不停
不停
回到欧洲后组内出差的任务好象自然而然全落到了我头上。40-50%的时间在外面跑,开始觉得机舱里的空气着实不良。今天回来的路上又被我想到一条,坐飞机实在看不到什么景色,所以乏味得很。前几天从约克郡乘火车回家,经过罗宾汉的诺丁汉郡和大喜先生的达比郡(旁白:弄得象真的一样),那风景多么令人赏心悦目。
隔壁组有人马上要到莫斯科去,有点羡慕,又想到我的‘向往’单子上列第一的其实是圣彼得堡,第二是布拉格。不知怎的对东欧国家有经久的好奇,上星期正在询问去匈牙利的签证,隔天却传出布达佩斯骚乱的消息,计划暂停。希望欧洲所有国家都快快加入申根,这样每本护照里薄薄的几张签证页好经用一点。
部门的新同事是位保加利亚姑娘,和办公楼里另一位加起来,终于被我碰到两个讲话速度快过自己的人。据她们说在保加利亚大家都抢着说话,久而久之就越说越快,不然缺乏发言和被听到的机会。又提到彼此父辈年轻时学的第一外语都是俄语,不免相视会心而笑。
隔壁组有人马上要到莫斯科去,有点羡慕,又想到我的‘向往’单子上列第一的其实是圣彼得堡,第二是布拉格。不知怎的对东欧国家有经久的好奇,上星期正在询问去匈牙利的签证,隔天却传出布达佩斯骚乱的消息,计划暂停。希望欧洲所有国家都快快加入申根,这样每本护照里薄薄的几张签证页好经用一点。
部门的新同事是位保加利亚姑娘,和办公楼里另一位加起来,终于被我碰到两个讲话速度快过自己的人。据她们说在保加利亚大家都抢着说话,久而久之就越说越快,不然缺乏发言和被听到的机会。又提到彼此父辈年轻时学的第一外语都是俄语,不免相视会心而笑。
有一次跟个克罗地亚的高大美女一起去听seminar,那个教授我越看越疑惑,电光火石间想起,悄悄跟克罗地亚女生说“你觉得他象不象列宁?“美女恍然大悟,激动地狠狠抓住我的胳膊使劲摇晃。
http://harps.yculblog.com
搬家了搬家了
搬家了搬家了
So what if Russia is run by Mafia? Have they not seen The Godfather and learned that the mob and the American corporations are basically the same kind of organization? People live there and they cannot all be killers. No offense (since I don't know who said these things to you and whether they are your friends) but I find the attitude provincial. Besides, I plan to go to St. Petes to see a few museums and be a total tourist, not emigrate there and live, so what's the big deal? At least the Russian mafia does not force you to take a mug shot and take your fingerprints upon entry to their country.
I'm 70% sure my plan next year is to go see the Hermitage. Probably with a tour though -- can't muster the courage to learn any Russian.
I'm 70% sure my plan next year is to go see the Hermitage. Probably with a tour though -- can't muster the courage to learn any Russian.

The French Maigret series were shot in Prague. The BBC Maigret series were shot in Budapest. I've been to neither places but I would imagine the appeal is their unadulterated feel of "old times" as they can stand in for old Paris better than the new Paris. The streets and houses and churches in the neighborhood are not yet pushed squeezed and demolished by the new glittering modern skyscrapers. I suppose western Europeans go to Prague and Budapest for that old feeling of neighborhood, rather than the exotic "Communist" flavor. Just imagine a district in Beijing that has kept all the old architecture and culture. Many people would pay a boatload of money to live there, which in turn would destroy the feel anyway.