October 28, 2005

Jack-O-Lantern Joy

I haven't carved a jack-o-lantern in many years! But yesterday I bought a very nice pumpkin at Rainbow, hauled it home on my bike, and tonight I spent two and a half hours carving it. You can check it out here. Be forewarned: You will be frightened!

October 26, 2005

Intergalactic Planetary

Here's a great example of why I love living in the city. I was riding the bus tonight and these two women behind me were giggling over an astronomy book for kids. One of them was reading aloud from it in her best fake British Scientist voice, loudly enough for everyone to hear:

There are four types of galaxies: elliptical galaxies, spherical galaxies, bar galaxies, and irregular galaxies. Elliptical galaxies are oval- or egg-shaped. This Hubble Space Telescope image shows an elliptical galaxy. Oh and there's a beautiful picture here! Who else wants to see?

She held up the book for everyone on the bus, and we all looked. No one could resist, because she was actually pretty cute and entertaining, and the full-color picture of the elliptical galaxy was indeed beautiful. She turned a few pages and continued.

...This nebula is called the Planetary Nebula because it resembles a planet. This radio telescope image was taken—oh we have to get off the bus now!

She and her friend tumbled off the bus in astronomical ecstasy, and a guy near me exclaimed, "Well I learned something!" Everyone on the bus who wasn't a grump laughed. There's never a shortage of free entertainment in the city.

October 25, 2005

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

On the topic of "things that street people yell at me", the other night this guy on 15th Street saw me riding by on my bike and yelled, "You a big sweet black woman!" Granted, it was dark, but still....

October 16, 2005

The Things I Saw and Did

I've had an absolutely top-drawer weekend of just being at home doing the things I enjoy most, or erranding around my nice neighborhood, relaxed and refreshed. A long vacation sure makes home feel comfier, especially after a 12-hour return flight plus delays at the airport. But before all that, I saw and did many wonderful things:

I haven't seen Leroy since our high school graduation day. But when he greeted me on the train platform in Kaiserslautern, we were instant buddies again. We spent the next couple of days sightseeing around southwest Germany:

• Burg Pyrmont
  This secluded castle has been renovated, some of it with 20th-century fixtures and furniture. While we were there, some locals were celebrating Hubertusmesse.

• the Mosel River
  
  We took an hour-long cruise along this river, lined with steep slopes planted with terraced vineyards.

• Cochem and its Reichsburg
  
  I bought a nice new wallet in the precious little touristy town of Cochem. The castle above it is pretty sweet, with a commanding view of the river and lots of interesting antiques.
  

Back in Paris again:

• Sacre Coeur
  This is the prettiest church I've ever seen.

• Montmartre
  
  This historic neighborhood is now a bargain shopping area, including many reasonably-priced fabric stores. I didn't see much that really impressed me, so I only bought one fabric here.

• Musée des Egouts
  
  The Sewer Museum! This is an actual segment of working sewers, outfitted with safety rails and educational exhibits about the history of Paris sanitation. Almost as cool as the catacombs.

• Eiffel Tower
  
  Herf and Aimee were wise to advise me to visit the tower at night and avoid it beforehand. This was the perfect finale to this trip. Walking there, the tower loomed larger and larger until it engulfed my whole field of vision. It's huge! I went all the way to the top and enjoyed a sparkling view of the whole city.
  

Phew.

October 7, 2005

Goodbye, Wallet!

You were a good wallet, cute, neatly organized, full of useful cards and Euros. Fare thee well, wallet! Maybe you're now reposing in the garbage, unburdened of your load of cash. I was shocked and outraged to find your place in my backpack empty after our ride on the crowded metro, but now I've resumed having a good time. Bon voyage, my wallet!

October 6, 2005

Skulls and Gadgets

Things I saw today:

• L'Arc De Triomphe
  I think I'm over this particular monument. It's impressive, but that's only fun for a little while. Then it's just a block of rock that one has already seen all one's life, in pictures of famous Paris landmarks.

• Musée Rodin
  
  I went here because of this essay at McSweeneys, about the Door to Hell. I didn't really have any expectations about what else I would see there, so I was surprised to find myself quite moved by some of his other work.

• Catacombs de Paris
  
  This rocked. Bones of millions of people! By far the coolest thing I've seen in a long time. There are two good slideshows here and here, and it's also mentioned in that same McSweeneys essay.

• Many cute French people on cute bicycles
  
  'Nuff said.

• Musée des Arts et Métiers
  
  This place is open until 9:30pm on Thursdays, so Chris met me there when he was done with work. It's a museum of applied technology, full of big old cases displaying some of the many gadgets that have improved our lives. The largest objects, including Foucault's pendulum, are displayed in a chapel that was converted, post-Revolution, into a sort of temple to science. Totally edifying experience. Be aware that the staff gets grumpy around 9:28pm.
  

October 5, 2005

Oops

This afternoon I was standing on the Pont d'Arcole, camera in one hand and lense cap in the other, taking this picture, when I mused, It would be just like me to drop this lense cap into the river. I hope I don't do that. Just in case, I eagerly applied the lense cap to the camera—and fumbled it. In slow motion, I watched the cap fall to the pavement, bounce, and tumble lazily into the Seine. I stood there in disbelief for a good long time. Quelle dommage!

October 4, 2005

I'm in Paris!

I arrived in Paris feeling dazed but unwilling to admit it to myself. The lovely Aimee was there to greet me, and we enjoyed a light lunch before I ventured out for a little scouting.

Quickly, however, I started nodding off on my feet. The city is, well, gorgeous, but I couldn't appreciate it in a state of jetlagged delirium. I tried to rally by stopping at a cafe and ordering tea and a tasty omelette, but it was no use. I stumbled onto the metro and returned to Aimee and Dennis's apartment, where I donned pajamas and hit the pillow.

After a 12-hour sleep, I woke up this morning feeling like a million bucks. Leaning out the window in my pajamas, I could see the top of the Eiffel Tower. Holy shit, I'm in Paris!

Photos are here and will be updated almost daily.