Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wicked Elves
From Pablo's flickr page: Semos peligrosos: Arriba, Kristix, Victor, Blanche, Ferrer, Javiland, Edu, Paulisha, Tapu. Abajo -muertalarisa, sin barba- Esther y el demonio Al-Tony
Tony y Leo?
So while I was away from Zaragoza, my friends decided to celebrate Halloween in our honor. This is Alberto "Almont" Berenguer and Pablo "El Feo" Ferrer.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
When the river calls
When the river calls ( Nov. 29, 2006 )
Last night as I crossed the bridge of stone, I felt her call to me from the waters
A chilly wind blew across my face and my eyes swelled with tears
last night I felt the water's call and I stopped and looked at its race towards the sea
last night I almost dared as I (scared) stared into the roar
She was inviting me to lay with her, within her and flow with her
What do you do when it's 5:30am and you're in the middle of a bridge with waters rushing beneath you that beckon?
You rush home.
As I did.
and pour yourself a cup of reality.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Solitude
I've often wondered why I wanted to join the Marines. A few times in
my life, as late as when I was 28 I investigated the possibility of
signing up.
I've always felt this incredible lack of discipline in my life and the
need to belong to something, a team, a group, anything. That's what
has always sucked in my musical career. I've never really had my band,
my team. They were always someone else's too, and everything usually
focused on what I did anyway. Except for the brief time I was in TP
and in Broom Hellda,where I felt more like one of the band.
I've always been a loner. Since I was a child and I was torn away from
my parents at age 4 and sent to Santo Domingo to live with my maternal
grandmother, while my brother and sister lived with my paternal
grandfather. Since that age I've always felt outside of everything. I
returned to live in NY when I was 8. I always felt alienated from my
brother and sister. The missing bond of growing up together. We went
to school at different times, had different friends, etc. Don't get me
wrong, I love them. Dearly. But there has always been that thing that
allows you to go months without being in contact with someone. That's
the type of relationship we have. My sister is 37 and my brother is
34.
The first time I contemplated suicide I was 9 I think. I went to this
school named PS 152 in NY. After school or before I went to the roof
of one of the buildings on Ellwood street and I saw my mom walking
with my brother and sister. I thought to myself "I should jump and
fall right in front of them". As long as I remember, suicide has been
an everyday thought. I wouldn't do it, though. I get strength from
those thoughts to dare to do things I think I fear. Getting up on a
stage for example, is never an easy thing for me. I get really nervous
and anxious, and I've ruined more than one performance because I've
let those things get the best of me. I've been drained by fear.
I also have extremes that range from euphoria to deep depressions. I
went to a psychiatrist once in DR when I was 18 or so. They gave me
lithium. I took it for maybe two days. I did not like the sensation of
bliss it gave me.
I drink alcohol, sometimes too much. I do not take drugs.
I'd smoked pot a few times as a kid at the age of 15 or so.
I decided to go to a coffeshop on a recent trip to Amsterdam. I
understood why I don't smoke. I did not like the feeling of not being
in control of my body. It did relax me like I hadn't relaxed in years,
but I felt far away.
I don't know. I would love to feel good about life, but I think that
I'm ok with being depressed sometimes. I can handle it. I think I'm
the type of person who is happy being sad.
"being down" is kind of normal for me. I must admit that sometimes
there are things that set me off and I can't control my emotions. I
become blinded in a sense by things that haven't even happened or have
never happened. I lose control of the present. I walk around in a
daze. Today doesn't exist, only tomorrow and yesterday. That I hate.
I was like that a couple of times in Amsterdam, Paris and Bergamo. My
head was everywhere except wrapped around the present. That ruins
life, because you don't seize the moment. Paris helped me though. Long
walks by the Seine. Just another "Flaneur".
My life has changed radically, and I don't know what to hold on to. I
was laying a foundation to build something on, but the foundation
crumbled before I could start.
I feel like I'm starting at 38, and I hate it. I don't think I know
what I want, but I have to do something in the meantime. Life doesn't
wait. It gets wasted on indecisiveness.
I play guitar, I take pictures, I write, I care. Who am I?, though. I
don't know, and I don't think I want to know. I've caught myself lying
to myself many times. Do I want to go on like that?
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
Paris / Bergamo
Paris / Bergamo
nov. 15, 2006
I left the australian pub at around 2am in Paris and went to the apartment. Tess stayed behind with the 2 Claires and their friend.
When I got to the apartment I picked up all my stuff and packed. Went to check my email and found a beautiful note Steffi and Kati had left in my laptop when I opened it. They wrote very kind words. That was really nice of them.
I got really drowsy checking my email, so I wrote a quick one to Michele and a couple of people. When I'm about to fly I like to talk or send messages to the people I really care about and let them know that.
I put my cel for 4:45 am which I calculated would give me enough time to get to Porte Maillot to catch the 5:30am bus to Beauvais airport which is 75 kms outside of Paris.
I fell asleep. At around 3:30am the doorbell rang. It was Tess coming back, and he was ringing cause I had taken the keys. He came back with the Claires, one who was very drunk, and their friend. ( They are meddical students who were allowing themselves a night of craziness and fun) So I didn't go back to sleep. I sat down on Tess laptop for a while and Claire almost knocked off the table when she tripped on the power cable and the speaker's power cable.
I decided to leave early that way I could walk. So I said goodbye to everyone and thanked Tess for his hospitality. He told me to come back to Paris any time I want for as long as I want. I thanked him. I put on my jacket, took my suitcase and laptop and the vynils I had gotten for Giorgio, said goodbye to the Claires and their friend and left.
I started to walk down the Rue de Rivoli towards Porte Maillot whichis way past the arc de triomphe. I figured it would take me about 30 mins to an hour maybe to get there. About 4 blocks down I decided to walk towards the Seine. I took the Quai de Louvre and walked beside the museum and then I crossed the street towards the river. Paris lights were out, the Eiffle tower was out, and the water was relatively still. I loved the glimmer on the water of the regular street lights and the shapes of the almost leaveless trees. The oscillated between gray and yellow. Clouds and sky but no moon.
I had to stop to take a leak a couple of times. Before I had crossed the street a man had come up from one of the many stairs that leads up to the Quai from the path on the shore of the Seine with a Siberian Husky puppy. He was walking in the opposite direction. A minute later I felt something nipping at my heels and suitcase. It was the puppy that had crossed the street and was shadowing me. I grabbed it and helped it cross back the street to its owner.
I continued my walk by the Seine and then and Place de la Concorde switched to Champ D'Elysees. Good thing I did, too, for there's an exhibition of transporation acrros the ages right on the boulevard and there were many types of vehicles there. My camera was in my suitcase and I didn't feel like taking it out to take pictures. I wanted to make it to Porte Maillot before 5:30am and the pace I had was kinda slow. There were examples of old trucks, boats, cars, motorhomes, a replica of a rocket, a train. It was very nice ( as Borat would say ).
It was 4:45 by the time I hit the main part of the Champs d'Elysees, the one of all the stores and offices before the arc de Triomphe. I even saw one of Tess' friends from friday night having something to eat in one of the cafe's, probably had been at the VIP room or one of the many popular Paris clubs that are around there.
Finally made it to the Arc d Triomphe. My feet were tired, it was 5am and my hand was trembling from holding the suitcase and the vibrations of the sometimes uneven surfaces. So I took a taxi which was "libre" and happened to be parked to one side of the Arc. Good thing I did. I still had a long way to go apparently, and I didn't really know where I was going. He asked me if I wanted to take the bus to beauvais airport. I said yes. Turns out Porte Maillot is a parking lot/ bus stop where buses wait or arrive and it's in fron of Paris Sport Palais or something like that.
The taxi was 5.50 because of the hour. There were many other people waiting for the bus and more arrived. When the bus finally arrived I got in, sat down near the back, watched the clock and the minutes tick away hoping the driver or assistant would come charge me the fare and the bus would take off so that I could fall asleep. I was listening to music. Curiosly, all the time in Paris since the day I arrived I hadn't taken out my ipod shuffle since I took it off after the train arrived in Paris from Amsterdam. I put it on precisely when I got to Porte Maillot.
I think for the first time in a while all my walks somewhere had been to the tune of my thoughts, fears and freak outs.
Finally the driver gets around to me, I pay my 13euros and promptly fall asleep. Woke up when we were arriving at Beauvais. I checked in my bag and got my ticket at around 7am, then went to the info dsesk to find out about the lost and found. My friend Arantza had lost her wallet on the flight from Bergamo to Zaragoza when we went there on sept 30th for Giorgio's birthday. It wound up at Paris Beauvais airport because the plane went there after Zaragoza/Bergamo/ Budapest. The lady at the counter told me that at 8am the lost and found would open, to come back to the desk then.
At 5 to 8 I went there and she called the guys at lost and found. At first there was some confusion because they thought they were looking for a wallet belonging to Juan Susana ( me) but after a few back and forths, I told them it was Aranzazu's wallet and since they had sent the emails and she had written back that I would be picking it up, thye found it. I was cutting it close, cause my flight was scheduled to leave at 8:30 am. The man from Lost and Found looked at my ticket and then started running looking. Told me to wait for him, that he would get me through security. He got the wallet, I signed some papers and then he took me in to the securiy checkpoint through the lines of people who were getting ready to go into the gate for another flight. I went through securiity, got to the tarmac.
I was just about the last person to get on the plane.
I don't really remember the plane taking off. I fell asleep almost until it landed, which by the way was a very hard and fast landing.
Once in the airport, I got my suitcase. Alessandro was waiting for me outside. I was surprised because Giorgio had sent a SMS to Tess' message saying he couldn't come get cause he was working.
Alessandro told me he was supposed to be in Milan, but had awakened late and there was a strike in the university anyway, so he came to get me. We went straight to Citta Alta to get some coffee. We visited La Marianna. Citta Alta was covered in mist. It was really foggy and chilly in a nice way.
We had coffee and a pastry. ( for the past few days I've been indulging myself with chocolate filled pastries.)
We walked around for a couple of ours and visited one of the churches in the Piazza Vecchia. Incredible, not one empty space. Amazing artwork in the form of paintings, statues, on fabric, on wood, frescoes.
After walking thought Citta Alta for a while we headed to Giorgio's house so I could leave my stuff. After that we went to their parents house where we had lunch.
Giorgio arrived first and then their parents, Dino and Jenny. We caught up a little and Jenny cooked us tender steaks. She prepared it with leaves, I don't remember what they are called. It's incredible how great Jenny cooks and she's a vegetarian. The other time I was here for Giorgio's birthday she cooked Brassato, red meat in wine, it was very very good.
Dino and Giorgio went back to work. Ale and I had coffee with Jenny and then we went to his room to play guitar and listen to music and check some things out really quick on the internet. Ale has a nice Jackson guitar like the one Randy Rhoads used. we listened to some Metallica and Flotsam and Jetsam. Went back downstairs for some more coffee. Then Criss, Giorgio's girlfriend arrived, so we said goodbye to Jenny and went to Citta Bassa. First stop was a comic book store. I hadn't seen this part of Bergamo in my other 2 visits. Citta Bassa is actually very nice. Historic buildings, wonderful little shops, pastel colors.
After walking around for a couple of hours we dropped Ale off at his house. Criss headed for Giorgio's house.
We hung out for a while.
I took a very long shower which I needed badly. I was all stinky from the long walks in Paris and the trip. It was great.
Then we went to Alessandro's store where Giorgio's friend had posters for my show at Keller. I took some pictures of the store for Alessandro to put up on his website. It's a mobile phone services business.
Afterwards, Aperitivo. Had a couple of Prosecs and a Campari with white wine. Giorgio told me that at first it's not very good but you get used to the flavor. I like it actually, although it's a biit dry. The snacks were great. I enjoyed vegetables with a thin layer of farine passed in Olive Oil, giving it a light breaded feel but keeping the veggies ( Zucchini, peppers, onions) crunchy and juicy.
After the apperitivo we headed for Sorisso for the best pizza. Jenny and Ale joined us. As well as a couple more of Giorgio's friends. It was a fun dinner. We stayed there for about 2 hours.
At 10:45 we headed for Keller's to catch the band of Ale's friend. They did some pretty good covers. I specially enjoyed the drummer and singer.
We hung out at Keller's until 2am. Giorgio and Cris put up the poster for my show.
We had a few beers. Ale wasn't drinking cause he had a blood test scheduled for the next day to see how the liver is doing. Giorgio is drinking less cause the doctor told him his liver is a bit abused. I had just 2 pints, a british red named Must and a Rosso by ( forgot brand).
In the car we had been listening to Cathedral, so when Giorgio, Criss and I left, I told him to put the song "Hopkins, Witchfinder" again.
At the house he put on the video. As we were watching the Cathedral DVD I told him about a video I remembered from the early 90's, so he started to go through all of them asking me "this one" and I'd say "no". Until he asked me and kept asking, hearing no reply. I had fallen asleep with a beer in my hand.
I was really tired. I woke up and went to the visitor's bedroom, got under the sheets and promptly fell asleep.
nov. 15, 2006
I left the australian pub at around 2am in Paris and went to the apartment. Tess stayed behind with the 2 Claires and their friend.
When I got to the apartment I picked up all my stuff and packed. Went to check my email and found a beautiful note Steffi and Kati had left in my laptop when I opened it. They wrote very kind words. That was really nice of them.
I got really drowsy checking my email, so I wrote a quick one to Michele and a couple of people. When I'm about to fly I like to talk or send messages to the people I really care about and let them know that.
I put my cel for 4:45 am which I calculated would give me enough time to get to Porte Maillot to catch the 5:30am bus to Beauvais airport which is 75 kms outside of Paris.
I fell asleep. At around 3:30am the doorbell rang. It was Tess coming back, and he was ringing cause I had taken the keys. He came back with the Claires, one who was very drunk, and their friend. ( They are meddical students who were allowing themselves a night of craziness and fun) So I didn't go back to sleep. I sat down on Tess laptop for a while and Claire almost knocked off the table when she tripped on the power cable and the speaker's power cable.
I decided to leave early that way I could walk. So I said goodbye to everyone and thanked Tess for his hospitality. He told me to come back to Paris any time I want for as long as I want. I thanked him. I put on my jacket, took my suitcase and laptop and the vynils I had gotten for Giorgio, said goodbye to the Claires and their friend and left.
I started to walk down the Rue de Rivoli towards Porte Maillot whichis way past the arc de triomphe. I figured it would take me about 30 mins to an hour maybe to get there. About 4 blocks down I decided to walk towards the Seine. I took the Quai de Louvre and walked beside the museum and then I crossed the street towards the river. Paris lights were out, the Eiffle tower was out, and the water was relatively still. I loved the glimmer on the water of the regular street lights and the shapes of the almost leaveless trees. The oscillated between gray and yellow. Clouds and sky but no moon.
I had to stop to take a leak a couple of times. Before I had crossed the street a man had come up from one of the many stairs that leads up to the Quai from the path on the shore of the Seine with a Siberian Husky puppy. He was walking in the opposite direction. A minute later I felt something nipping at my heels and suitcase. It was the puppy that had crossed the street and was shadowing me. I grabbed it and helped it cross back the street to its owner.
I continued my walk by the Seine and then and Place de la Concorde switched to Champ D'Elysees. Good thing I did, too, for there's an exhibition of transporation acrros the ages right on the boulevard and there were many types of vehicles there. My camera was in my suitcase and I didn't feel like taking it out to take pictures. I wanted to make it to Porte Maillot before 5:30am and the pace I had was kinda slow. There were examples of old trucks, boats, cars, motorhomes, a replica of a rocket, a train. It was very nice ( as Borat would say ).
It was 4:45 by the time I hit the main part of the Champs d'Elysees, the one of all the stores and offices before the arc de Triomphe. I even saw one of Tess' friends from friday night having something to eat in one of the cafe's, probably had been at the VIP room or one of the many popular Paris clubs that are around there.
Finally made it to the Arc d Triomphe. My feet were tired, it was 5am and my hand was trembling from holding the suitcase and the vibrations of the sometimes uneven surfaces. So I took a taxi which was "libre" and happened to be parked to one side of the Arc. Good thing I did. I still had a long way to go apparently, and I didn't really know where I was going. He asked me if I wanted to take the bus to beauvais airport. I said yes. Turns out Porte Maillot is a parking lot/ bus stop where buses wait or arrive and it's in fron of Paris Sport Palais or something like that.
The taxi was 5.50 because of the hour. There were many other people waiting for the bus and more arrived. When the bus finally arrived I got in, sat down near the back, watched the clock and the minutes tick away hoping the driver or assistant would come charge me the fare and the bus would take off so that I could fall asleep. I was listening to music. Curiosly, all the time in Paris since the day I arrived I hadn't taken out my ipod shuffle since I took it off after the train arrived in Paris from Amsterdam. I put it on precisely when I got to Porte Maillot.
I think for the first time in a while all my walks somewhere had been to the tune of my thoughts, fears and freak outs.
Finally the driver gets around to me, I pay my 13euros and promptly fall asleep. Woke up when we were arriving at Beauvais. I checked in my bag and got my ticket at around 7am, then went to the info dsesk to find out about the lost and found. My friend Arantza had lost her wallet on the flight from Bergamo to Zaragoza when we went there on sept 30th for Giorgio's birthday. It wound up at Paris Beauvais airport because the plane went there after Zaragoza/Bergamo/ Budapest. The lady at the counter told me that at 8am the lost and found would open, to come back to the desk then.
At 5 to 8 I went there and she called the guys at lost and found. At first there was some confusion because they thought they were looking for a wallet belonging to Juan Susana ( me) but after a few back and forths, I told them it was Aranzazu's wallet and since they had sent the emails and she had written back that I would be picking it up, thye found it. I was cutting it close, cause my flight was scheduled to leave at 8:30 am. The man from Lost and Found looked at my ticket and then started running looking. Told me to wait for him, that he would get me through security. He got the wallet, I signed some papers and then he took me in to the securiy checkpoint through the lines of people who were getting ready to go into the gate for another flight. I went through securiity, got to the tarmac.
I was just about the last person to get on the plane.
I don't really remember the plane taking off. I fell asleep almost until it landed, which by the way was a very hard and fast landing.
Once in the airport, I got my suitcase. Alessandro was waiting for me outside. I was surprised because Giorgio had sent a SMS to Tess' message saying he couldn't come get cause he was working.
Alessandro told me he was supposed to be in Milan, but had awakened late and there was a strike in the university anyway, so he came to get me. We went straight to Citta Alta to get some coffee. We visited La Marianna. Citta Alta was covered in mist. It was really foggy and chilly in a nice way.
We had coffee and a pastry. ( for the past few days I've been indulging myself with chocolate filled pastries.)
We walked around for a couple of ours and visited one of the churches in the Piazza Vecchia. Incredible, not one empty space. Amazing artwork in the form of paintings, statues, on fabric, on wood, frescoes.
After walking thought Citta Alta for a while we headed to Giorgio's house so I could leave my stuff. After that we went to their parents house where we had lunch.
Giorgio arrived first and then their parents, Dino and Jenny. We caught up a little and Jenny cooked us tender steaks. She prepared it with leaves, I don't remember what they are called. It's incredible how great Jenny cooks and she's a vegetarian. The other time I was here for Giorgio's birthday she cooked Brassato, red meat in wine, it was very very good.
Dino and Giorgio went back to work. Ale and I had coffee with Jenny and then we went to his room to play guitar and listen to music and check some things out really quick on the internet. Ale has a nice Jackson guitar like the one Randy Rhoads used. we listened to some Metallica and Flotsam and Jetsam. Went back downstairs for some more coffee. Then Criss, Giorgio's girlfriend arrived, so we said goodbye to Jenny and went to Citta Bassa. First stop was a comic book store. I hadn't seen this part of Bergamo in my other 2 visits. Citta Bassa is actually very nice. Historic buildings, wonderful little shops, pastel colors.
After walking around for a couple of hours we dropped Ale off at his house. Criss headed for Giorgio's house.
We hung out for a while.
I took a very long shower which I needed badly. I was all stinky from the long walks in Paris and the trip. It was great.
Then we went to Alessandro's store where Giorgio's friend had posters for my show at Keller. I took some pictures of the store for Alessandro to put up on his website. It's a mobile phone services business.
Afterwards, Aperitivo. Had a couple of Prosecs and a Campari with white wine. Giorgio told me that at first it's not very good but you get used to the flavor. I like it actually, although it's a biit dry. The snacks were great. I enjoyed vegetables with a thin layer of farine passed in Olive Oil, giving it a light breaded feel but keeping the veggies ( Zucchini, peppers, onions) crunchy and juicy.
After the apperitivo we headed for Sorisso for the best pizza. Jenny and Ale joined us. As well as a couple more of Giorgio's friends. It was a fun dinner. We stayed there for about 2 hours.
At 10:45 we headed for Keller's to catch the band of Ale's friend. They did some pretty good covers. I specially enjoyed the drummer and singer.
We hung out at Keller's until 2am. Giorgio and Cris put up the poster for my show.
We had a few beers. Ale wasn't drinking cause he had a blood test scheduled for the next day to see how the liver is doing. Giorgio is drinking less cause the doctor told him his liver is a bit abused. I had just 2 pints, a british red named Must and a Rosso by ( forgot brand).
In the car we had been listening to Cathedral, so when Giorgio, Criss and I left, I told him to put the song "Hopkins, Witchfinder" again.
At the house he put on the video. As we were watching the Cathedral DVD I told him about a video I remembered from the early 90's, so he started to go through all of them asking me "this one" and I'd say "no". Until he asked me and kept asking, hearing no reply. I had fallen asleep with a beer in my hand.
I was really tired. I woke up and went to the visitor's bedroom, got under the sheets and promptly fell asleep.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Paris Journal
Paris Journal
Wednesday nov 15.
So I stayed in Paris, and happy that I did. Slept in late, got up at around 10 something. Did some writing, went for a walk, bought some bread. At 12:15 helped Tess clean up the apartment for the photo shoot. The model was coming with the hairdress and make up artist. After tidying up a bit left for Alexandra's house in Bastille. Bought a bottle of wine in a Grocery store cause I couldn't find the wine store, and as I was walking to the front door of the building Alex was coming out, so I accompanied her to the supermarket to buy some food. Her roommate, PV (Pierre Victor, whom she also met in Madrid ) was going to cook for us.
We got to the apartment after buying bread, food and tabaco.
Very nice flat. PV is a really cool guy, very mature for his age, 20 ( Alex is 25).
He made a great salad and steak. We watched some videos on Youtube which he put on the TV from his laptop ( have to get that adaptor).
While he was cooking I started to strum an acoustic guitar he has. It felt nice to have a guitar in my hands. Unfortunately, I left my guitar in Zaragoza which has made my trip a little bit stressful. Down time in Amsterdam was specially hard because I was craving to sing and play with all the time I had on my hands.
After we ate and drank wine, PV left for a meeting and Alex and me walked to Tess apartment to catch the photo shoot.
The girl was really beautiful, 16 but looking 25. From the Ukraine. Tess got some great shots of her. In all, the shoot lasted about 5 1/2 hours.
While he was shooting a friend was capturing it all on video for a behind the scenes. The hairdresser would use the blow dryer to make the girl's hair flow for the pics. Tess' assistant would also take turns making pics for purposes of practice.
Alex left at around 6 to meet up with some friends.
I went out for a walk after the shoot, since Tess was going to be interviewed on camera. Wanted to get some air. Bought some wine and brought it back to the house and sat to down to talk with the girls.
After everyone left, a couple of girls came over ( don't remember their names), by chance they were downstairs when I had come up with the wine but I didn't know they were coming to the apartment.
We had about 4 bottles of wine and some cheese, ham and salad. Tess and his friend, Pierrick were talking with the girls, and I was at the dining table conversing with Steffi and Ekatirana about everything in general but specially women. Kati left for a date with her boyfriend so Steffi and I continued to talk, while she played music. She's a cool kid who's been to many interesting parts of the world.
Pierrick left and Steffi got on the phone. I joined Tess and chatted with one of the girls who spoke english and was also kind enough to translate what her friend said.
We left the house at around 12 and walked the girls to the metro station then Tess and I crossed the Seine and walked to St. Michel. We went to this bar called the Australia Pub. We had a couple of rounds of beer and then went home.
Kati had gotten back ( she had the keys).
Tess made some pasta for dinner. I was online for a while sending emails and just checking crap in general
Fell asleep around 3am.
Wednesday nov 15.
So I stayed in Paris, and happy that I did. Slept in late, got up at around 10 something. Did some writing, went for a walk, bought some bread. At 12:15 helped Tess clean up the apartment for the photo shoot. The model was coming with the hairdress and make up artist. After tidying up a bit left for Alexandra's house in Bastille. Bought a bottle of wine in a Grocery store cause I couldn't find the wine store, and as I was walking to the front door of the building Alex was coming out, so I accompanied her to the supermarket to buy some food. Her roommate, PV (Pierre Victor, whom she also met in Madrid ) was going to cook for us.
We got to the apartment after buying bread, food and tabaco.
Very nice flat. PV is a really cool guy, very mature for his age, 20 ( Alex is 25).
He made a great salad and steak. We watched some videos on Youtube which he put on the TV from his laptop ( have to get that adaptor).
While he was cooking I started to strum an acoustic guitar he has. It felt nice to have a guitar in my hands. Unfortunately, I left my guitar in Zaragoza which has made my trip a little bit stressful. Down time in Amsterdam was specially hard because I was craving to sing and play with all the time I had on my hands.
After we ate and drank wine, PV left for a meeting and Alex and me walked to Tess apartment to catch the photo shoot.
The girl was really beautiful, 16 but looking 25. From the Ukraine. Tess got some great shots of her. In all, the shoot lasted about 5 1/2 hours.
While he was shooting a friend was capturing it all on video for a behind the scenes. The hairdresser would use the blow dryer to make the girl's hair flow for the pics. Tess' assistant would also take turns making pics for purposes of practice.
Alex left at around 6 to meet up with some friends.
I went out for a walk after the shoot, since Tess was going to be interviewed on camera. Wanted to get some air. Bought some wine and brought it back to the house and sat to down to talk with the girls.
After everyone left, a couple of girls came over ( don't remember their names), by chance they were downstairs when I had come up with the wine but I didn't know they were coming to the apartment.
We had about 4 bottles of wine and some cheese, ham and salad. Tess and his friend, Pierrick were talking with the girls, and I was at the dining table conversing with Steffi and Ekatirana about everything in general but specially women. Kati left for a date with her boyfriend so Steffi and I continued to talk, while she played music. She's a cool kid who's been to many interesting parts of the world.
Pierrick left and Steffi got on the phone. I joined Tess and chatted with one of the girls who spoke english and was also kind enough to translate what her friend said.
We left the house at around 12 and walked the girls to the metro station then Tess and I crossed the Seine and walked to St. Michel. We went to this bar called the Australia Pub. We had a couple of rounds of beer and then went home.
Kati had gotten back ( she had the keys).
Tess made some pasta for dinner. I was online for a while sending emails and just checking crap in general
Fell asleep around 3am.
Inside Notre Dame
I think I had never been inside Notre Dame on my previous trips to Paris. This time around I got to hear mass in french with a soprano singing and the wonderful organ. Wicked but beautiful.
Paris Journal
Paris Journal 4
Monday 13 nov
Yesterday I got up early and talked with Steffi, one of Tess' roommate for a while. She works at the Ritz and was on her way to work. She lent me a book called The Power of Now which is very interesting later on when she got home.
Later in the morning, I was talking to Ekaterina, Tess other roommate, another wonderful young lady. Like Steffi, she is german, although Steffi grew up in Canada and Ekaterina was born in Bulgaria. We talked a bit about Varna. I was telling her about a couple of weeks I spent there in the summer of '96.
At around 11:30 or 12 we went for a long walk and wound up at the Sacre Cour in Montmartre overlooking Paris. We went up through the west side, beautiful houses and beautiful little streets.
After we got back to the apartment later on, I didn't go out again. Hung out in the house reading, talking to Tess. We called Antonio via Skype in Cabarete and I finally spoke with Onno after about a year. I was really tired from so much walking.
Tess opened up this great bottle of wine with chicken dinner. It was good!
Tuesday 14 Nov
I got up early, had coffee with Steffi. After she left for work I walked to Bastille to try to get in some phone calls. Apparently I went too early for the place was closed. Bastille is about a 20 min walk up the Rue de Rivoli from where I am by Hotel D' Ville. I bought a pain au chocolat which I've always loved. ( In Santo Domingo I would buy Napolitanas in one of the bakeries with a french name but they never got close to the ones in Spain and here ).
I was going to leave at 5am the next day for the Beauvais airport.
I went back to the house and hung out with Ekaterina and Tess.
Tess told me that I could make phone calls to landlines in the US and Europe from the house and it was the same as a local call.
Ekaterina had to go to some 3 castings in the afternoon so she left at around 2.
Tess had a meeting at around 6:30 at an agency so I accompanied him to the place. We got out at Champs Elysees and walked a couple of blocks past the President's house to the area of the meeting. Afterwards we went to see the shop windows at Galerie Lafayette and another store beside it. They compete every year for best window in the public's eye.
We got back on the Metro this time another line, that resembles more the Cercanias trains of Madrid. It was just one stop but I thought I was gonna die from the heat and all the people. Have never been comfortable around crowds and in crowded train cars. ( My favorite Metro that I've ridden is actually the one in DC, clean,smoothand comfortable.)
We got back to the house.
I'd communicated with Alexandra, Alex Ferreira's roommate from Madrid who had moved back to France. She was in Lyon but was returning to Paris that evening.
She said she would come around 9:30 since I was leaving in the morning.
I went out and walked around for a while at the Ile de St. Louis. Curiously, as I was crossing one the many bridges, this one between the Hotel D' Ville and Notre Dame, there was a guy playing electric guitar with a mic sitting right smack in the middle of the bridge. I looked at him and walked past. The tune he was singing seemed familiar and the chord progression, and for a moment I thought, "this guy sucks. Why is he playing 'In my Life' that way" when I suddenly realized that he was strumming and singing "All of Me", one of my favorite songs of all time which the day before I had been trying to remember on the piano. I walked back and dropped a few coins and the song was in my head for about 10 mins. I startedto kind of mutter it aloud as I often do nowadays. Sing to myself as I walk down the street, not in a loud voice, but it's a great way for me to concentrate on melody and lyrics since I don't have an instrument in my hand.
After walking around for a while I headed back for the apartment. I had remembered my first trip to Paris in july 1988 when I went to a concert of Pachelbel 's Canon either in La Cite or Ile de St. Louis. Don't remember. Don't even remember the girl that accompanied me, another dominican student from L'alliance Francaise. I saw her a couple of time afterwards in DR.
It's strange how now you keep in touch with everybody in one form or another, through the internet, pictures online, chats, emails. In those days you had to make a real effort and technically speaking the only person who I've been in touch with since that time and whom I consider a great friend is Emile.
Alex came over at 10pm. Tess opened up a great bottle of wine. We talked for a while and they talked a lot in french as I tried to follow ( very difficult for me when they speak so fast, I catch just words). The conversation centered on phography and Santo Domingo.
I bought another ticket for Bergamo, and will stay here til friday.
Today ( wed. 15) Tess has a photo shoot. My flight to Bergamo was at 8:30am, but they convinced me to change my flight, which I did, for friday.
At around 12, we walked Alex home, she lives in Bastille. As we got to her corner, Sandra, the new roommate and a couple of her friends from sunday night were coming out of a bar. After a couple of minutes on the corner we all decided to go to a bar. We hung out there for a while. Had this awful glass of red wine ( awful, because besides the bottle Tess had opened in the house, this tasted like vinegar) and then I had a draft Heineken which was pretty good. Hadn't had a beer since my second day in Amsterdam.
After about an hour we left. I walked Alex to her door so I could see where she lives since we are to have lunch on wednesday.
We said goodbye to the other girls, Tess and I walked home.
In the house I got online and promptly fell asleep with my laptop on my (DUH) lap.
It was about 2:30am. I had been up since very early, had walked a lot and was very very tired.
But it was a good day, and I'm staying in Paris 2 more days, will get to see a fashion shoot and hang out with friend. Yeah.
Monday 13 nov
Yesterday I got up early and talked with Steffi, one of Tess' roommate for a while. She works at the Ritz and was on her way to work. She lent me a book called The Power of Now which is very interesting later on when she got home.
Later in the morning, I was talking to Ekaterina, Tess other roommate, another wonderful young lady. Like Steffi, she is german, although Steffi grew up in Canada and Ekaterina was born in Bulgaria. We talked a bit about Varna. I was telling her about a couple of weeks I spent there in the summer of '96.
At around 11:30 or 12 we went for a long walk and wound up at the Sacre Cour in Montmartre overlooking Paris. We went up through the west side, beautiful houses and beautiful little streets.
After we got back to the apartment later on, I didn't go out again. Hung out in the house reading, talking to Tess. We called Antonio via Skype in Cabarete and I finally spoke with Onno after about a year. I was really tired from so much walking.
Tess opened up this great bottle of wine with chicken dinner. It was good!
Tuesday 14 Nov
I got up early, had coffee with Steffi. After she left for work I walked to Bastille to try to get in some phone calls. Apparently I went too early for the place was closed. Bastille is about a 20 min walk up the Rue de Rivoli from where I am by Hotel D' Ville. I bought a pain au chocolat which I've always loved. ( In Santo Domingo I would buy Napolitanas in one of the bakeries with a french name but they never got close to the ones in Spain and here ).
I was going to leave at 5am the next day for the Beauvais airport.
I went back to the house and hung out with Ekaterina and Tess.
Tess told me that I could make phone calls to landlines in the US and Europe from the house and it was the same as a local call.
Ekaterina had to go to some 3 castings in the afternoon so she left at around 2.
Tess had a meeting at around 6:30 at an agency so I accompanied him to the place. We got out at Champs Elysees and walked a couple of blocks past the President's house to the area of the meeting. Afterwards we went to see the shop windows at Galerie Lafayette and another store beside it. They compete every year for best window in the public's eye.
We got back on the Metro this time another line, that resembles more the Cercanias trains of Madrid. It was just one stop but I thought I was gonna die from the heat and all the people. Have never been comfortable around crowds and in crowded train cars. ( My favorite Metro that I've ridden is actually the one in DC, clean,smoothand comfortable.)
We got back to the house.
I'd communicated with Alexandra, Alex Ferreira's roommate from Madrid who had moved back to France. She was in Lyon but was returning to Paris that evening.
She said she would come around 9:30 since I was leaving in the morning.
I went out and walked around for a while at the Ile de St. Louis. Curiously, as I was crossing one the many bridges, this one between the Hotel D' Ville and Notre Dame, there was a guy playing electric guitar with a mic sitting right smack in the middle of the bridge. I looked at him and walked past. The tune he was singing seemed familiar and the chord progression, and for a moment I thought, "this guy sucks. Why is he playing 'In my Life' that way" when I suddenly realized that he was strumming and singing "All of Me", one of my favorite songs of all time which the day before I had been trying to remember on the piano. I walked back and dropped a few coins and the song was in my head for about 10 mins. I startedto kind of mutter it aloud as I often do nowadays. Sing to myself as I walk down the street, not in a loud voice, but it's a great way for me to concentrate on melody and lyrics since I don't have an instrument in my hand.
After walking around for a while I headed back for the apartment. I had remembered my first trip to Paris in july 1988 when I went to a concert of Pachelbel 's Canon either in La Cite or Ile de St. Louis. Don't remember. Don't even remember the girl that accompanied me, another dominican student from L'alliance Francaise. I saw her a couple of time afterwards in DR.
It's strange how now you keep in touch with everybody in one form or another, through the internet, pictures online, chats, emails. In those days you had to make a real effort and technically speaking the only person who I've been in touch with since that time and whom I consider a great friend is Emile.
Alex came over at 10pm. Tess opened up a great bottle of wine. We talked for a while and they talked a lot in french as I tried to follow ( very difficult for me when they speak so fast, I catch just words). The conversation centered on phography and Santo Domingo.
I bought another ticket for Bergamo, and will stay here til friday.
Today ( wed. 15) Tess has a photo shoot. My flight to Bergamo was at 8:30am, but they convinced me to change my flight, which I did, for friday.
At around 12, we walked Alex home, she lives in Bastille. As we got to her corner, Sandra, the new roommate and a couple of her friends from sunday night were coming out of a bar. After a couple of minutes on the corner we all decided to go to a bar. We hung out there for a while. Had this awful glass of red wine ( awful, because besides the bottle Tess had opened in the house, this tasted like vinegar) and then I had a draft Heineken which was pretty good. Hadn't had a beer since my second day in Amsterdam.
After about an hour we left. I walked Alex to her door so I could see where she lives since we are to have lunch on wednesday.
We said goodbye to the other girls, Tess and I walked home.
In the house I got online and promptly fell asleep with my laptop on my (DUH) lap.
It was about 2:30am. I had been up since very early, had walked a lot and was very very tired.
But it was a good day, and I'm staying in Paris 2 more days, will get to see a fashion shoot and hang out with friend. Yeah.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Paris Journal 3
Paris Journal 3
Yesterday I walked all over Paris. After visiting two cafes, at
around 11:30 Antonio and I visited Notre Dame Cathedral which is
actually very close to where I am staying in Chatelet.
We must have spent like an hour there. I walked all around inside
which I think I hadn't done on my previous visits to Paris. What made
it all interesting was that there was Sunday Mass with organ and a
soprano. Had never heard mass in french.
After that we went back to the apartment. I left right away and went
to the calling center across the street from Tribeca, the restaurant
we had visited the night before on Rue de Charonne. Walked the Rue de
Rivoli until it changed names and reached the Place de Bastille.
After calling NY and Amsterdam, I called Stefan to see where they
were. They told me they were on their way to St. Germain and would
wait for me near Odeon.
I walked over there, about 20 mins. When I was almost getting there
about 5,000 people on skates passed me by on the Boulevard St.
Germain. It was likea race or parade. I got to Odeon but couldn't find
a phone to call from that actually took coins. So I started walking
around, bought a Grec and Frites. After a while I decided to walk
toward D'Orsay since Giuliana had wanted to go there.
In the end I didn't meet up with anybody. I just walked all along the
Seine, crossing a bridge here, walking along the shore somewhere else
until I got to the area of the museum. Then I made my way to the
Eiffel Tower. It was almost dark. I was taking pictures all along the
way. After a while I walked back to the apartment where Antonio, and
Stefanwere getting ready for their trip. Giuliana arrived about 20
mins later with stephie and Julie. "Oh, Leo te perdiste"? Giuliana
asked me.
She finished packing up. At 9:30 a cab would come to take them to the
Gare du Nord for their train to Brussels where they would catch a 6am
flight to Puerto Plata and return to Cabarete for the winter.
Then we went out to a cafe around the corner. Giuliana and I waited
outside the building for a friend she wanted to see before they left,
so everyone went ahead. We waited for about 25 mins and talked a
little about everything. I was telling her how all of a sudden I felt
the need to do some of the things that I had always wanted to do, get
fit enough to run a marathon in about 2 years, parachute out of a
plane etc.
The friend hadn't arrived so we went to the cafe around the cornerto
meet up with the others for one last drink. We came back to the
apartment for the luggage Just then Giuliana's friend arrived. She
drove into the street the wrong way, and they said their hellos They
were glad to see each other Just then the taxi arrived I said goodbye
to Antonio and Stefan. Giuliana told me to say hello to her family
since I'll be going to Bergamo on wednesday. We had a great time this
weekend.
After they left, Tess and I said goodbye to Stephie and Julie. We came
back to the apartment where his roommates were, one with her
boyfriend. Michel, his uncle was ironing some shirts. I connected to
the internet and spoke with Michele through the Skype. She was really
excited that the program actually worked so well.
Afterwards, a new girl who will move in came to the apartment with
some friends to bring a mattress. Tess was helping her bring it
upstairs, I helped out. We later went with her, a friend and two other
girls to a cafe down the street. Chatted for a little while and then
we returned to the apartment.
Ekatirana's boyfriend told me about Marcel Dadi, a guitar player I
knew nothing about who died in the TWA 800. I found a myspace with his
music. http://www.myspace.com/marceldadi
Then Michel, Tess' uncle, and I started to talk about Michel Gondry
and about La Reunion, an island I didn't know existed that is off the
coast of Africa.
Tess cooked some chicken and potatoes, Good dinner.
Michel also showed the music of a friend of his named Jean-Louis
Bompoint who is also the Director of Photography of the most recent
Michel Gondry film, The Science of Dreams.
http://www.jlbompoint.com/frameset.html
It was a cool day.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Paris Journal 2
A rainy day in Paris. Walking around the area of the Pompidou.
It was a strange day for me at first. I'm in Paris but I don't know where the fuck my mind is. Well, it's all over the place. At first I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of people on the street.
I went with Antonio and Michel (Tess' uncle) to return the car Antonio had rented the day before because it turned out to be a pain in the ass to have it. He drove to Gare du Nord. The sights are wonderful along the way but it's as if I wasn't there.
Before that we had been in the apartment trying to figure where Stefan could have lost his wallet the day before. They were callind DR through the Yahoo messenger. Finally, it turns out he lost it at the Tapas place because Mastercard traced some unauthorized purchases on his credit card.
In the afternoon we walked all along the Rue de Rivoli and went to the Pyramid at the Louvre and then inside to the mall that's under the pyramids. Museum stores etc. Giliuana was looking for some specific things. After a couple of hours we returned to the apartment.
At around 9pm we went out to this small bar in the Bastille area named Tribeca at 65, rue de Charonne. Had a DJ spinning reggae in the basement, and we sat on a small mezzazine on the street floor which had a low ceiling, you couldn't stand up straight. I had a great grilled chicken breast with Roquefort sauce and a couple of glasses of wine.
Checked out the basement, which was jammed packed. This is a very small place and the basement had people dancind, smoking up and grooving. The toiletten was down there. I tried to make my way to it but couldn't stand the crowd. The basement is like a cava in shape.
I noticed a calling center across the street and made a couple of phones to the US and Ams, but couldn't get through to anybody, but I went to the bathroom there. The rates of this place was pretty cheap, 15 euro cents a minute to cell phones, not bad.
From Tribeca we went to a party at some friend's of Tess in Republique. It was a nice place, lots of people dancing. Julie and Stephanie,two friends of Stefan, Giuliana and Antonio, who used to work in Cabarete were with us.
Julie was really cool getting drinks for everyone. She even found the corkscrew which was thrown somewhere, so that I could open up a bottle of wine.
Stefan and I were talking to this spanish girl from Madrid name Inma ( short for Inmaculada) who had flown in just for this party.
After we got tired of being in this place, which was playing Michael Jackson music and people dancing and talking, top floor of an apartment in Paris with great windows and nice view of the neighborhood, we walked back to Chatelet, towards the apartment. I was falling asleep on my feet, because I had only slept 3 hours from the night before.
It was a nice walk.
We ended up at this mostly gay bar that was open around the corner from the apartment. We all sat at a nice table, where I began to nod off incessantly, until Giuliana woke me and said, Leo, it's ok if you go home. Tess will take you.
And so I did. We were just around the corner so it was like a 3 minute walk.
I got to the house, checked my email real quick and before I knew it, I nodded off on the couch until everyone came back around 2 hours later. I was really tired.
Now, here I am, sunday morning, 10am, writing, listening to music and thinking about what we are going to do today. Maybe I'll go for a walk by the Seine before everyone gets up.
It was a strange day for me at first. I'm in Paris but I don't know where the fuck my mind is. Well, it's all over the place. At first I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of people on the street.
I went with Antonio and Michel (Tess' uncle) to return the car Antonio had rented the day before because it turned out to be a pain in the ass to have it. He drove to Gare du Nord. The sights are wonderful along the way but it's as if I wasn't there.
Before that we had been in the apartment trying to figure where Stefan could have lost his wallet the day before. They were callind DR through the Yahoo messenger. Finally, it turns out he lost it at the Tapas place because Mastercard traced some unauthorized purchases on his credit card.
In the afternoon we walked all along the Rue de Rivoli and went to the Pyramid at the Louvre and then inside to the mall that's under the pyramids. Museum stores etc. Giliuana was looking for some specific things. After a couple of hours we returned to the apartment.
At around 9pm we went out to this small bar in the Bastille area named Tribeca at 65, rue de Charonne. Had a DJ spinning reggae in the basement, and we sat on a small mezzazine on the street floor which had a low ceiling, you couldn't stand up straight. I had a great grilled chicken breast with Roquefort sauce and a couple of glasses of wine.
Checked out the basement, which was jammed packed. This is a very small place and the basement had people dancind, smoking up and grooving. The toiletten was down there. I tried to make my way to it but couldn't stand the crowd. The basement is like a cava in shape.
I noticed a calling center across the street and made a couple of phones to the US and Ams, but couldn't get through to anybody, but I went to the bathroom there. The rates of this place was pretty cheap, 15 euro cents a minute to cell phones, not bad.
From Tribeca we went to a party at some friend's of Tess in Republique. It was a nice place, lots of people dancing. Julie and Stephanie,two friends of Stefan, Giuliana and Antonio, who used to work in Cabarete were with us.
Julie was really cool getting drinks for everyone. She even found the corkscrew which was thrown somewhere, so that I could open up a bottle of wine.
Stefan and I were talking to this spanish girl from Madrid name Inma ( short for Inmaculada) who had flown in just for this party.
After we got tired of being in this place, which was playing Michael Jackson music and people dancing and talking, top floor of an apartment in Paris with great windows and nice view of the neighborhood, we walked back to Chatelet, towards the apartment. I was falling asleep on my feet, because I had only slept 3 hours from the night before.
It was a nice walk.
We ended up at this mostly gay bar that was open around the corner from the apartment. We all sat at a nice table, where I began to nod off incessantly, until Giuliana woke me and said, Leo, it's ok if you go home. Tess will take you.
And so I did. We were just around the corner so it was like a 3 minute walk.
I got to the house, checked my email real quick and before I knew it, I nodded off on the couch until everyone came back around 2 hours later. I was really tired.
Now, here I am, sunday morning, 10am, writing, listening to music and thinking about what we are going to do today. Maybe I'll go for a walk by the Seine before everyone gets up.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Paris Journal 1
I arrived to Paris from Amsterdam at 2pm via Train. It was a good comfortable ride. Tess, Antonio and Giuliana were at the Gare du Nord waiting for me. We rented a car and went to Orly airport to pick up Stefan who was flying in from Nice. Afterwards we made our way back to the center of Paris, where Tess lives near the Pompidou.
It was a pretty cool night. Apperitif at a Tapas place; before that Antonio, Giuliana and me bought some crepes at a cart in the corner of the street where Tess lives.
Dinner was late, in a nice restaurant in the 7th arr. named Oudino ( and it's on rue Oudinot). I had a great steak. We took the car back near the house where Antonio and Giulia stayed cause he was a little under the weather. Tess left with some of his friends and we would meet up at a club on Champs Elysees. Stefan and I couldn't get a cab so we wound up walking all the way from where Hotel de Ville is to the Champs Elysees.
We ended up at a place called Chesterfield ( used to be called that ) where we had some drinks. I had a few Jack Daniel's and a couple of shots. After the bar closed we went to some dance club named Queen til 7am. Ah, but my favorite part was the walk. Paris at night is beautiful.
Met this interesting young lady named Morgane who is a make up artist, one of Tess friends who was at dinner and later came to Chesterfield. We talked for a good while about a little bit of everything. Nice person.
It was a pretty cool night. Apperitif at a Tapas place; before that Antonio, Giuliana and me bought some crepes at a cart in the corner of the street where Tess lives.
Dinner was late, in a nice restaurant in the 7th arr. named Oudino ( and it's on rue Oudinot). I had a great steak. We took the car back near the house where Antonio and Giulia stayed cause he was a little under the weather. Tess left with some of his friends and we would meet up at a club on Champs Elysees. Stefan and I couldn't get a cab so we wound up walking all the way from where Hotel de Ville is to the Champs Elysees.
We ended up at a place called Chesterfield ( used to be called that ) where we had some drinks. I had a few Jack Daniel's and a couple of shots. After the bar closed we went to some dance club named Queen til 7am. Ah, but my favorite part was the walk. Paris at night is beautiful.
Met this interesting young lady named Morgane who is a make up artist, one of Tess friends who was at dinner and later came to Chesterfield. We talked for a good while about a little bit of everything. Nice person.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
interesting phrase
- The Privilege and Freedom of arrogance.
Got this from an article in the NY times ( my rag of choice) speaking to the situation of salaries and fees in Hollywood. Could probably be applied to many situations or twisted in many ways. "The privilege and freedom of power" comes to mind.
Got this from an article in the NY times ( my rag of choice) speaking to the situation of salaries and fees in Hollywood. Could probably be applied to many situations or twisted in many ways. "The privilege and freedom of power" comes to mind.
At the movies...
During my stay in Amsterdam I've been to the movies a few times. Have also seen a couple of films in the apartment.
Finally caught the Davinci Code which I wanted to see more because of Paris than anything else, since I'll be there in a couple of days. I was really dissapointed by it, although it is beautifully shot. I felt it was too flat. Ian Mckellan rocked, though. We also rented Team America, World Police which was funny but I didn't really enjoy it. Maybe because after watching Davinci Code and it's beautiful photography, switching to a puppet film wasn't a good idea.
At the movies, saw Miami Vice. I liked the look of the film, the sometimes gritty photography and some of the action sequences. The sound mix was great also. The music I didn't enjoy so much.
Borat was funny although some scene made me uneasy. If you haven't seen the film, you'll know which ones once you do. It was still really funny. I really enjoy Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy.
We caught Babel a day after it's release. This was a mistake which I should have picked up from Borat. Obviously, here in Holland, films are subtitled in Dutch. Now, if the movie's in English, that's not a problem, but there were parts in Borat where he is supposedly speaking his language, and you miss that because of the subtitles. Same with Babel. Large parts of that film are in japanese, and arabic so I couldn't follow those parts too well, just some words that I picked up in the subtitles from their resemblance to English.
The film looks good, though. I'll try to catch again in Spain.
On sunday we went to see Little Miss Sunshine. What a relief. I really really liked this movie. I laughed a lot.
Alan Arkin was incredible, and the cast as a whole was great. Steve Carrell ( 40 yr. old virgin) was also great here.
Finally caught the Davinci Code which I wanted to see more because of Paris than anything else, since I'll be there in a couple of days. I was really dissapointed by it, although it is beautifully shot. I felt it was too flat. Ian Mckellan rocked, though. We also rented Team America, World Police which was funny but I didn't really enjoy it. Maybe because after watching Davinci Code and it's beautiful photography, switching to a puppet film wasn't a good idea.
At the movies, saw Miami Vice. I liked the look of the film, the sometimes gritty photography and some of the action sequences. The sound mix was great also. The music I didn't enjoy so much.
Borat was funny although some scene made me uneasy. If you haven't seen the film, you'll know which ones once you do. It was still really funny. I really enjoy Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy.
We caught Babel a day after it's release. This was a mistake which I should have picked up from Borat. Obviously, here in Holland, films are subtitled in Dutch. Now, if the movie's in English, that's not a problem, but there were parts in Borat where he is supposedly speaking his language, and you miss that because of the subtitles. Same with Babel. Large parts of that film are in japanese, and arabic so I couldn't follow those parts too well, just some words that I picked up in the subtitles from their resemblance to English.
The film looks good, though. I'll try to catch again in Spain.
On sunday we went to see Little Miss Sunshine. What a relief. I really really liked this movie. I laughed a lot.
Alan Arkin was incredible, and the cast as a whole was great. Steve Carrell ( 40 yr. old virgin) was also great here.
On my headphones...
For the past 3 o 4 weeks I've been going back and forth with music. After about 2 months of Killers mania, I've started listening to the entire American Idiot album by Green Day. I had dismissed it at first, but after a couple of listens, I'm really enjoying it.
Favorite tracks apart from the obvious "Wake me up When September Ends" are "Extraordinary Girl", "Give me Novocaine" and "Whatsername". I like the flow of listening straight through from beginning to end, love the drumming, the guitar sounds, and the vocals. Production wise, it sounds great. I've always liked Green Day, have always felt that they have good tunes, and it's obvious they wouldn't have survived this long if they didn't.
Also on my headphones is Heathen by David Bowie as well as Disc 1 from his Platinum Collection which is full of classic tunes. It's been interesting to ride or walk around this wonderful city with my chosen soundtrack. This has included Neil Diamond ( 12 Songs), Johnny Cash (American Vol. 3), Tom Waits and even some of my own recent tunes that I haven't released yet.
One that I have put up on myspace.com/leosusana, "Estoy Cansado" I've been conecptualizing a video for.
I've been very moody recently, and some of this music helps me think.
Favorite tracks apart from the obvious "Wake me up When September Ends" are "Extraordinary Girl", "Give me Novocaine" and "Whatsername". I like the flow of listening straight through from beginning to end, love the drumming, the guitar sounds, and the vocals. Production wise, it sounds great. I've always liked Green Day, have always felt that they have good tunes, and it's obvious they wouldn't have survived this long if they didn't.
Also on my headphones is Heathen by David Bowie as well as Disc 1 from his Platinum Collection which is full of classic tunes. It's been interesting to ride or walk around this wonderful city with my chosen soundtrack. This has included Neil Diamond ( 12 Songs), Johnny Cash (American Vol. 3), Tom Waits and even some of my own recent tunes that I haven't released yet.
One that I have put up on myspace.com/leosusana, "Estoy Cansado" I've been conecptualizing a video for.
I've been very moody recently, and some of this music helps me think.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Sabina by the Amstel
Listening to Joaquin Sabina with Juana by the Amstel, Watching the boats go by.
Juana - Amsterdam Journal 3
Oct. 20, 2006
Today's Lili's birthday. She's been on my mind all day, ... well she's always on my mind, but she's been spectacularly present this week.
I went to the ballet with Michele to pick up Juana. Spent a great part of the morning riding around Amsterdam on her. Visited Oosterpark.
Worked out for a little while there. Didn't have my camera with me, so I was just riding and making mental notes of the places I want to see again. There are some very nice sights to the east of the city. Finally made my way back to the area of the ballet, cause I was in a bit of pain between my legs, I hadn't ridden a bike since I left the DR, and the seat was in an unconfortable position and angle.
I went to the vendors who are at the front part of the entrance to the ballet, but they didn't have the specific tool for my seat. By chance, Laura and her mom were passing by and told me that they had bought the bikes (Michele's is named Juana and Laura's is named Chavela.) around the back of the theater.
I took Juana there and they fixed the seat up for me. I told the guy "I'm in pain, could you change the angle of the seat and raise it a little."
As he's doing it he tells me, "Now balls will not hurt." jajaja
Anyway they fixed it alright. I was riding really comfortable and came to the house to do some writing and eat a little something.
I went out again to meet Michele at 3pm but she told that she had to rehearse til 5:30. Went and did some more riding and took some more pictures.Passed by a spot where some chef guy was giving out Tomato soup. Guess he has a TV show or a book or something. The presentation was interesting. Plastic tomatoes with a star carved into them served as the bowls and there were many people there. Big letters on the ground, cameras, a couple of vans, all with the tomato and star motif.
Received a phone call from my mom in NY. She wanted to tell me to remember Lili's birthday. I was happy to hear from her and that her treatments had been going well. I happened to be in the Red light district at that moment taking some pictures for Pablo and an article he was going to have published in some magazine in the DR. Went to Soup En Zo and tried another of the soups.
On my way back to meet up with Miche at the ballet, I was rushing up a street, with some traffic when I heard something smash behind me. All of a sudden a car pulls up next to me with what appeared to be two young dutch arabs, and the driver says to me "you! Motherfucker. It cost me a mirror to not hit you!" He apparantly had scraped his right rearview mirror against a parked vehicle, while trying to avoid me, which seemed like bullshit to me. Anyway, I took off my headphones and said "Sorry". He said "motherfucker..." , I kinda laughed it off and kept riding to the ballet. Then walked the bike to theather cause all of a sudden it hit me that there are some nuts out there who don't give a shit that Amsterdam is a city full of bikes. The ones I've seen who disrepect this appear to be foreigners or of foreign descent. For a moment I thought they might be doing that because since tecnically I'm a tourist, they might get some money from me.
I decided I would try to be a little more careful out on the streets, just in case.
I picked Miche up, we went to the supermarket. Afterwards I walked her to her therapy session. She needed some acupunture cause her neck was a little messed and she would be dancing the next day.
Talked a little about Lili, and her birthday.
Strange day indeed.
(note: Some of this I'm writing memory. I jot down some things one day, and then another. Looking through the pictures I took on the 20th I realized that I did a lot and saw many things that day. I've never been good at keeping a journal. My journals are more hindsight than actual moment.)
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