Pictures - Part II

For this set of images, I was really focused on texture and pattern; whether it be between the immediate objects or an object and the background together. The only editing of the pictures I've done is some cropping and obviously turning them black and white. Pay attention to the differences between the day and night shots, as well as the new vs. old objects. Some of the stone has been in place for hundreds of years, and some of the glass, only one. The trees, the water, the architecture, the people -- all give a little insight into what defines Paris. Also, take the time to look at the full sized images. Enjoy!

Pictures - Part I

Looking down the Avenue des Champs Elysees

Arc de Triomphe. This place is HUGE!!!

Incredible detail!

Inisde the Arc de Triomphe

View from the Palais de Chaillot

The amazing Tour Eiffel

His arm got really tired

Entablature of the Palais de la Decouverte

Adam in front of the Petit Palais

Outside at the Louvre

Inside the Pyramid

Amazing Spiral Staircase

Le Louvre (underground mall)

The Science of Sleep

Somehow my sleep schedule is completely backward. I've been here since Monday, a reasonable amount of time to adjust to the time, but every day I progress farther toward a nocternal life. Last night was the worst by far. I went to bed around midnight hoping to get on track for a solid eight hours of sleep and an early start today. After dreaming about spiders and taranchulas for three hours I woke up and was unable to get back to sleep. I watched some family guy, ate a bowl of cereal-- it was corn flakes since the first cereal I bought was the equivalent of a day's value of fiber in one spoonfull-- and tried to go back to sleep. Apparently Adam was having similar problems as he was up and about as well. After failing to sleep for the second time, I talked to Kaitlin on Skype for a while. (Skype may be one of the greatest things ever invented.) By 7am I managed to get a little shut eye-- by a little I mean about eight hours. So now I've been awake for an hour and a half and the sun is beginning to set. And so begins the cycle again. I think I may just stay up all night and go to bed at a normal time tomorrow.

I havent seen much of Paris during the day yet, though I am looking foreword to it. I havent quite been comfortable enough to walk around with my camera at night so I dont have any pictures of the city yet. But I did take some pictures of our courtyard and out our back window. The apartment is pretty nice, we have a living room with a tv, internet, and kitchen. Its amazing how small everything is here. From our tiny fridge to our miniature washing machine to our 2' x 2' shower. With a population of about 2.2 million living within 87 sq. km (about 35 square miles) its easy to see how the people here have become so accustomed to living so close to one another. More pictures to come....

Observations -- Part I

-ALL Parisians dress better than me
-There is no sun here
-There is no such thing as a straight road
-Obesity is not a problem
-Even Parisians dont know where they are
-Pasta sauce and meat are very expensive
-There are tens of thousands or restaurants and cafes here
-Every street looks deserted at night
-McDonalds is everywhere
-I might like chesse

Orientation

For my first post I thought I would descibe what I hope to accomplish with this blog. I intend to keep some sort of journal while I travel around Europe. Perhaps I may find (or not find) a new skill through writing and taking pictures with my new camera. Perhaps I will totally forget about this blog and this entry will become the last thing I ever write. Perhaps through my travels I will become a better version of myself. Perhaps not. Whatever triumphs or failures may come my way, someone will know about them.