May 2010
8 posts
1 tag
“When you don’t create things, you become defined by your tastes rather than...”
– why the lucky stiff
2 tags
Paris - Day 7
Saturday 2010-05-01
So I miscalculated the effects of Labor Day, but ended up having more fun serendipitously in the end.
The Chateau Versailles was closed, presumably for the holiday. I did a half circuit of the immediate grounds, and decided to hop the train back into town. I don’t feel I’ve missed much, except for the experience of walking down halls once walked by kings....
2 tags
Paris - Day 6
Friday 2010-04-30
For a change of pace, I am lunching in what amounts to a mall food court. The major difference between this and one stateside is, of of course, the overwhelming amount of fine art spanning thousands of years located mere yards above. Oh, and the beer and wine for sale along with the sandwiches and hot dogs.
Yes, I finally made it to the Louvre. To my chagrin, I became one of...
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Paris - Day 5
Thursday 2010-04-29
Contemplating carrying the bazooka (70-200 f/2.8) today. The pounds add up over the course of the day. I might as well. Aches and pains are temporary.
Temporary they may be, but oy my shoulders and calves hurt. We went to the Arc de Triomphe, walked up and down the Champs d’Elysée, and rode the Métro a fair bit (to see the Catacombs).
Both attractions had...
2 tags
Paris - Day 4
Wednesday 2010-04-28
Last night I had perhaps the best culinary experience of my life. But let’s back up first.
After lunch yesterday, I went to le Hôtel les Invalides and saw Napoleon’s tomb. It was shockingly cold inside the mausoleum/basilica. (As I suspected, that was the gold dome I had been taking pictures of over the walls of Rodin’s garden)
I then toured a bit of...
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Paris - Day 3
Tuesday 2010-04-27
Well, I lost my pen. The Musée Rodin, while wonderful, is not the cheapest place to replenish one’s writing instrument.
Last night I got lost south of the Eiffel Tower, because some fool left the hostel without a map. It turns out I unwittingly passed three Métro stations (with increasing desperation) before I made a huge circle, and found my way back.
A French...
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Paris - Day 2
Monday 2010-04-26
“Après le Photo Tour”
I met Randy Harris in front of the Hotel du Louvre this morning after a suitably frantic navigation of le Métro (which needn’t have been so frantic, had I correctly read the time to rendezvous.
I prefer London’s tube, at first blush, but it is similar enough. They have no in-car announcer (I later found that the newer, rarer...
2 tags
Paris - Day 1
Sunday 2010-04-25
I feel so alone. Which I guess was the point.
One does not travel to a country alone, not speaking the language, expecting anything else.
But still.
I am eating dinner at the Café Bata’clan. I was attracted by the vibrant facade, a fool’s motley of pastel. I felt like an idiot trying to order, eventually pointing and grunting at Tartine du Chef.
I still...