Club Obi Wan

Hey guys and dolls. I'm in Europe for about 3 months for my studies (supposedly...it amounts to some vacation here, some photography there, and some tomb-raiding interspersed), and of course my AB came along with me. Not much other Indy gear here...--I find a musette bag more practical than the Mk VII. Holds more photo gear and priceless relics. But it's a great close-enough, I'd recommend it for anybody looking.

Thought I'd share a few photos so you guys can see the AB, and to taunt those of you who are on 'da list'

I ordered it in November 2005 and got it about a month later, in time for Christmas if I remember right. Boy am I glad I got on board when I did! Nowadays I can imagine poor Steve running away from a horde of expectant gearheads shouting "Marc! Hey MARC!!! START THE ENGINE!!!"

Steve, this hat is a real winner. It's tapered some, it's true, but I'm happy with it--I think it's tapered as a result of there not being much stitching on the ribbon, is that possible Steve? The ribbon sometimes slips way up to where I can see the stitching going round the side and I've gotta push it down some, but the upside is it gets a nice Cairo look to it sometimes. This hat is tough as nails, I recommend it unreservedly to anyone.

Without further adieu, the thumbnails! (links to Imageshack)

In the French Alps, above Chamonix. Taken by a Russian woman who mistook me for someone else she was meeting there. She said she knew it was me, I had my father's eyes. So I, being the slick talker I am of course, quipped "And my mother's ears, but the rest belongs to you." "Looks like the best parts have already been spoken for," she shot back. Ouch...
Actually, wait...that's not at all what happened. She was just intrigued by the fedora--turns out, she's the chief editor of a photography magazine! We got to talking (in Russian, about photography, Crystal Skulls, etc.) and she told me to look her up the next time I'm in Мосвка. (that'll be next spring)
I don't know, though, I'm a little wary. Her name was something like Ирина Спалько (Irina Spalko). Think she's trustworthy?


Alps again. Look at the brim distortion on that hat! I have no idea how I got it to _that_ angle, it's turned like crazy. But it was windy and I shoved that sucker down hard--I was _not_ about to lose an AB in the Alps. Rest assured though, if it flew off and started rolling down that mountain...I'd go right after it! How? Any good adventurer knows to have a rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle, just for occasions like this. In fact, never leave home with out it--(my checklist:car keys. check. whip. check. fedora. check. rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle. check.) Just grab that chicken and, as theme music bursts into full swing, leap into the air and slide down the chair lift! Instant style points, just gotta hope it's not one of those "comically fail in a spectacular and painful manner" scenes...


Streets of Bordeaux. My brother struggles with his li'l point-&-shoot camera. I can't touch those things, they irritate me. No artistic control!


House by the sea at Lacanau, designed by my grandfather.


Somewhere in Paris. Blurry, I know..but until I can get a film scanner all I've got are the uploads from my brother's digital...


Notre-Dame Cathedral with a suspicious-looking figure in the foreground, left.


So I arrived in France and found a whole bunch of relatives I didn't know I had. One of them happened to own a vineyard, so I had to visit! Of course, there was a chateau just to the side of the wine cellars. And yes, I basically always go well-armed, as you can see--with cameras! C'mon, you know what a cautious fellow I am. They're so much easier to get onto planes than other heavy metal objects.... Now ammo, I mean film...that's becoming a problem these days. Can't just toss it in the luggage!


I was in the middle of reloading (my camera) when I looked down the street and there was this huge boulder coming my way, hence the "er...is that a boulder?!?" expression... thank my brother for another candid shot! Umbrella is his, I never touch the things...


The crew (=the relatives I found! They thought I looked like a gangster, so they insisted on a gangster photo.)




When I can get them from my brother, I'll post some photos from the catacombs I visited in Paris. Lots of skulls...none of 'em crystal. Well...none to speak of, anyway. Oh, and Venice. Ah, Venice...


Wish you all the best from Paris! Don't forget--turn out in full get-up for the upcoming movie release!!
KJB

PS--if anybody wants a 'gag' photo, ie ridiculously Indy-esque, taken somewhere in France, let me know. I can try to get there and stage it! Also, we got any gearheads in Paris? We should prendre un petit cafe ensemble une fois, n'est-ce pas?

Love that first pic! Tres La Nouvelle Vague!

Thanks for sharing...

Cheers
Alex

France. J'adore France. Après notre premier voyage en France, ma femme et j'espère retourner très bientôt. Quel est votre lieu préféré?

Thanks for the story and the pics! This is what jazzes me up. Seeing you guys wear our hats in all parts of the globe. And the story was great as well! One day, when I can do NOTHING but sit in my old rocking chair, all of these pics I have saved over the years will bring me great joy. Memories of you guys here, and the friends I have made over the years indulging and contributing to this mad hobby of ours. Thanks for the memories guys! Hopefully, I will have time to add many more. A deeply grateful Fedora. Fedora.

Great Pics. I've got a great idea for a picture though. Go to the catacombs in Paris and take some pics down there. That would look totally Indy-ish!

P.S. Careful, you're not technically allowed to take flash pics down there.....but if no one's looking!!

Oh and be careful of the guard dude about half way through...I got busted by him!!!

KJB,

Love the pics! It makes me want my AB that much more! Great stories, as well! You should try to get a photo of your AB on a gargoyle perched on Notre Dame (don't know if you can get that close, but that would make a great avatar). Passe de bonne vacances!

-Craig

JulianK--did you see my note at the end of the post? I actually went down there (in the catacombs) with my brother, and we did a few gag shots. There was even a pedestal randomly placed in this one alcove, surrounded by skulls, so I did an 'idol grab' shot with one of the skulls since nobody was around...
I'll have to ask my brother if it came out alright though...
I also brought along my zippo on that visit (alas, not a clover zippo, just a normal brass one) and we did some shots with that--me looking inquisitively through a random locked gate, etc... There was even this hallway lit up golden-colored (I swear we could photoshop in some torches along the sides...) but my brother's memory card on his digital was full by that point. I _so_ wanted to do a "getting the heck outta this place at full speed" photo!

Oh yeah, and there was that goon about halfway through. But I'm all about available-light photography anyway, so pas de problème avec le flash. If there had been a problem...I'm reminded of the really old B&W Macintosh SE game, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." Absolutely amazing adventure game. Makes you use your head, integrate knowledge from the movie, and you even get "Indy IQ points" for doing things in even cooler ways than the movie. What this reminds me of is when you encounter guards, for example in Castle Brumwald or on the blimp, you can: say one of four lines ("Hi, I'm selling these fine leather jackets..."), offer an item (stein of beer or Hitler-signed copy of Mein Kampf, if you were smart enough to get him to sign THAT instead of the grail diary....), or "Throw a punch." Then the fight starts... Ah, what a game.

Steve, when all you can do is sit in your rocking chair, I fully expect you to master that video game!! Those were the golden days of 'use your head' adventure gaming...

Also, yes you can get close enough to a gargoyle at Notre Dame, once or twice on the roof. The rest have a grating in between you and them. (Technically, only the ones spouting water are "gargouilles"...but whatever!) If I get the chance to go back there, I'll take a shot like that! Great idea

Hunter: if you're thinking of going back to France, check out the "Côte d'Azure." I swear, that place is sunny and beautiful year-round, even when there's mauvais temps et nuages everywhere else. It's nice for long walks along the beach avec votre femme, then for losing lots of money in the conveniently-located nearby casinos... ...and then for the much more sombre walks along the beach after that!!!

Also, Hunter: In Paris, my favorite spot is le Cour d'Honneur at La Place du Palais Royal. It's almost hidden--a nice courtyard that very few tourists find, because it's closed off except for two side entrances. Popular with Parisians, and a good photo op. Metro "Palais Royale, Musee du Louvre" on line 1, just north of the Seine. There's a garden nearby, an amazing cafe with overpriced scotch on rocks (the server didn't even know what it was at first when I asked it...but he was nice, and just ended up bringing me the bottle of Jack), as well as Paris' oldest (very expensive) restaurant. Along part of the perimeter, there are tons of little specialized shops that are perfect for finding a unique, if expensive, souvenir, something like a pair of custom-made gloves or a set of soldiers cast in pewter. The courtyard is surrounded by the most exclusive and hard-to-get apartments in Paris, and it was in this square (privately built and owned by the Duke of Orleans during the 1780s, I think, who was pro-revolution and actually voted FOR his own cousin, the king's, beheading!) that revolutionaries could meet without fear of being discovered. From this square, they set out to bring down the Bastille. A couple of years ago it was a parking lot for the Ministry of Culture (which is still located in one of the side buildings), and finally someone realized it should have a work of art in the square instead. They talked about another boring statue of someone famous, but in the end they luckily gave it to a modern artist, Daniel Buren. He made it a much more inviting place than most Parisian squares (which are made to look at, viewing whatever piece of art is in the center, then you move on) by making it an inviting place to pass the evening and watch the sunset. Much more like in Italy-- Il a vraiment réussi, à mon avis! Il faut voir:



Well sorry for that tangent, guys. Also check out the Jardin du Luxembourg if you can, metro Vavin (ligne 4) or Montparnasse Bienvenüe.

I'll bug my brother and see if I can get the catacombs pics from him. On Monday, we're going horseback riding in the south of France. I'll tell him to take his camera for Indy shots, though I'm reluctant to try jumping onto any trucks or tanks from horseback. We'll see if the opportunity presents itself (you never know, those Nazis could come a-marching in again, huh? )

wow,
nice AB!
what are those white and black things?
do they go up and sown i wouldnt of thought so because that would be dangerorus but some people are sat really high.

Love the last pic
Also great Ab and many beautiful places (I´ve benn to some of them, so I´m moved )

KJB - We were Nice last year. And I agree it is simply fantastic. Long walks along the Mediterranean, through Vieux Ville, Marche aux Fleurs, etc.

In Paris did you happen to go to Cafe Panis, across from Notre Dame? The food there is wonderful and the service was fantastic. I would recommend the Croque Madame or Croque Chèvre. It was a great spot to lunch after Notre Dame and before heading into the Latin Quater.

My personal favourite, in Paris so far, was Les Invalides. Napoléon's tomb is certainly something to see. Especially when you compare it to Wellington's at St. Paul's.