Un viaje a París

We had a few admirers in Paris: understandable.

Hello all!

I made a flickr account so I can post all of my pictures. Here's a link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48490668@N07/sets/

So as you'll see in my pictures, some friends and I just went on a trip to Paris. We had such a great time- we saw the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Dali Museum, ate escargot and crepes, saw some great live music. Here's a video:

We engaged in some nightlife activities and met a bunch of French people. I honestly didn't expect to really like Paris that much. I thought it was probably over romanticized, and we all know the stereotypes about French people. But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Most of the French people I met were much friendlier than the average American that I'll run into at home, with the exception of the curmudgeonly staff at our hotel. The food was delicious, and I found the city to be quite charming. This might sound ridiculous, but I was also skeptical about how cool the Eiffel Tower would be. It's just so hyped up that I couldn't imagine it living up to whatever expectations I had. But we climbed as high as they would allow us (not to the tippy-top, but 2/3 of the way up) and it really was worth it. In conclusion, it was a great weekend and I would love to go back sometime. But I would still rather live in Amsterdam- it smells better. Flickr only lets me add so many pictures a month, so I have some more of Paris to come.

In Amsterdam news, my classes are still going well. I gave my first class presentation last week with a friend. I had a midterm paper to write this week which I am very efficiently procrastinating. At least my room and the desktop of my computer have been cleaned.

My bike is a little broken, so fixing that is at the top of my to-do list. I've had a bit of a cold so I've had a pretty uneventful week, but I'm feeling much better now, and the weather is getting really nice. So I really should finish my work and go outside and play.

Today some little Dutch children dressed as cowboys pretended to shoot 2 friends and me. Then they stood and stared at us as we struggled with the key to our apartment: strangely intimidating...

No Rain

It is a beautiful day in Amsterdam! Mid 40s and sunny, and most importantly, NO RAIN! My bike riding today was very pleasant, and I actually spent time outside chatting with friends. The past few weeks have been very very rainy and cold and generally pretty miserable weather-wise. It doesn't bother me too much, but I certainly welcome the sun.

The inevitable has happened. I fell off my bike. I was riding on the correct side of the bike lane, but a mother and her two children were coming towards me on a huge bike/child carrying contraption. I didn't think there would be room for both of us to pass, so I thought I would just go up on the curb. But I guess the angle of approach was unacceptable, and I fell. Slowly and embarrassingly, and in front of children. Slight wound to the knee, and small rip in my jeans. But I got back on my bike and rode to Dam Square like a champ. Other than that though, biking is becoming almost pleasant. I can turn now.

I finally made it to the Windmill brewery right next to our apartments. I went with my friend Sarah with the intention of just getting a beer, but ended up staying for a free tour. So now I have some beer knowledge. It's a great spot, and convenient for my cultivation of a taste for beer. I feel that I will be back for much beer sipping, peanut and cheese snacking, and card playing. Another new spot that I hope to frequent is a bar that Aram took me with pool tables upstairs and booths overlooking the street for prime people watching. It is conveniently located next to a nice looking Indian restaurant.

Sarah, my new friend Kasey, and I went to the Niet Normaal art exhibit near Dam Square yesterday. It was really interesting, but I wish that I could have read the Dutch explanations or had gotten the English audio-accompaniment. The art was in all forms- film, photography, walls full of little sticky notes and napkins with writing on them, sculpture, fake inventions... One of my favorites was the "non-traceptive": a "condom" that did DNA testing, and the tip would dissolve in the absence of genetic (or other) disease. There was also a video "documentary" of a fake disease in which metal hip replacements, etc would grow and eat away a persons body. Another movie was about disabled people riding in an airplane, one about an OCD and anorexic girl who only ate free samples of things. One about old women trying to hold on to their beauty and youth. Very eclectic.

I am about to go dye my hair dark brown. This is an attempt to dissuade myself from piercing my nose, which I'm sure would royally piss off my parents, but I'm mostly afraid of it leaving a scar. But if I'm ever going to do it, this is probably the only chance I'll have. Time is running out for youthful rebellion. Also, the blonde is growing out and starting to look goofy. I guess the jury is still out on a temporary nose piercing. Feedback is welcome.