The Sound of Silence

Here are a couple of photos from the graveyards of Alexander Nevsky Monestary in St. Petersburg. I am standing next to the grave of Fyodor Dostoevsky, arguably one of the greatest Russian novelists of all time. It was something of a challenge to get there since it required us to take the underground. Having used underground rail transport countless times in various cities, I figured I'd give it a go. Rather than trying to figure out how to use the automatic ticket machines we opted for the much less difficult option of the teller window. Tickets purchased and validated we descended the escalator to the trains. And descend we did. I'm not sure of the actual distance we traveled but we were on the escalator for a good fifteen (15!) minutes. That's the easy part from there you need to be able to decipher Cyrillic in order to determine what train to take. So after navigating an underground maze whose clues are in a foreign script you get on your train. Then if you don't know Russian you'd better be counting stops because there are next to no signs indicating which station the train is alighting at and the announcement made on the intercom is nearly impossible to hear or make sense of. Luckily, I was having a good day and got us to the right stop without making any errors. It was quite the adventure. The snow-covered cemetaries were beautiful on the bright winter day and many Russian notables were burried there. If you like a challenge and aren't afraid of getting lost or not being able to communicate with the locals, then the St. Petersburg metro just may be the place for you.

Postcards of the World

Out of the 43 people I emailed, I have recieved 7 postcards in response. For the math nerds that's roughly about 16%. Not too shabby I guess. For those that have sent one, thanks very much and I am sending reply postcards this weekend. For those of you who haven't... you know who you are!

Great Art

Here is a cool picture I took of some scuptures in Prague. I'm guessing it was part of some sort of temporary street exhibit. We stumbled upon a whole series of them arranged around a small square, probably about 30 pieces altogether. That's one of the best things about Prague. No matter where you turn there is something to see, so just wandering around is a visual feast. It's also still a bit cheaper than Western Europe but not nearly as cheap as it once was, as I had to scour the city to find a liter of beer for 2 euro. I heard that things get much less expensive once you leave the city center and get away from all of the tourists, but we didn't have the time to get there. Still, one can't complain too much about a liter of strong Czech beer for two and a half bucks.
The Alphonse Mucha museum was small, but contained a very good collection of the graphic artist's work. Definitely a must see for anyone interested in graphic arts or art nouveau. Overall, I'd found it at least as enjoyable as the Escher Museum here in the Hague. For other Mucha intallations a must see is the stained glass window (see below) in St. Vitus Cathedral (which, despite the long lines, is beautiful in it's own right, and just one of the amazing things to take pictures of in and around Prague Castle). From what I read, Mucha's murals in the Municiple House are also breathtaking but while we were there it was closed to the public for renovation. Alas.
Overall the Czech capital does not fail to live up to it's artsy bohemian stereotype, and I hope to get back there again for a longer stay, preferrably outside of tourist when the place is infested.

The Kids are Alright

Well, I'm back to the lowlands after a fantastic, if brief, visit to the bosom of central Minnesota. It was wonderful to see all my family and the journey made me more than a little homesick. I miss not only my family and friends from back home but also home itself. I really appreciated getting to go back home for the beginning of fall as well. I LOVE autumn in Minnesota. But enough about that for now.
The wedding ceremony was as beautiful as it was unique. My sister looked radiant. Most everybody teared up at some point. I saw many people I haven't seen in years, met new people of course, ate pizza at the reception, and drank my fair share of reebs. Heck I even danced a little. It was a pretty busy visit overall. The ceremony was held in a small park that had to be cleaned up before we could use it so myself, my aunt who I hadn't seen probably ten years or more, and my Mom did a bang-up job with that. I didn't get to talk to many people as much as I would have liked but that's the way it goes when you live thousands of miles from where you grew up. Still, Kimberlee and I both had a brilliant time and she managed to survive meeting my entire family despite my failures at introducing her.
In the end it felt like I had just gotten over my jetlag when I was headed back the other way. I caught a cold somewhere along the way back, but the rest of my trip was an unforgettable experience. Congratulations Angie and Monty. I love you both!

East Meets West

In a very nearly replicated foto of another friend from probably a decade ago, here is the Mighty Juggernaut David Shea kicking the bag on the Great Wall. Nice form D, copius style points, but what's up with the "fanny" pack?

Meet G-reg

I'm proud to say I know this guy. Everyone should be this cool.

Notice

I'll be in the US from the 13th to the 18th so I won't be posting for about a week. My sister is getting married and it's going to be a pretty big shindig from what I understand. I'm sure there will be some interesting stories to come out of this adventure though.

Maintinance on Tram Line Begins Without Consulting Me

Dateline: The Hague, Netherlands
Just outside my kitchen window, on the street below runs a tram line. Normally when that window is open we are treated to the pleasant sound of metal grinding on metal every 15 minutes or so. However, that sort of comes with the territory. However, I recently woke up early on a Saturday morning and as I was preparing my coffee, I was greeted by the unmistakable staccato clatter of... jackhammering?! This was at 8am on a Saturday people! OK, I realize that it's not exactly feasable to repair tram lines during peak traffic hours, but... What got my goat was that the Mayor, whose office is across the street, never even bothered to let me know. And we were on such good terms after he sent me that "welcome to the 'buurt' letter" when I first got here. So I am taking him off my Christmas card list. I am certain that will lead him to recognize the error of his ways.

Urban Legend

I'm pretty fired up since I've been averaging nearly two hits a day on my blog. OK, they're mostly repeat offenders, but it demonstrates what great taste people have, and I'm not against shameless self-promotion. Feel free to tell everyone you know about it as I have plans to do a collaborative project with a friend of mine from Michigan which, with any luck, will be somewhat enlightening. Stay tuned nerds!

Oh Yeah, Believe It.....

This would probably be a lot funnier if it didn't also scare me. Enjoy.

Nice one

For anyone who likes to laugh I recommend this link. I had a good chuckle anyway.

Under Construction

Sorry for all of the changes to my blog over the last month. For some of you it may be simple interesting to visit for that very reason. However, apart from tweeking the font colors I think I'm done for the time being. That is, unless I somehow come into a great deal of money and I can buy Photoshop CS2. I could seriously nerd out with that software. In the mean time I'l settle for blogging. I just added a new section of links entitled "Music and Such" only two things on there but they are both very nice. Techronic Sound is worth checking out if your into eletronica. And the David Byrne site links to his radio file which I guess is just a collection of neat stuff to listen to. Check them out and let me know what you think. Also if you find interesting things you want me to check out send them by email and I'll post them here with credit to you for forwarding it on.

Photo credit: G-reg

Greetings or should I say "Guten Tag!"

Hey Taneli,

I suppose you are now in Germany, absorbing the fine atmosphere as well as the fine beverages. I am off to the States next week for my sister's wedding. Happy trails!

My Personality?

I just took an online personality test type thing which gave me these descriptive adjectives in response. It's a bit frightening.

messy, irritable, depressed, fragile, worrying, emotionally sensitive, does not like to lead, phobic, weird, suspicious, low self control, paranoid, frequently second guesses self, dependent, unproductive, introverted, weak, strange, unassertive, submissive, familiar with the dark side of life, feels invisible, rash, vain, anti-authority, heart over mind, low self concept, disorganized, not good at saving money, avoidant, daydreamer, unadventurous

What crap!

Shopping... Kind of Like a National Sport Here

It must just be me and what I'm used to. I'm the kind of guy who gets lost in the mall no matter how many times I've been there. Shopping is for me, much like a carnival, a sensory overload that often leaves me confused and disorientated, so maybe I'm not the best person to approach this topic. Be that as it may, the Dutch seem to have it down to a science. Always on the look out for a bargain, they seem to have an inherent sense for finding sales and getting the most for their euro. But I'll stick to my sports metaphor because shopping here does require a certain amount of athleticism. In the states, people get in their cars and then drive to each "big box, mega outlet store" park, go in, do some shopping, and drive to the next place. Here, the first difference is that one has to walk to each store. Once in the general vacinity, one needs to be quick on ones toes, because you are soon dodging hoards of people moving in all directions, bikes, and at certain strategic points, trams. Agility, and the ability to judge the opposition's next move are key components of seamlessly making your way through the onslaught of traffic. In the shops, you'd think that this was the holiday seasons judging by the lines for the cashiers and crowds of people at each display. While I am fond of hyperbole, I'm not exaggerating. Pausing for a moment to get your bearings or take a breather has to be a calculated move because in making an abrupt stop, one runs the risk of being trampled. OK, I'm exaggerating a bit. But it can be pretty hectic. Really the best part about the whole experience is the people watching. A point, that I'm sure is not lost on the Dutch. Still, should you ever find yourself shopping in this great nation, take a deep breath and then plunge in, because life, and shopping, is not a spectator sport.

People are Strange...

It is often difficult adjusting to life in a new place, and it's usually even harder to develop a sense of belonging. Kimberlee and I have lived Holland for roughly a year now (her a little more and me a little less). Last night, on the way home from dinner with friends, we happend to get off the tram a few stops before the one near our flat in order walk around a bit and get some fresh air. Kim mentioned to me that while she usually thinks nothing of it, occassionally she is confronted by how strange it is to be living in a foreign country. I must say that I agree. For the most part, the novelty has worn off, nothing strikes me as being that foreign anymore. But sometimes, out of the blue, it hits me. Being something of a "rolling stone" the last decade of my life, I've lived in quite a few different places. In many ways I've grown accustomed to this "wunderlust" that creeps up on me after living somewhere for about a year. Still, the older I get the less inclined I am to move just for the sake of changing up the scenery.
For example, both of us know our way around the city and can find whatever it is we need or want with little trouble. And the Dutch, to their credit, are proficient language users, which makes it easier for expats to get along without knowing a lick of the local toungue. Everything seems fairly well organized (trians run on time, etc.). All of this makes the transition to life abroad fairly painless. But there is a difference between adjusting to a place and making it your own, and the later is a much more difficult accomplishment. It always seems that one develops a sizable number of "aquaintances" wherever one goes but indeed friends are much harder to come by. Of course, to develop friendships takes time but when one moves around so often those friendships never seem to truely mature and blossom. So what am I getting at? While travelling and moving is often exciting and holds the promise of new experiences and potential for personal growth, when that excitement fades, things can be challenging. Of course, I may just be speaking for me, but it can sometimes be a lonely thing to be a stranger in a strange land.