Pictures

I got back safely to the states last Friday after a whirlwind three weeks. I had an unforgettable time in Europe, and have spent the last few days trying to get the pictures trimmed, organized, and looking good. I think I've finally figured it out, so follow this link if you've followed me this far...

http://picasaweb.google.com/s.rusteikas

I'll likely turn this blog into something that friends and family can continue to follow from time to time, in some form or another. When I get around to that, you'll be the first to know. Until then, back to the grind.

Open in August

There is a saying here that 'nothing is open in August.' A lot of France shuts down for a full month to go on summer vacation to wherever they go on vacation. Must be nice. That hasn't stopped me from enjoying what might be the best city I've ever visited. Last night I caught up with two friends I met in Rome who have friends studying abroad here in Paris for the summer. We went to a great authentic restaurant filled with the local crowd, where I had some delicious veal and ham over a pile of sliced potatoes covered in a creamy mushroom sauce. Afterwards we regrouped at their apartment, bought some wine, and went to the canal to digest and relax. Another fine and serene evening came to an end saying au revoir to friends, planning to start a band called Open in August when we get back. This morning we went to the Picasso museum, filled with art from some guy who obviously can't draw or color or see straight or, well, I don't know my art, but it was certainly odd. We walked through the Luxembourg Gardens and watched people playing chess and people getting frustrated losing at chess. We finished the afternoon with lunch behind Notre Dame and a savory crepe filled with nutella, bananas, and strawberry jam. Oh yes. I'm here at the hostel catching my breath, but soon leaving to spend the entirety of an evening and night at the Eiffel Tower. Not looking forward to the flight back, but definitely some ice cold water and a long long sleep. At this point I've taken nearly 1700 pictures, somehow, so be on the lookout for many more when I have a decently functioning computer. Au revoir!

Paris

I'm not sure where to begin with paris. It is at once sprawling and intimate. It is beautiful beyond any description. I feel like a poet walking the streets and sitting under the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles every hour after dark. On Tuesday night I had a wild night with a couple of the guys from the hostel. We sat in the grass of the Champs de Mars beneath the tower for some evening wine, bread, and cheese. After, on our way trying to find the Latin quarter we ran into a group of girls who ended up showing us around all night. We got more wine and went down to the river to basically talk and relax for the remainder of the night, with them sharing stories of Paris while we drank by the water. Really pretty cool. Yesterday I toured the Orsay museum for a look at impressionist art painted by the greats of Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Cezanne and others. While the Rennaisance art has been detailed and massive and centered around a religious theme, it was very refreshing to stand in front of some colorful creative designs powered more by an expression of the individual. Afterwords I went to Versaille to tour the palace and walk the endless gardens. The palace is excessive in its stature, rivaling the size of the Vatican. It is decked in gold all over and certainly speaks to the highest of royaly. The gardens were my favorite part, which seemed to go on forever. I had lunch down by the water, watching tourists in paddles boats, swans, and ducks navigate the canal. In the evening, I went to Montmartre for a panaromic view of the city and setting sun. I stayed just until dark, after which I came back to the hostel completely exhausted. Today I toured the Louvre and Orangerie museums, saw the Mona Lisa, The Wedding Feast, and many others, along with Monet's wall to wall Water Lilies. I think I've had my fill of art for one trip. Tonight I meet a few of the friends I met in Rome for dinner down in the latin quarter, after which we'll see where the night goes. The weather will be beautiful again tomorrow, so I may check out a morning show at the moulin rouge and spend the rest under the Eiffel Tower, closing my trip with a ride to the top. See everyone soon!

Paris

My adventures in Paris began today, relatively low key. A group from our hostel met this morning for a fairly cheap walking tour of the city, which took us from the Notre Dame (went inside the cathedral where the stained glass sparkles and is quietly magnificent), along the Shakespeare and Co. bookstore where some of my favorite authors, Kerouac and Hemingway used to spend a good share of time, to the Louvre and the central area of Paris for great views of the city. I didn't get inside anywhere except Notre Dame's cathedral, so tomorrow I'll likely set off by myself to cover some ground. The Louvre and Orangiere museums are closed tomorrow, so I'm thinking about an early morning tour of the Orsay and then a day trip to Versaille, with an evening stroll of Moulin Rouge and Sacre Couer to complete the day. Tonight, some of us from the tour are grabbing a few bottles of wine and heading to the Eiffel Tower to enjoy an evening getting the finest views of the City of Lights. I am not completely in my element at this particular hostel or with all the people yet, but already Paris is something extraordinary, and I have a definite sense for the pull that it has had on so many famous artists and intellectuals in the last few centuries.

4 days left

Interlaken ended with a serious bang, literally. Swiss day was incredible, there was a huge party at the hostel, complete with a fireworks show in the middle of town. We hiked to Trummelbach Falls in the morning, via Lauterbrunnen...awesome. We hiked up through a monstrous cave built in 1911 right through the falls to gt some good views of the ten cascades. We found a 35 foot water slide down the street in the afternoon and spent a good bit of time doing jumps off it into the pool (videos and pictures to follow!). The group I went canyoning with the day before really stuck together, and apparently i'm in charge of making a facebook group for all 12 or 15 of us that did most things together while at the Balmer's. We really had a great time to say the least, and lots of good pictures and videos for the memories. The morning after I took a train up through Grindelwald to Kleinne Sheidigg and explored being that area high in the alps at the foot of the Jungfrau. Lots more to say when I have better internet. Got into Paris late last night, so just getting started here...