Italy - France 2001 (5)

I am still in Paris. It is Sunday, so that must be why my inbox is empty, eh? I leave here tomorrow and I will just tell you later what I did and when I did it and where I did it and you will just have to livel ike me... from minute to message... cause nothing I plan ever really seems to be executed and I guess that's just the way it is when you're travelling alone... no one to collaborate with and no obligationto do one thing over or under another... So, wanna know about Paris? This hostel is great and I have made some fun travel friends. Last night we went out for one of their birthdays and everyone that went out was travelling all alone... no pairs, no groups, just a bunch of conversation hungry single world travellers...so in our possee we had.. David from Colorado, the birthday boy-22, James, PA - 22, Christina, Mexico - 24, Aidrian, Australia - 30, Yujimoro, Japan -21, Talia, Canada, 24 and me. It was great fun. Today a few of that group and Johan from Germany and Beth from NY went to the Louvre. I absorbed with every breath the two sculptures in the museum of Michealangelo's, I thoroughly enjoyed the Winged Victory (victory of Somthrace) and Aphrodite... and Hermaphrodite.. and of course I glimpsed the Moning Lisa. She is so homely and Da Vinci has another painting nearby of St. John the Baptist that I think is far more enjoyable. It's strange what becomes THE work of art to gawk at over any others.

Funny thing about the Louvre.. the entrance. It was the first Sunday of the month so entrance was free, hence a huge crowd.. The line was at least an hour long and the cue was about 600 meters long. But low and behold, David, who has been in France since November, who loves art and who has spent lots of time in the Louvre, knows about another entrance on the side and would you believe that there was NO line at all! We got right in and on top of that we walked straight to the Mona Lisa where tons of people were yet again standing in line, waiting to see a painting that we had already seen. I just took pictures of the crowd looking at her by the way cause that was way more interesting than the photo itself... We had a great tour of the Louvre at any rate and half way through it I got a vicious attack of the giggles and that mixed with the fact that I was with some damn funny people made for an exciting last hour in the musee.

The metro here is great and so easy to use. The other day I was alone, wandering about and making a couple of transfers... walking down one tunnel from train to train, when I was suddenly surrounded by the beautiful sounds of a sweet violin. It was so beautiful and seemed so out of place. It filled the tunnel alongside the warm breeze that often fills the underground maze and brought tears to my eyes. Had I not been in the public eye, I would have let it all out. I don't know why besides maybe that the violin is one of the sweetest instruments in the world and probably has the power to make even the most solid person tremble with emotion. So, a violin class, french and Italian classes and a great sculpture class are on my list of things to do for self enlightenment when I get home.. remind me of that when you see me.. ha ha.

So, this message is taking me some time to write, like three days. I'm back on the krazy keyboards.. Last night we (Canada, Australia, US, Mexico) went out to this great restaraunt that was, as the guide describes, part disco part junkyard cafe. I had a great salad with oranges, melon, walnuts, raisins, lettuce, green beans, kidney beans and a subtle dressing.. very classy. We got back to the hostel and downed five bottles of red wine, adding Germany and Japan to the group.

During the day a handful of us went to an amusement park again and took another go on that wild spinny up and down ride that drops your stomach often. James was fastened in a little snugger than he and his male anatomy would have liked and ironically, his was the only chair that didn't release when the ride was over so he had to hang in a little longer than desired before being set free. Myself and Beth from NY were absolutely and shamefully laughing our asses off as he grimaced through a subtle Jerry Seinfeld smile. Tonight I board a train to Switzerland.. that I know. Don't ask.. I never know what to expect... although, not to lead you on with poptential lies, but after respective trips to Switwerland, Bordeaux and Italy, I am meeting Beth, James and David in Cinque Terre to do the beaches. It's so great to meet new people! Last night we were twelve and every one of us was travelling solo!!! I don't know why that is so impressive to me.. just is. Sorry I can't focus well.. I'm sure the swiss keys will be right on... until Interlaken! luv, -rai ps, I'm homesick ;)