Europe « Mr. Lentz and his misadventures in lands afar

Europe

Europe, I long to see you…

Last modified on 2009-12-07 04:10:28 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

For a chronological reading of my trip Click on the ‘Europe’ tab located above.

Follow my adventure through the hills of Burgundy, the mountains of Switzerland, the castles of Austria, and the back alleyways of Italy…it’s Euro Trip 2009 – landing shortly. Also – make sure to check out my photography along the way at photo.MrLentz.com

Taxiing, Taxiing……Still Taxiing

Last modified on 2009-04-28 19:04:38 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

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…and 20 more minutes of taxiing and you have arrived at Charles Dougall International, Paris, France.
The approach to Paris can be likened to a modern French film – first the pilot descends to about 1000 feet above ground while you fasten your seatbelt, then the pilot cruises for another 30 minutes while you secure your tray table, when the airport is finally in sight -the pilot will give you another 15 minutes of circling the surrounding farmland, then the pilot gently lands the aircraft and does you a favor by taxiing the first 30 miles towards Paris. Once you reach the gate an hour has passed and you’ve had enough time for tea and crumpets, oh wait that’s English.
- And we’re in Paris, the most incredible modern city that still maintains it’s ancient vibes. While the approach to the city may be cause for another nap, the city itself is a loud, bustling, bright and beautiful place to be. Before I go any further, I must spill the beans… I am on a guided tour.
Ok, there, I said it, and I know what you are thinking. However, whilst only on my second (at the time of writing this) day of the trip – the guided part is proving to be an incredibly efficient way to travel this continent. Just in the last two days I have seen more sights, met more people and eaten more quiche than I would have ever done by solo. Plus I lost an internal $10 bet to myself that will be immediately recouped…there are actually a few people on the tour under 50. Incredibly they might actually be my age, and they are all fun no matter.
Now, I don’t speak French, except when I am mocking them while watching a foreign film – and even then it probably sounds like a mix of Chinese, German, and mockery. So when I am actually faced with communicating with these natives, my tongue swells up. They do not particularly like speaking English as you may know, but what you may not know is that this usually has nothing to do with their well stereotyped position of snobbery. In fact a lot of French will tell you that they do not speak English simply because they may not regard themselves as fluent, and they are all about perfection. Take for example the Eclair Chocolat I had today for lunch. Simply stated – it was perfection on all regards. And the sorbet made by Begullion (the most renowned sorbet company in the world), eaten last night, it was – basically the most perfect sorbet I have ever had. The wine tasting will reach my palette tomorrow, so I am hesitant to comment, but I know I will probably be blown away.
Paris is a city of love(at least the historic district is, I definitely won’t be wandering about the neighborhoods around the airport). You can walk miles in any direction and still be entranced by the details placed in every building, the care taken to provide parks every few blocks, the outdoor cafes where everyone sits facing the street, and the escargot on every menu.

Taking pictures of people who wouldn’t want you to

Last modified on 2009-04-28 19:06:55 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Click on Pictures to see the full shot…

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Is it ethical, and will that stop you? A decidedly unanimous decision of no. I enjoy people and their expressions – especially when they are caught in a special state of mind – when they seem unaware of the world around them. An instant that happily coincides with the perfect moment to snap the photo. Take a look around in a crowded place and after a while you may notice that some people seem to go in and out of the present, in a state of concentration or action that seems peculiarly unaware of others. Never get caught taking this photo.
Here’s how: 1. Find your subject. 2. Point the camera just above their head while keeping both of your eyes open. 3. Use your free eye to monitor the subject for that moment. 4. When the moment occurs close the free eye, aim the camera and snap the photo. Voila.

The joys of traveling with 27 other members of the human race.

Last modified on 2009-05-01 17:11:07 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

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First of all, remembering 27 other names of people you have never met before and may never see again, is in fact quite a challenge. Now that task multiplied by three (the average amount of information given to you in small talk – job, hometown, kids) becomes even more confusing and somewhat of a distraction from the trip. Don’t get me wrong – there are quite a number of wonderful things about traveling in a large group: for example – being able to eat with someone instead of sitting there pretending like you are reading your guide book, walking along crowded streets with your camera out and snapping away whilst traveling en masse with your group, and forming a massive blockade in order to cross busy streets where pedestrian right of way is more of a joke than a law.
The element about group travel that strikes me as slightly disagreeable pertains specifically to the free time given to roam on our own. Here’s the situation: twenty-eight travelers, one small French country town, and four square blocks of exploring to do. Spread out, that would leave about two travelers, or one couple, per block. Now set those travelers in motion and see what happens (and remember – this early in the trip hardly anyone remembers each other’s names, nor do they know that much about them). What you get is a bunch of people running into each other and repeating the same exact lines: “Isn’t this beautiful”, “Have you eaten yet”, “Are you headed back to the hotel?”. Feeling moderately crazed by this situation, I am calmed by the fact that our bus driver has offered to sell us beer on the bus for $1. Thus – the key to survival is to spend free time purposely getting lost, when the need arrives to travel by bus – buy a few beers, and in the evening relax with a wine or two. Repeat.
The beautiful four square block I was referring to is known to the world (or at least to the local French) as Beaunne. I simply cannot imagine a more picturesque town. And while that may be the wonderful thing about this place – it also happens to be the most disturbing thing as well. You see – Beaunne is too perfect. Just as I had previously thought, everything done in Paris was exceptionally perfect, and now you have Beaunne. Beaunne, the definition of a perfect French town. Now that I had experienced that – I suddenly felt creeped out. It was as if around every corner, in every nook and cranny – a beautiful photograph was awaiting my glistening lens. The problem being that it became immediately clear that every door, window, courtyard and cobblestone street had been photographed at least 10,000 times from every possible angle. Beaunne is just one of those places. A wonderful place to visit, but don’t commit yourself to Utopia until you’ve rented a room first. Get me outta here and into Switzerlandia.

A story of a Bug

Last modified on 2009-05-01 17:03:27 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

To be immediately de-coded for those who speak directly to the author…

Once upon a little time, in a far off land not previously known to the outside world, there lived a Bug. This Bug was no ordinary beetle, in fact it chose to stand out from the colony of bugs in a way not uncommon to the winged insect. The Bug was able to flip and flap as loudly as possible and as long as it wanted for so many hours, minutes and seconds during the day. One day the Bug decided to go on a trip, to leave its far off land for another even farther than the first. It can only be assumed that the colony of bugs rejoiced in fits of partying for days on end when the news was heard of the grand departure. The Bug joined another group of bugs on a trip to travel through this newfound land. All was well and all was fine until the first minute of the first hour of the first day of the trip with the new group of other traveling bugs. The Bug decided to show off its special skill at flip flapping its wings, trying to impress the other bugs. The other bugs immediately became aware of the unique skill of the Bug, yet realized they were unprepared for the significance of this talent and so they soon found themselves as captives more than captivated. The Bug flipped and the Bug flapped all through the day during every minute and every second without cease. The other bugs, one in particular, grew wary of this so called ‘talent’ and began to plot the other Bug’s death. Time passed…. and the rest will be left to your imagination. Guten Tag