Thursday, November 19, 2009
Apple dans Paris
An Apple store? In the Louvre? How much better can life get for a human being, specifically one of the tourist species. Just un petite temps to get used to the different French/Euro keyboard and I`m off. Prices here a bit different; 1,149 Euros for a 2.26 GHz MacBook 13 Pro. About 2k Americanos. Think I`ll wait until I return stateside to salivate at an Apple store there. There`s even the typical Parisian beggar politely asking for spare change right outside of the store.
Hey!!!
Great Idea.
Think I`ll join him; wonder how many handouts would be necessary to acquire said MacBook Pro 13 pouces 2;26 GHz?
Monsieur??!! Monsiur???!!! Est-que vouz have le change pour un Americaine pouvre?
Hey!!!
Great Idea.
Think I`ll join him; wonder how many handouts would be necessary to acquire said MacBook Pro 13 pouces 2;26 GHz?
Monsieur??!! Monsiur???!!! Est-que vouz have le change pour un Americaine pouvre?
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Things to Do in Missoula While Gazing at the Enchanting Sky Slip By
Missoula, MT, at 3,209 ft above sea level lies in the Bitterroot valley surrounded by ??? mountains. The Clark Fork meanders through the city; you'll be criss-crossing it as you drive through Missoula. The lapping of the rapids can be heard pretty much anywhere in the city even when the river is out of sight. Downtown Missoula is particularly open to strolling about.There are eateries and bars with open bars beckoning passer-bys to come in and sit a bit. Sitting a lot does not seem to be an activity favored by Missoulians. These folks are fairly fit and trim, as the outdoors smacks you upside the head with things to do. Metrosexuals are a human species not seen around these parts, not that Missoula lacks for cultural events. Cosmetics and high-end fashion markets are bone-dry here. Practicality and versatility in dress and accoutrement seem the guiding principles. Also Gore-tex; people are conceived and clothed in Gore-tex here. There is a plethora of outdoor gear related stores here.
Bike and kayak car racks are de rigeur. A result is an abundance of taut cheekbones and an under-usage of body deoderant products. A stuffy nose is a helpful condition to be blessed with when chowing down at some of the fine eating establishments in town.To keep the denizens ever-active, the city even built an eternal wave machine right in the Clark Fork. Brennan's Wave, just north of the Higgins Avenue Bridge and within view of the Wilma theater in downtown Missoula is a great place to simply hang out and stare. Initially created for kayakers, enjoyment possibilities soon extended past the limits of the biped population of town.
As you can see, Brennan's Wave is open to all species of animals and their caretakers. In addition to kayakers and dogs, surfers can also be spotted on the Wave, seemingly glued to one spot. Once you're in the rhythm of the wave it seems any container would do. We spent a too short couple of hours here, marveling at the kayakers' easy slippage from the top of the Wave through the middle and out the end. Two of the kayakers brought along their 2 golden Labs who spent a short time running up and down the shoreline, following their owners, before deciding to jump in and join in on the fun. The water was a bit chilly, I'd say around 50-55 degrees. It didn't seem to matter to the dogs as they swam up through the rapids before turning around and riding the rapids down river.It's a different style of life here, an enviable mix of outdoor immediacy and great coffee.
Labels: Montana, Turistas, Vacations
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Bears, a Convoluted Theory
While strolling around Morain Lake just outside of the villages of Banff and Lake Louise, we came across a side path seriously guarded by an intense and fit Canada Park Warden (am I inventing this position? She had a uniform, badge, and hat so I'll go with that title). Next to her was this sign. 
Standing off to one side was a group of hikers, three in total, loudly discussing their hopefully-soon trek up the trail into the woods. The written rule in Canada's national parks is that hikers have to comprise a minimum group of 4 prior to heading off onto the ursine trails. Due to time constraints and a group-fear fueled by our self-delusion that we exuded odors of edibility, the eight of us, though large enough by a factor of two to take on these bear trails, opted to not head up the tasty human morsel trail.
That didn't prevent yours truly, in bear-thought mode since we came out West, to start inventing scenarios as to how the Canadian National Park service came up with the ideal number of Four. I'm sure the Chinese National Park Service would have opted for another number as Four is not the number one would want to be grouped in when hiking in China's national forests. Although, the bears there are not close to Grizzly size and pandas (yes...they are not bears) would not be mistaking hikers for shoots of bamboo. So, Four. Was it a trial and error situation wherein groups of one, two, three, and four were sent up various Grizzly Bear infested mountains and then interviewed when (and if) they came back as to the grizzliness of their Grizzly encounters? Were the weights, sex, and tastiness of the hikers taken into consideration for the group size? What, as Mr. Gaffigan opines, were their thespian skills? And the Group of Four? Does this ideal group size mean minimal attacks or NO attacks/encounters? What if someone in the group was feeling particularly frisky, adventurous, or demented?
Before we headed off into the Canadian wilds, I hope we would have asked for some published test results or at least some smelly carcass we could haul with us to dump as soon as a bear approached. Save for one short bear sighting form the safety of a ton and a half car, our vacation was filled with the giddy anticipation of spotting (and then running/playing dead/talking softly/other tricks allegedly know to work) a bear. We maintained a minimal bear quorum of five, cheating on the long side of things. Our conversations were loud, thorny topic-ed, and packed with laughter, all human cacaphony guaranteed to run off any wildlife. Except for magpies and crows, 2 animals sounding similar shrill calls to ourselves.
All through our vacation, whenever we were on the trails, even when chances of bear encounters were nil, I was humming this little ditty (Quicksilver Messenger Service's "Bears"). One never knows when a well-hummed lyric could sooth the savage beast and my East Coast Sensibilities (or lack of sensibility, as opined by several Montanans) inclined me to hum. Loudly. And with a cowbell. Din-din is on the way and it'll be singin'.
Quicksilver Messenger Service: "Bears" lyrics-
"Quicksilver Messenger Service - Bears Lyrics:
(Crazy Laughter)
When walking between the lines and the squares,
Be careful that you don't step on the bears.
(snorting)
There are bears on the stairs, often in pairs,
And they're very hard to get along with.
(sniff, Sniff Sniff)
There are bears in the gutter, so be careful not to utter,
A sound that will disturb.
(burp)
There's something about honey, makes a bear kinda funny,
especially when it's time to eat.
(Sniffs.... SHHHH.....
There's a bear
(crazy Laughter"
Standing off to one side was a group of hikers, three in total, loudly discussing their hopefully-soon trek up the trail into the woods. The written rule in Canada's national parks is that hikers have to comprise a minimum group of 4 prior to heading off onto the ursine trails. Due to time constraints and a group-fear fueled by our self-delusion that we exuded odors of edibility, the eight of us, though large enough by a factor of two to take on these bear trails, opted to not head up the tasty human morsel trail.That didn't prevent yours truly, in bear-thought mode since we came out West, to start inventing scenarios as to how the Canadian National Park service came up with the ideal number of Four. I'm sure the Chinese National Park Service would have opted for another number as Four is not the number one would want to be grouped in when hiking in China's national forests. Although, the bears there are not close to Grizzly size and pandas (yes...they are not bears) would not be mistaking hikers for shoots of bamboo. So, Four. Was it a trial and error situation wherein groups of one, two, three, and four were sent up various Grizzly Bear infested mountains and then interviewed when (and if) they came back as to the grizzliness of their Grizzly encounters? Were the weights, sex, and tastiness of the hikers taken into consideration for the group size? What, as Mr. Gaffigan opines, were their thespian skills? And the Group of Four? Does this ideal group size mean minimal attacks or NO attacks/encounters? What if someone in the group was feeling particularly frisky, adventurous, or demented?
Before we headed off into the Canadian wilds, I hope we would have asked for some published test results or at least some smelly carcass we could haul with us to dump as soon as a bear approached. Save for one short bear sighting form the safety of a ton and a half car, our vacation was filled with the giddy anticipation of spotting (and then running/playing dead/talking softly/other tricks allegedly know to work) a bear. We maintained a minimal bear quorum of five, cheating on the long side of things. Our conversations were loud, thorny topic-ed, and packed with laughter, all human cacaphony guaranteed to run off any wildlife. Except for magpies and crows, 2 animals sounding similar shrill calls to ourselves.
All through our vacation, whenever we were on the trails, even when chances of bear encounters were nil, I was humming this little ditty (Quicksilver Messenger Service's "Bears"). One never knows when a well-hummed lyric could sooth the savage beast and my East Coast Sensibilities (or lack of sensibility, as opined by several Montanans) inclined me to hum. Loudly. And with a cowbell. Din-din is on the way and it'll be singin'.
Quicksilver Messenger Service: "Bears" lyrics-
"Quicksilver Messenger Service - Bears Lyrics:
(Crazy Laughter)
When walking between the lines and the squares,
Be careful that you don't step on the bears.
(snorting)
There are bears on the stairs, often in pairs,
And they're very hard to get along with.
(sniff, Sniff Sniff)
There are bears in the gutter, so be careful not to utter,
A sound that will disturb.
(burp)
There's something about honey, makes a bear kinda funny,
especially when it's time to eat.
(Sniffs.... SHHHH.....
There's a bear
(crazy Laughter"
Labels: Canada, Food Issues, Turistas
Flathead Lake, Montana...
..Fly-fishin' for the Flathead Lake Monster. Must have been using the wrong fly, nary a bite from the alleged large critter, though it seems t-shirts and sodas regarding the cousin of Loch Ness Nelly are to be had. Souvenir t-shirts, the turista chum.Pedicures Suspended in Water
Mutual admiration society meeting of toes, crisp, cold, clear water and distant sounds of motor boats (not provided here..you'll have to hum in A sharp). Inch long fish came up to investigate possible edibles only to discover finely pedicured toes slowly pushing the water from here.......to there.
Other related pics are here.
Labels: Montana, Turistas, Vacations
Vacation Dilemnas
The curse of decision-making while at Lake Louise, Alberta.
Do you stay inside and enjoy the view while sipping a coffee and clinking your bone china cup,
or
do you brave the 65 degree F weather and sit on the outdoor patio and coif a brew or two, while birds flit from emptying tables to the webs of chair legs, picking at fine pastry droppings?
Hmmm??? Why not both?
(NB: Click on the pix to access the Flickr album of other pictures.)
Do you stay inside and enjoy the view while sipping a coffee and clinking your bone china cup,
ordo you brave the 65 degree F weather and sit on the outdoor patio and coif a brew or two, while birds flit from emptying tables to the webs of chair legs, picking at fine pastry droppings?
Hmmm??? Why not both?
(NB: Click on the pix to access the Flickr album of other pictures.)
Labels: Canada, Turistas, Vacations
