Long Friday

Yesterday showed the worst weather that I have witnessed in Paris to date. It was like 60 degrees and rainy. It felt like winter with waking up in the morning feeling the warmth of the sheets and not wanting to get out of bed and hitting the snooze button every 5 minutes for an hour. It wasn’t that bad but yeah I actually brought and used an umbrella throughout the day which as many know is a rare thing. I am a little weary though because this is the weather that usually just brings on the sickness for me, but hopefully with all the 27 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES that I am eating I will be fine. I started off the day with two cups of coffee and a croissant among other bread fillers. By the time I got on the bus I was shaking. Well not convulsing, but a slight jingle.

Anyway so there wasn’t much sleeping going on during the 1.5 hour journey to Giverny. Donc (a French transition word that I think is the language’s best word because no matter how different the next topic is, you can use the word) donc it was a thrilling ride because we had driven down the same road when we went to Normandy although I did see a few WWII bunkers on cliffs overlooking the roads which I have to say well done to German engineering. I mean we see their brilliance everyday in Mercedes and BMWs; Volkswagens not so much, not to offend anyone. (Borat reference). Anyway, we got there and had to go through the gardens in the rain, I know terrible right. Claude Monnet’s house was just like any other classical European house. Beautiful, but not 2 hours by bus amazing. What made the trip worth it was the water garden for me. I have already seen his regular garden which is colorfully kept but the waterlillies and bamboo made it worth the trip. I mean only one little patch of them actually had flowers on them and it was raining but still its Monet’s waterlillies. Took lots of pictures and hopefully they are appearing at the top of this entry. For lunch we stopped at a local hotel in the picturesque town of Giverny which looked like a street with ten houses on it. Donc, I had an Indian Gallette which is a buck-wheat crepe specific to Normandy. I think I should sue that restaurant for false advertising because it said curry sauce and spicy chicken. Maybe the French can’t take very spicy foods or I am immune to spice. I think the former is the case because all my gallette tasted like was chicken with a tangy cheese sauce on it. You see I had high expectations because one of the only times I have had a full complete meal in France was when I went to an Indian restaurant and ordered Chicken curry. Maybe it was because that restaurant was next to another that was called New Baghdad that it was good. The ironic thing is that the restaurant was somewhat under reconstruction to put it nicely. Sorry I couldn’t help myself.

Going on, I coupled the day’s activities with a free trip to the Louvre because every Friday from 6-closing it is free for students. Hence for my first trip I went to all of the touristy things like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory, etc. My favorite paintings were that of Napoleon and the other neoclassical. I don’t know I think they are so much more of what you call real art because not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but they tell a real story. Or maybe I am just too much of a history major. As I was walking around, the ending music of Da Vinci Code when the wrongfully-casted Tom Hanks is kneeling by the tomb of Mary, Hans Zimmer’s Chevaliers de Sangreal, was playing in my head. I don’t know if that was because I actually liked the book/movie or if the caffeine was occupying itself. I took pictures with the inverted pyramids and got on my knees and said a few prayers. Haha I am just kidding, I am going to save that for the holy city of Lourdes which I am visiting in a few weeks. What’s coming up on Monday and Tuesday is my trip to Brussels. There I will visit the NATO headquarters, European Commission, and the Council of Europe. So yes I will be getting my money’s worth as if living in Paris isn’t satisfying enough. Cheers from the 14eme arrondisement of Montparnasse. Yes mom and dad that was the name of your favorite French restaurant back in ancient times we called the 90s.

It's Been Awhile

I know it has been awhile, but I have been studying for midterms and doing work…I know for once right…I have actually been without internet at my house for unknown reasons meaning that I only get 5-10 minutes here and there at cafes and what not. A few things to mention before I go into another commentary, I went to a PSG – Bordeaux soccer game last night and was amazed to see that the stands were not full. Regardless the spirit was still there and in some cases a little ridiculous. I can see why they don’t sell alcohol at the games. People had flares and what not at the game and police were in full out riot gear with shields something that was not there when Scotland was in town. Secondly, I am going to Istanbul, Turkey in October and have booked my tickets. It was one of those spur of the moment decisions for my one week off break because tickets were cheap so I took them. I am looking forward to not having the Euro meaning that the exchange rate will be favorable and for once I won’t be ashamed of the dollar which recently has a set a new low of 1.4130 – 1 to the Euro.

We can thank the current administration for that in that the national deficit has exploded over the last few years which can be attributed to Iraq and terrible money management and spending. I have not been following the polls but I think that the US’s current situation is similar to what New York City was like before Rudy. Obviously it’s on more of a grander scale, but maybe he could use some of his sly tactics to turn our economy around so that we don’t hit another recession that will send our nation down a road of becoming not the only superpower in the world. Looks like he has a slight lead in the Republican polls, but then again nobody really knows who is leading. Typical…probably because the polls are bull-shit anyway and whoever pays the polling people more money gets to have their name first thus making everyone feel like the nation supports that candidate and then they vote according to that rather than think about the choices themselves…because there is no time to bother themselves with things as important as the national election which determines the course of our nation’s history which could have a direct effect on your life especially if you or your kids have to go off to war. Which to me would not be so bad, but I know others my age would never think of picking up a gun to defend our country.

Although many could argue that Iraq doesn’t really put our national sovereignty in question but then again look at the military today, it’s really made up of people who have their hearts and sense of duty in the right place, but I feel the services are lacking certain needed professions and extremely educated people. Also, I am sure if you looked at the financial makeup of the military I am sure it would be hard to find many people who were from well-of families. How many of the senators or other public servant’s sons and daughters are in the military? I know that I am paralleling Michael Moore which to me is very scary but I understand his point which is exaggerated but we send off people to war who are tied to the military for financial reasons and not idealist and moral reasons of wanting to protect our values and people. It’s not only the mentality of people my age that bothers me but also the citizens of our country who let the government treat veterans like freakshows when they come back. You would think that people who put their lives in harms way so that we can sit in Starbucks and waste away our life would get the best treatment possible not only during their required medical treatment but after. I guess war in our country is so controversial that soldiers just get shoved under the carpet. Hate the War not the soldiers and please realize that they are people too and have to get on with their lives bearing the sacrifice and the least we can do is acknowledge it let alone do something to help them out.