Nothing too crazy tonight. Just a walk and some people watching after dinner. Ran into some strange creatures (pictured). Crossed the Pont des Arts, where crowds of young people plant themselves in the evening, have a picnic, or pass the bottle. I love cities where young people gather by the water. I feel like I never see a cool places in the states where people congregate at night in a safe and spirited environment. Though I guess I've never lived near a river or an ocean front.
I was thinking about that position I mentioned earlier where one person steps aside while the other 'deals' with someone. I notice this happens when you're with a friend and they run into someone that they know on the street that you don't know. So you sort of step aside. Eventually you're introduced before going your separate ways. Or you aren't introduced and you do that awkward nod goodbye and then your friend explains how he and that person used to work at the library together in college or something. Anyway, yeah. What was I talking about? Oh, Paris. Yes, beautiful city. I'm definitely going to have to come back and see more of it. Next time I'm coming back with money... and a date.
Speaking of money, I didn't realize that my ATM card expired in June. Turns out Washington Mutual will not send me a replacement internationally. Fortunately I'm also carrying an ATM card for my business account and they transferred some money into it. I love it when my "plan B's" successfully go into action.
Tomorrow night, Barcelona, Spain.
Labels: France
What a beautiful day in Paris. It was one of those rare days when I just felt so content with life. I had music in my ears (those headphones that come with Ipods suck by the way) sunshine on my shoulders, a nice lunch of smoked salmon salad in my belly (thanks to Val's dad), and a spring in my step. I was on my way to the Musee d'Orsay which has an amazing collection of Impressionist artwork.
I walked over to the Eiffel Tower nearby because I had read on Yahoo that there was a temporary pool built under it to promote scuba diving. It sounded so random I had to take a look. Plus, weaving through the crowds around the tower always makes for good people watching. I didn't realize it was going to be so warm and I wished I wasn't wearing my sweater. I rolled up my sleeves and wished I could take a scuba lesson to cool off a bit.
As I made my way along the river Seine, in awe of how incredible life could be sometimes, I noticed a jogger talking to some guy near an intersection. The jogger looked a bit confused and after a moment continued on his sweaty way. A few moments later, I found myself standing next to the guy from earlier. While I was tapping my foot on the curb to the music and gazing at the golden statues that flank the pont Alexandre, the guy bent down in front of me and pretended to pick up a gold ring. He looked at me and gestured that I must have dropped it. I told him that it wasn't mine. He offered it to me and said something. I had to pull out of my music trance and take off my headphones to see what the guy wanted. He slipped the ring on each of his fingers showing that it didn't fit and then offered it to me again. I started to realize that this was some sort of scam, remembering the confusion on the joggers face. I told him, "It's not mine." He offered it again. "Keep it." I responded. Finally, he gave up and moved on. I went back to listening to my beats and crossed the street just as a gorgeous Parisian girl in a striped shirt came around the corner, walking her dog with a friend. I stopped to take notes in my Moleskine about the ring scam guy as my imagination was now running wild with short film ideas about a cursed ring that a gypsy could not get rid of. This was also a strategic move to get the striped shirt girl in front of me. A few moments later, I noticed the ring guy sitting on a bench with a friend of his. They looked tired.
A block later I noticed a woman talking to a tourist girl about a gold ring she was holding. The tourist girl had a friend who stood about ten feet away watching the whole thing go down. As the woman seemed to plead with the tourist girl, my imagination was saying "don't take the curs-ed ring!" So when I reached her friend I said very quickly "Keep walking. Keep walking." The friend heeded the advice and beckoned the tourist girl away.
I googled the lost gold ring scam a bit and apparently it's very popular in European cities. Scenarios vary. You accept the ring from the person who claims that it does not fit, they're divorced, or they can't take it for religious reasons. They may also say that they cannot sell it or take it to the police because they don't have "papers". After you take the ring, they ask you for a few euros for lunch. Sometimes they walk away and sometimes they claim that your offer is not enough and they take the ring back (along with your euros). In other cases I've read, the whole transaction is used to distract you while the person's partner pickpockets you.
If I wasn't in such of a happy little groove, enjoying my alone time, I would have asked the tourist girl what the woman said to her. I did start thinking about the tourists' body positioning and I realized it was common. Here's what I mean: If you're walking with a friend in a strange place and you're stopped by a solicitor, a beggar, or some rico suave, often you'll keep walking a few steps ahead of your friend as they deal with the 'trouble'. So imagine Valentina is stopped by a guy selling some tour. She politely stops to hear the sales pitch but I would keep walking a few feet ahead to convey that I'm not interested buddy. This places me in a position where I can keep an eye on her so that we're both not distracted by the pitch and therefore vulnerable to pickpockets and the whatnot. This also places me in the role of the "impatient travel partner" who can assist in pulling the friend away if he/she needs an out from the high-pressure pitch. It's brilliant and I swear a lot of us do it as if it was second nature. Anyhow, I digress.
I continued on along Orsay and caught up with the striped shirt cutie, following her until I got to the museum. I spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying the Musee d'Orsay. If you'd like to go for a walk with me in Paris through photos, hit up the gallery.
Labels: France
I hopped a flight on British Airways to Paris today via London Heathrow's Terminal 4. I was randomly (I like to think it's because I'm so handsome) chosen for a Rapiscan. If you haven't heard of this thing, it's basically a full body x-ray that can virtually see right through your clothes to search for weapons. (The photo is not me. My gut is bigger and my... nevermind)
The application of this new x-ray technology to airport screening uses high energy x-rays that are more likely to scatter than penetrate materials as compared to lower-energy x-rays used in medical applications. Although this type of x-ray is said to be harmless it can move through other materials, such as clothing.
A passenger is scanned by rastering or moving a single high energy x-ray beam rapidly over their form. The signal strength of detected backscattered x-rays from a known position then allows a highly realistic image to be reconstructed. Since only Compton scattered x-rays are used, the registered image is mainly that of the surface of the object/person being imaged.
They make you stand and turn your body in different directions while they take three body scans. There's one guy instructing you (who assured me it was safe) and one guy in a booth checking for weapons and penis size. If you pass, you're either escorted to the front of the baggage x-ray line and/or offered a contract in porn films. I wish I had asked to peek at what the guy behind the curtain was getting a peek at.
As my flight was landing, I forgot I was landing in Paris and for a few seconds had that sensation of relief that you get when you're landing back home. That was a bummer. But as soon as the flight attendant welcomed us to Paris, I had that oo la la feeling again. There's something very romantic about coming to this city. A bit later I was on the train to Valentina's and I started to see all of the cute French girls again. Not bad. Except it was starting to rain. Great.
And then I saw it. The Eiffel Tower from Val's street. I couldn't help but smile.
Labels: France
I just woke up from a weird dream where I was returning to my old job with a promotion...and Will Farrell
worked there. My buddy David was there, too. At some point we made some crack about how Will should pretend to play the jazz flute. Another guy mimicked the sound of a jazz flute but he was getting way out of hand with it. Oh, and I was cleaning confetti off of the floor of my half-cubicle. Dreams are rad. Does this mean I'm ready to go back to work?
I picked up an ipod before I left on my trip since everyone was freaking out that I wasn't bringing music with me. So far I've used it to watch Battlestar Galactica
(a show everyone recommended for the last two years but I refused to get into... I'm into it now) and to listen to Feist. I honestly have listened to Let It Die
and The Reminder
at least seven to ten times this week. The other night I danced part of the way back from the Louvre. I've started thinking about how I'm not heading back to the United States after this trip. It's a new sensation. From here, I just keep on going. And no American food for ages. Guh. Probably better for my health though.
Labels: France
I lounged around Val's apartment being lazy into the afternoon. I can't believe how tired I've been. Bike rides and walking for kilometers wears me down. (The nice thing about being exhausted is that it keeps my hormones at bay, know what I mean?) I went to the Hotel de Ville to meet another Couchsurfing friend named Katie who's from the US. After lunch, gelato, and conversation we checked out modern art at the Centre Pompidou. Think Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, Man Ray, Gorky, etc. An afternoon wasn't enough to cover all of the museum thoroughly but it was good.
Val made dinner and afterwards we headed to a nearby cafe for chocolate cake and a drink. Now I've gotta pack my duffel for my flight to London tomorrow. Til we meet again, Paris.
YouTube
P.S.- I think it's time to shave and wear sunscreen.
This morning I met Mado, a friend from Couchsurfing.com, who showed me an amazing day in Paris. First we had lunch at Cafe de l'Industry where I tried Steak Tartare for the first time. It was slightly daring for me but I dove right in and enjoyed it. (Apologies to my vegetarian friends) Then we rented me a bike for 10 Euros and hit the streets of Paris. Let me tell you, it was wild to race between cars and speed through the crazy roundabouts. We hit different sights like Notre Dame, Hotel de Ville, and the Louvre before heading to Porte de Versailles to check out the Paris Expo for a bit. The expo was an odd faire that had everything from lowrider cars and skateparks to housewares and international foods.
After a long day of biking hard around the city, Mado treated me to a Moroccan iced mint tea, which completely hit the spot. I spent the rest of the evening viewing art at the Louvre. I'd missed the Richelieu wing last time I was here so I got caught up on my Rembrandts and Napoleon Apartments. Last time I was here, I found a less frequented bathroom in the Greek sculpture area. Always nice when you need "a moment". This time, I found one behind Louis XIII bedroom. It's kind of neat to pass through the rooms and furniture of French royalty on the way to my own "throne".
Pretty great day, but pretty exhausting, too. Night!
Labels: France
You may have noticed that I have a section of the site called Feed Tony where you can send me money to sponsor one or more of my meals. In return, I'll post a photo or video greeting on the blog. My brother Walter generously made a donation at FeedTony.com and today I enjoyed Steak Tartare at Cafe de l'Industry. It was pretty delicious. If you're not familiar with steak tartare, it's basically raw beef ground up and served with a raw egg yolk in the middle. It's accompanied by capers, chopped onion, and relish. So what I'm told is that you pour a dash of Worcestershire sauce on it, a dab of mustard, and you mix it all up. The meal came with a green salad and gratin. It was the perfect meal before my bike ride across Paris.
I've been staying near the Arc de Triomphe and last night I wandered out alone to hunt for some food and take in the pleasant evening weather. I forget how cool it is to walk the Parisian streets at night. It's like a movie set with tall, historical buildings lining every rue. I'd walked for a while when I caught a glance at the Eiffel Tour with its duel spotlight rotating across the moonlit sky. I decided to head towards it, to say bon soir.
When I arrived the streets were somewhat full with tourists. I walked to a couple of food stands until I settled on the least crowded and ordered a ham and cheese panini. Every meal I have on my trips is delicious after all of the walking I do. I try not to waste any of it (earlier in the day I was eating crumbs off of my pants). I munched on my sandwich while sitting at the steps of the Trocadero. Like Cuba, Paris is for lovers. I enjoy seeing all of the couples on trips together in Paris, totally swept away by the sight of the Eiffel Tower. Once an hour at night, people cheer and kiss when hundreds of lights start to sparkle all over it. I started to think that maybe the tower is the only thing prettier than the girls here. On my walk back, I snacked on a crepe with Nutella for dessert. Not a bad night in Paris.
I'm going to try to meet up with some couch surfers in Paris before I leave for London on Friday. It'll be nice to meet some new people and chat about the city.
When I arrived the streets were somewhat full with tourists. I walked to a couple of food stands until I settled on the least crowded and ordered a ham and cheese panini. Every meal I have on my trips is delicious after all of the walking I do. I try not to waste any of it (earlier in the day I was eating crumbs off of my pants). I munched on my sandwich while sitting at the steps of the Trocadero. Like Cuba, Paris is for lovers. I enjoy seeing all of the couples on trips together in Paris, totally swept away by the sight of the Eiffel Tower. Once an hour at night, people cheer and kiss when hundreds of lights start to sparkle all over it. I started to think that maybe the tower is the only thing prettier than the girls here. On my walk back, I snacked on a crepe with Nutella for dessert. Not a bad night in Paris.
I'm going to try to meet up with some couch surfers in Paris before I leave for London on Friday. It'll be nice to meet some new people and chat about the city.
Labels: France
Dear Mom,
I'm in Paris and it's beautiful here. Actually, the girls are beautiful. Send me more money and some charm.
Temporarily single,
Tony
I made it to Paris safely Monday afternoon. I met up with my "cousin" Valentina, dropped off my bags (one huge, heavy backpack and one medium duffel bag), and walked her to school. I spent the rest of the afternoon people watching (i.e. ogling girls) around the shops and cafes of St. Germain Blvd, strolling along the river Seine, and napping in the park at the palais du Louvre (I'll visit the museum later this week since I only spent an hour running around it last spring). We had Chinese food for dinner and now I'm writing this update before I pass out on the couch from jet lag. À bientôt. Oh, did I mention that every other girl on the street is attractive?
I'm in Paris and it's beautiful here. Actually, the girls are beautiful. Send me more money and some charm.
Temporarily single,
Tony
I made it to Paris safely Monday afternoon. I met up with my "cousin" Valentina, dropped off my bags (one huge, heavy backpack and one medium duffel bag), and walked her to school. I spent the rest of the afternoon people watching (i.e. ogling girls) around the shops and cafes of St. Germain Blvd, strolling along the river Seine, and napping in the park at the palais du Louvre (I'll visit the museum later this week since I only spent an hour running around it last spring). We had Chinese food for dinner and now I'm writing this update before I pass out on the couch from jet lag. À bientôt. Oh, did I mention that every other girl on the street is attractive?
Labels: France
