It took me f'ing ages to get out of Vancouver! After my last entry, I missed my bus because I spent too long seeking out genuine Quebec poutine (chips with cheese curds and gravy basically, though there are variations), finding organic maple syrup for my sister, browsing in an SF bookstore and tasting different varieties of smoked salmon. So there I was on Granville Island (again!) it was dark and I had no bus ticket and no bed. So I did what any self-respecting Aussie does in this situation. Got pissed.
Anyway, to cut a long story (a three-pub trilogy in fact) short, I checked back in to my same hostel and planned to leave on Sunday. Then I made a mistake. "It would be a crime," thought I, "to leave town and not see a single movie at the International Film Festival. Just one movie... just one..."
Four movies later...
To cut a long story short, I checked back in again. Anyway, I am in Seattle now. I was just passing through but then I discovered the Elliot Bay Company bookstore. Imagine if the Minotaur decorated his maze with bookshelves and you can picture this place. So I am spending another night in Seattle I guess. What, me hurry? I've got a whole week to get to California.
An aside for anyone who was in Sydney for Caroline's birthday... I did finally see the plastinated bodies of German anatomical artist Gunther von Hagens. They were showing across the road from the Vancouver station, so while I was waiting for my bus I dropped in on them.
It was.... educational.
It was.... different.
But what kind of freakin' Frankensteinian mad genius is Von Hagens that he would even consider doing this???? Half dissected bodies preserved in plastic dancing and throwing javelins and riding skateboards? Whose imagination carries the seed for this? Who are you Von Hagens? What misty Gothic novel did you escape from?
It's... yeah, it's different. I asked the staff at the touch table (yes, you can touch kidneys and human cross-sections and so forth) what Gunther was like. "He's... German," the girl said. "Do you want to touch the liver? It feels just like plastic, I promise."
I got to Seattle but the creepy bodies of Von Hagens are following me. They are being advertised on buses here. In Canada, the exhibition was called "Bodyworks 3" (indicating it's already been there twice!) and mentions Von Hagens' name on the ads. Here, it is simply called, "Bodies, the Exhibition." That's... American.
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7 comments:
I don't remember these bodies of which you speak. Perhaps I purged them from my memory. Wisely, I suspect. Or was that the manly trip we suggested you and Rami ake while we girls had girly facials?
damn, I'm really bummed that I didn't get to see that! sounds like fun....
....hey i disect reptiles for a living...
Yeah I don't remember this conversation either. However I was in a completely different headspace during the Sydney trip and have a very selected memory about it all.
Yeah, I don't remember that conversation either. You probably talked about it over that revolting breakfast you had while we had facials.
I liked the staff memebers response "He's....German". Brilliant! LOL
It WAS the manly trip Rami and I were going to do while you did something girly. I think we had a manly breakfast instead. Not really surprised you don't remember, we were both excited about it but you were all disgusted as I remember.
well you know girls Nick. They think looking at cut-up dead guys is disgusting, but getting sloppy stuff rubbed into your face by complete strangers (and paying them to do so) is not disgusting...
I remember some discussion about it....
I think there must be more than one of that exhibit. I'm sure it was in NY in August... Either that or it's really on a North American odyssey...
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