am having a good time.