Bullfights, Paris, and an Effiel Tower penis
Ok, here we go.
Sorry again about the delay in updating, but I haven't had a heck of alot of time. As I'm sure you know, I've finished my period of traveling alone and am with my family until the 20th. It's very nice to be with them, nice to have company. Its alot like when I was in Switzerland with Jon. I'm with people who know what I've done in the last three years, heard all the stories, and I don't have to worry about meeting people each day.
Madrid ended well. The bullfight was alot of fun. I was really excited about, a little too excited really, considering I was going watch 6 living things die for my entertainment, but I've never been one to worry about such things. I really enjoyed it. It's outdated, pointless, and cruel, but it still is a cultural experience. I doubt I could ever convince Maizie to stay past the second bull, but I enjoyed it and for 3.50 it was a bargin.
It was a good fight too. I saw good work and bad and I also say a bull wreck the barrier, and two guys get trampled including a matador who got back up and finished the job. Very cool. I also read Death in the Afternoon by Hemingway a few years ago, so I know whats going on. It helps to understand the signifigance of each section. I also toured the ring around noon. That was cool.
The train ride to Paris was long and uneventful. On the sleeper train I was in a top bunk with 5 Korean kids. If I cannot choose my bed, train or hostel, I'm invaribly on a top bunk, it drives me nuts and on the rails (rather than on the road) asians are horribly annoying. They rarely speak in english, are in huge packs, and are really loud. These Koreans, the 3 guys actually, had beer and food and we sat on in the heat of the top bunks and drank beer and wine (I had a little)and ate a little food. Good guys.
The second train I sat next to this French guy who out of the blue asks, "Do you want to watch a movie?" He had his computer out and I, of course, said sure. Due to my lack of french language skills he put on The 13th Warrior (Banderas playing and Arab, cool movie though) and about 30 minutes into it says, "I need to sleep. Keep watching." Nice guy.
I made my way to the hotel and found my mother asleep in the lobby, waitng for me. My father came in a few hours later and we walked abit and got some food. We all went to bed early for me, they were jet lagged and I barely slept on the trains. Tim and I gave the two beds pushed together to the parents because its close to the bathroom and has a closing door, but I insisted on trading our big blanket for thier two smaller ones because, "I haven't seen my girlfriend for awhile and I may try to cuddle under a big blanket. Sorry Tim, I don't like to cuddle with dudes."
Yesterday we went to the Museum d'Orsay. My mother loves (LOVES!) the impressionists so we spent many hours there. I like Pissaro. His paintings, while solidly impressionistic, use smaller brush strokes and feature far more detail. Like Morty Seinfeld said,"I'm telling you, Monet was near sighted."
We walked around and took a boat tour of the Seine. The Effiel Tower is impressive and Tim and I got a few pictures implying Tim's penis IS the Effiel Tower.
Tim and I hit a bar at night. Odd drinking with your little brother in bar, especailly in a quiet Parisianne pub.
The Louve was today. There were so many people there, we had to get the hell out. Saw the Venus de Milo, saw the Mona Lisa (It looks darker in person) and got out of dodge. We have a museum pass, so its not like we wasted a ticket.
Tim and I went over the Louve ourselves and met the folkes there, but stayed together for lunch (a dissaponting Kebap, worst I've had so far. They liked it though) and went to the Military Museum. That is a cool museum. I barely saw anything before it closed, but they have uniforms and all sorts of cool stuff. Napolean's tomb is neat too.
We walked from there, up the Champs d'Elyses to the Arch de Triumph. The view is nice, even while rainy, but I don't like hights so I took so photos and huddled in the middle.
Dinner was nice pizza and beer and bed for the family. They're setting the alarm and going up the Effiel Tower. No thank you I say, I'll sleep. Besides, I had to write this.
I think I got it all down. "Just the facts, Mamam." Damn you Sgt. Friday. It may be good for repots, but it makes reading a bore.
I love and miss you all,
Matt
Sorry again about the delay in updating, but I haven't had a heck of alot of time. As I'm sure you know, I've finished my period of traveling alone and am with my family until the 20th. It's very nice to be with them, nice to have company. Its alot like when I was in Switzerland with Jon. I'm with people who know what I've done in the last three years, heard all the stories, and I don't have to worry about meeting people each day.
Madrid ended well. The bullfight was alot of fun. I was really excited about, a little too excited really, considering I was going watch 6 living things die for my entertainment, but I've never been one to worry about such things. I really enjoyed it. It's outdated, pointless, and cruel, but it still is a cultural experience. I doubt I could ever convince Maizie to stay past the second bull, but I enjoyed it and for 3.50 it was a bargin.
It was a good fight too. I saw good work and bad and I also say a bull wreck the barrier, and two guys get trampled including a matador who got back up and finished the job. Very cool. I also read Death in the Afternoon by Hemingway a few years ago, so I know whats going on. It helps to understand the signifigance of each section. I also toured the ring around noon. That was cool.
The train ride to Paris was long and uneventful. On the sleeper train I was in a top bunk with 5 Korean kids. If I cannot choose my bed, train or hostel, I'm invaribly on a top bunk, it drives me nuts and on the rails (rather than on the road) asians are horribly annoying. They rarely speak in english, are in huge packs, and are really loud. These Koreans, the 3 guys actually, had beer and food and we sat on in the heat of the top bunks and drank beer and wine (I had a little)and ate a little food. Good guys.
The second train I sat next to this French guy who out of the blue asks, "Do you want to watch a movie?" He had his computer out and I, of course, said sure. Due to my lack of french language skills he put on The 13th Warrior (Banderas playing and Arab, cool movie though) and about 30 minutes into it says, "I need to sleep. Keep watching." Nice guy.
I made my way to the hotel and found my mother asleep in the lobby, waitng for me. My father came in a few hours later and we walked abit and got some food. We all went to bed early for me, they were jet lagged and I barely slept on the trains. Tim and I gave the two beds pushed together to the parents because its close to the bathroom and has a closing door, but I insisted on trading our big blanket for thier two smaller ones because, "I haven't seen my girlfriend for awhile and I may try to cuddle under a big blanket. Sorry Tim, I don't like to cuddle with dudes."
Yesterday we went to the Museum d'Orsay. My mother loves (LOVES!) the impressionists so we spent many hours there. I like Pissaro. His paintings, while solidly impressionistic, use smaller brush strokes and feature far more detail. Like Morty Seinfeld said,"I'm telling you, Monet was near sighted."
We walked around and took a boat tour of the Seine. The Effiel Tower is impressive and Tim and I got a few pictures implying Tim's penis IS the Effiel Tower.
Tim and I hit a bar at night. Odd drinking with your little brother in bar, especailly in a quiet Parisianne pub.
The Louve was today. There were so many people there, we had to get the hell out. Saw the Venus de Milo, saw the Mona Lisa (It looks darker in person) and got out of dodge. We have a museum pass, so its not like we wasted a ticket.
Tim and I went over the Louve ourselves and met the folkes there, but stayed together for lunch (a dissaponting Kebap, worst I've had so far. They liked it though) and went to the Military Museum. That is a cool museum. I barely saw anything before it closed, but they have uniforms and all sorts of cool stuff. Napolean's tomb is neat too.
We walked from there, up the Champs d'Elyses to the Arch de Triumph. The view is nice, even while rainy, but I don't like hights so I took so photos and huddled in the middle.
Dinner was nice pizza and beer and bed for the family. They're setting the alarm and going up the Effiel Tower. No thank you I say, I'll sleep. Besides, I had to write this.
I think I got it all down. "Just the facts, Mamam." Damn you Sgt. Friday. It may be good for repots, but it makes reading a bore.
I love and miss you all,
Matt