Applications/Future plans

Applications are in motion for graduate schools. It feels good to once again be doing something outside of work that is productive toward my future. While it is relaxing to come home and not have to do anything, I think that I enjoy having projects to do (or not do!). I am looking forward to graduate school.

While Angela is off planning a trip for next summer, I am thinking about hiking a part of the AT for a week. I have always wanted to hike it, and I hope to be able to do the whole thing at some point in the not too too distant future.

In other news, I am glad that the SEPTA strike is now over. I think Angela will appreciate being able to go downtown when she wants, rather than have me drop her off reeealy early!

update

I’m off the everyman sleeping wagon, and sleeping semi-full nights every night. I feel better overall, except on those nights that I only get 5.5 hours anyway.
I have been getting out to row a few times so far this year, with anticipation for more to come. This is facilitated by my decision to drive to work and thereby saving about 1.5 hours per day to be used otherwise. Additionally, I have started biking again. I started out with a grueling 30 miler home from work into a head wind the whole way. I plan to do a couple more of those next week.

Last weekend I took a trip to Seattle to visit Jared. We did some of the touristy things like go up the space needle, going for a hike in the mountains, and the Pike Place Market. We also went into the library, which is pretty wildly built. We also went on the underground tour, which toured parts of the city that had been built over in order to prevent flooding and improve the sewer systems. I was fortunate that the weather was exceptional, and I enjoyed myself.

PHL=PHaiL

Angela and I had an awesome weekend in Pittsburgh, despite the awful transportation to and from Pittsburgh.  

On Saturday I rowed with my alumni boat, and gosh darn, we didn’t lose!  We even beat Pitt’s alums and a case western varsity boat.  I think if we worked on it (not that we will), we could actually be a pretty formidable boat. 

Immediately afterward, I hot seated into a double with Alyssa and began rowing to the starting line.  (It had been 40 minutes since last call for the event.)  The race was behind schedule enough that we arrived at the starting line with plenty of time to spare.  But it was not to be, shortly after turning to get called up to start lightning was seen on the horizon.  We were instructed to paddle into the boathouse.  Not interested in waiting to row, we decided to walk back to the point where we had launched from.  I walked back with Dave and Natalie, who were also in the event, wearing only our unis.  All of a sudden, and unmarked white van pulled up next to us.  What would a couple of rowers wearing nearly nothing think in this situation…maybe other rowers!  Sure enough, the Duquesne boat that was also forced off the water was driving back and gave us a ride.  From there, I got a ride with Dave back to Jon’s house where we were staying.  Angela had gone a head as she had had made an appointment to get her hair cut.  I was able to meet up with her just as she was finishing.  It took a little while getting used to the new do, but it is pretty chic.  

That evening Justin Samuels, soon to be married, was kidnapped by a couple other alumni rowers and brought to Jon’s house to begin a surprise bachelor party.  The evening started with the Union Grill, then to Doc’s where some of the guys were hunted by ‘cougars’ from a bachelorette party, and finally a couple of bars on the Southside.  All along Paul (the DD) stopped the rented van to get Justin to get out and get a picture with some girls on the side of the road.  

THe evening ended with an attempted visit to the Cricket Lounge (a strip club), however, Justin was far too incapacitated, and luckily (as I was not so interested in going-I’ve heard it is quite seedy) it closed at 2am (it was currently 1:55am).  On the way home I got dropped off at Ashleigh’s, where Angela was hanging out, and we walked back to Jon’s from there.

Sunday morning, we awoke and went to meet my cousin, Josh, his wife, Rachel, and new daughter, Rosemary for breakfast at Pamela’s.  It was delicious as usual (although the hotcakes weren’t as crispy as usual.

After breakfast we walked back to pick up our stuff and then dropped by our chem. advisor, Karen’s house.  We chatted briefly, then began to walk toward campus to pick up the airport bus.  We missed the one that would have given us ‘plenty’ of time, but the next one would get us there ‘just’ in time.

 

Now on to how the Philadelphia airport (PHL) sucked this weekend.  

Friday evening we leave our house at 7pm.  Deciding that the $11/24hr parking at the airport is a better deal than 1 token + $6  each way per person on the train (assuming Friday evening-Sunday evening = 2 days).  We arrive with plenty of time to spare only to see that our gate is swamped with backed up flights.  Not a word is mentioned about our Pittsburgh flight.  (Maybe they are just getting these poor folks out before they board us.) Nope.  9pm (5 minutes after our scheduled departure, I ask what’s up. Delayed, no earlier than 12:30.  12:30!!  That’s 3.5 hours! Ridiculous.  We decide to hunker down and nap in shifts.  Oddly, the flight was never updated on the departure TV monitors, and eventually is wiped all together.  This initiated another round of “How bout Pittsburgh?” “12:30″

oy.

Thinking we were done with this nonsense, we decide to fly home on Sunday.  We get to the airport, delayed 30 minutes.  OK, not so bad, we were running late anyway.  We get onto the plane and are told, no, Philly isn’t accepting and more flights at this time.  Long story short, we were stuck in the plane (able to leave if needed) until 7pm!  

In summation, for a total of 80-100 minutes of flight time, we were stuck in the airport for a total of 7 hours this weekend, sweet.

Bones!

Today we slept in again.  I flick on the TV to check the weather.  The first thing I see is “La petite maison dans la prairie” 

A quick trip to the boulangerie and fromagarie and I was back with une picollet (baguette), une pain au chocolat, and une cravatte (a tie, but made of pastry dough and chocolate).  The cheese I was later reminded was charouce.  It was very good, quite a bit sharper than the camembert and a little firmer and drier in the middle.

Back on the metro!  A woman is reading a magazine and begins chuckling to herself, then out loud.  She shows the cartoon to a woman near her ” tu parle francais?” “Oui.”, but the second woman never really laughed even while the first woman explained the joke.  

Getting off in Roucherchouart, we queued up in the line for the catacombs.  Down about 20m we walked about 1/2 km to where the bones began.  Probably hundreds of thousands of bodies worth of bones were piled up under the city.  In what had once been a limestone quarry south of Paris, was filled with bones exhumed from mass graves and cemeteries that had been leeching into ground water making people sick. The bones were carried down into the quarry and piled up.  First they were just piled without order, but then Napoleon decided that they should make a barrier with long bones and skulls and pile the rest behind.  Now there are paths between walls of femurs, humerouses, and skills.  In many places the skills were used to make designs in the wall (crosses, arches, etc.)  Kind of creepy, but very cool.

After we reentered the land of the living we wandered north toward the Palace du Luxembourg.  Surrounded by a huge park and gardens the palace was pretty magnificent.  Now part of the Senat, the palace is still in use (I think) as a government building and museum.  The gardens were filled with locals basking in the sun, jogging, sitting and feeding the ducks and fish in the fountain. 

To the east we marched to see the Pantheon.  I later learned that it is a burial site for make famous Parisians.  The Pantheon sits adjacent to one of several buildings of the Paris University.  We wandered north again to the institute de monde Arabe.  A very cool building that I learned about in my architecture class.  The outer sun facing wall is made of 240 squares, each with 1 large aperture and many small ones.  These are light sensitive windows that close up almost like the shutter in a camera.  

Finally, we searched for dinner with steak frites on the brain.  We were never satisfied with our options.  After an unsuccessful wandering (we found tons of camping stores – about a dozen of one company- around another part of the university in the Latin Quarter.

We hopped on the metro in hopes of finding some Rue de Clinchy at the bottom of Montmartre.  Walk, walk, walk.  Some places sold it but were out for the day.  Finally, we struck steak frites gold.  We ordred to go and raced back to the metro.  (They allow you 1.5hr on your metro ticket after you first enter, we were able to take the train and didn’t have to hike back up to Montmartre).  

Back in the apartment we ate our steak frites (basically a hamburger and fries) nom-nom-nom.  Delicious.  Cleaned up and got ready for bed. 

A word on the metro.  I find it particularly interesting that certain trains on certain lines run on rubber tires.  They ride along cement “rails” just like a road.  Some lines have these cement tracks, others have rails, some have both.  So really, some are just like underground buses, though I do wonder if they steer as easily.

Our Lady

 

Today started more as to plan than yesterday.  We woke close to 9 and had a breakfast of fruit (grapefruit, and nectarine) and cheese.  We then walked to a patisarie, recommended by Regis.  We had a slice of flan aux fruit.  It was amazing, well worth the 2€ (it actually seemed like a steal for the size and quality).  

We walked and sat on the boulevard in front of the Moulin Rouge (Rue du Clichy) until noon when a recommended indian restaurant opened.  It specialized in Indian and Pakistani food.  For 11€ I had a Riata (yougurt and cucumber salad), dal makhani (tres bon), and nan, plus 1/4 vin rouge (0.25L of red wine, 1/3 of a typical bottle), and dessert that was delicious.  

I then explored a free public toilet.  It cleans, disinfects, and dries between customers (now free!).  In practice it really only cleans the surfaces and only dries partially, and is still smelly.  Following, I called Pier to schedule a meeting to get our deposit back for later in the week.

Onto the metro!  We each purchased “dix billet” – 10 tickets for about 4€ less than individual tickets.  With one switch between trains, we were downtown to ile-de-la cite.  We first went to see Saint Chappelle cathedral’s beautiful stained glass depicting 1113 scenes from the bible.  Each window must have been about 80 feet tall.  

Don’t leave me in here!

From there we walked past the court house to (what would be missing next to a courthouse?) la conciergerie.  The famous former prison where Marie-Antoinette was held before her execution the day after her trial – that’s service!  The cells seemed pretty comfy for the famous/rich prisoners, pretty standard (while crowded) for la pistolies – those who could afford a bed, and pretty subpar for the pallieux – those who could not afford to buy a room with a bed and instead slept on rotting straw.  

 

After the prison we set off across the island to the Notre Dame cathedral.  While not as colorful as ste. Chappelle, it was quite breathtaking.  The 100 ft vaulted ceilings, quite a bit of stained glass – impressive.  Almost more interesting was sitting outside watching the beggars work.  A troupe of women in skirts would walk up to you and ask “do you speak english” then show you a card with writing on it.  It may have just been asking for money, OR giving them an opportunity to pick your pocket.  We didn’t stick around long enough to find out.  But we watched hopefully as they tried others.  The vast majority would just say “non” or “nein”, even if they were speaking english just moments before.

Once they left we wandered until we found the Cluny neighborhood with tons of restaurants and pushy waiters trying to get you to come in.  We got a savory crepe and a sweet crepe at a small greek place.  Not too bad, no buckwheat in the savory crepe though (as is fairly standard across the city).  After dinner we wandered some more and found a monoprix where we picked up a fresher baguette and a couple of bottles of wine. 

Back on the metro and a short walk back to the apartment where we enjoyed the remaining cheese and our new baguette and some wine.  I enjoyed the wine a bit too much.

The sleeping in begins.

Today we woke up 4 hours after the alarm was set to go off.  We ate a breakfast of the remaining baguette from the grocery, cheese, and another nectarine.  We set out to see the Sacre Coeur (sacred heart).  A giant church (basilica actually), with a large dome overlooking much of the city. 

Sacre Coeur

Some men there tried to tie a “friendship” bracelet around our wrists, a scam to get some euros.  We watched a couple of tourists getting tied happily (I wonder if they knew the fleecing was about to come).  Another somehow slipped away after the man had started weaving. The view of the city was great.  We could see the Pompedu Center, Notre Dame cathedral, but the eiffel tower was behind some trees.  

We then went to “espace du Dali” a small Salvador Dali museum.  It had many pieces that I had never seen as well as some sculptures I never knew existed. 

Picture reflected in a metal cylinder.

After a little break back at the apartment (watching some MTV) we walked in search of food.  We walked south for a while, then curved back north.  We walked and walked, then checked a map.  Somehow we had ended up north of the Sacre Coeur without seeing it.  We walked back through the touristy area at the top of the hill. 

We finally found a restaurant near our apartment with a 3 course meal for 7.90€, not too bad.  The food was pretty good, my steak was tasty, but my dessert “Pineapple in syrup” was just from a can.  My onion soup, however, was delicious.  After dinner we returned home to plan for the week and watch some MTV.

First day in Paris

Arriving in Charles de Gaulle  airport was a bit of a let down.  THe accending and decending moving walkway was amusing, but the walkways in the spotted tubes over the fountain were out of order and just proved to be difficult to walk through (the floor was kind of rubbery, and bouncy).  We passed by customs, I asked if we needed to go through, but they waved me on.  I was confused, concerned (that we didn’t need a visa) and sad that I didn’t get my passport stamp. 

Our instructions were to call Regis and Laurent when we arrived, then go to Gare du Nord.  There was no answer on the phone, so we left the airport.  At the train station, again there was no answer.  We stood around looking confused and helpless for a while.  We called back and finally got an answer. 

About 20 minutes later our hosts arrived at the train station and guided us back to the apartment.  They showed us around the neighborhood of Montmartre.  It is a very nice neighborhood in northern Paris with many sights from the movie Amelie.  

We went to an ATM (discharger) which promptly ate my card because it was closed.  The bank opened a few minutes later and after a little heated pleading by Regis, the man at the bank released my card. Needless to say, we went to another bank to withdraw money.  

Regis led us down the street, Laurant had left for work by now, to the Moulin Rouge where he took our picture.  he then treated us to chocolat at the cafe du deux moulin, the one that Amelie worked in in the movie.  On the way back to the apartment we stopped at a boulangerie, and Regis bought us each a chocolate pastry.  He was very kind and we will need to repay him.  He also speaks no english, so communication was strained and mainly through Angela.  

He dropped us off at the apartment (25m^2) which was small, but very cute.  With a loft bed, Angela was in love.  It used the space very well.  We could hardly imagine what the other, 18m^2, apartment would have been like.  We took a nap for an hour, or 4, and then set out to explore.  We bought some fruit, cheese and bread at a monoprix.  It is a department store with a grocery in the basement,  We were about to leave before we discovered the basement (I knew there must have been one from listening to some Rick Steve’s broadcasts).  

Our apartment, viewed from the couch.

We then strolled around for a bit, and sat for a while to people, dog and pigeon watch.  We must have looked authentic enough that a group of tourists asked us where the Moulin Rouge was in french.  I was pretty excited.  I ordered ‘une crepe au fromage’ from a nearby vendor (in french!).  I think I had him going until he tripped me up by asking if I wanted salt and pepper.  

On the way back to the apartment we stopped for another baguette (une reine) and ate it with the monoprix store brand camenbert and a nectarine.  I spent most of the rest of the afternoon watching Spain vs. Sweden in soccer, while Angela napped in my lap.  Spain scored a winning goal right at the end, it was sweet.  Beyond soccer, MTV is one of the few channels that we have on the TV and is fairly easy to follow along. 

I will eat a bit more bread and cheese before and early bed time.

The day before the trip

Approx. 24 hours before departure:

  We received an email from the owner of our first apartment in Paris, where we were scheduled to stay as soon as we arrived in Europe.  Due to a friend needing a place to stay unexpectedly, he is canceling our reservation.  He lined up some couchsurfing hosters for us for most of the nights.  They were scattered across the city, and the prospect of moving several times, and taking our chances with these guys seemed disappointing.  We began to search for new places. 

22 hours before departure:

Angela and I trek over to STA travel office and get ISIC cards (International Student Identification Cards) for discounts in Europe. (Becomes well worth it!)

Additional afternoon activities involved repacking my gear and entertaining our new neighbor’s children.  Noo-noo is quite a talker, we will need some sort of “please-go-away” cookies near the door.

18 hours before departure: dinner

15 hours before departure: We had driven from our West Philly home to my mom’s for the night before she gave us a ride to the airport.  

I realize that I couldn’t find my money belt that had my passport inside.  Panic.  I unpack everything, tear up the house. I finally decide that the only place it could be was in the other house.  So I drive to the house, where I find the money belt where it had fallen when I had collected some clothes. I found it, 11pm, 15 hours before departure.

June 13, 2008

12 hours before departure.  Angela finds some apartments with vacancy for this week.  20 minutes after inquiring, we get an email followed by a phone call.

After a strained French – English conversation we have an apartment secured  and will be meeting with someone at the train station the next day to show us to the apartment.  Whew!

 

5 hours before departure:

We leave for JFK airport.  We arrived 2.5 hours early, but the security line was virtually non-existent and we walked over to our gate about 15 minutes after arriving at the airport.  

.5 hours before departure:

 

The iPod vending machine at JFK airport.  

Once on the plane the trip was pretty good.  The meal was alright, some sort of meat and cheese blintz with a roll and some vegetable spread.  The dessert, an icelandic candy bar, a chocolate wafer like a big kit-kat, of course it is kraft brand, but good.

We watch the Bridget Jones’ Diary sequel, which seemed a bit the same as the first one.  Finally, it was about nap time.  We arrived in Iceland around midnight local time (8pm at home).  It was difficult adjusting as it was still light outside, cloudy, but certainly not dark.  

We passed through customs and received a stamp in the passport.  About 30 minutes later we reboarded and set off for Paris.  

The snack was appreciated, however I was glad that I brought some supplementary crackers.  The movie for this leg was 27 dresses.  As much as I enjoy romantic comedies, I must say that I am chick-flicked out for a while.  I should mention, I enjoyed 27 dresses more than Bridget Jones’.  A short nap was then obtained before landing.

Spring Break

Back in school, and I’m already starting to lose my voice.  I haven’t actually lost it once yet, but with a mild sore throat, it might not be good. My spring break was so relaxing.  By the end of it, I actually started to forget what I was getting away from.  (Reminded on Monday).Two weekends in Pittsburgh sandwiching 4 days in Florida was pretty sweet.  A rent-a-rower took me back, and baking baklava was  amazing.  The week in Florida was very relaxing, tennis, short jogs, kayaking, lazing around reading.  I started and finished “Freak the Mighty,”  got through a few more pages of “To the Lighthouse” and made significant headway in “Clear and Present Danger.” Upon return to Pittsburgh I went and ran a half marathon, attended the URA regatta, and baked spanakopita.  Talking with Angela, and starting some planning for our trip to Europe and some remodeling in the new house I am getting very excited about this summer and fall.  

The flights

Angela and I will flying to Paris on June 13.  $280

We will be returning from Vienna on July 30. $577