"All I felt was a bail hitting my eye, " he told CNN.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

As I trailed up the stairs, keeping to the rear of all my locals and Belarusians, I cast an eye back over my shoulder.

NEWYORKER: Fjord of Killary

"I decided one day to put three of them together to see if I could make them all work and hopefully not poke my sister's eye out, " he said.

CNN: This 'Mousetrap' can crush a car -- and teach physics

To my fond, unpracticed eye, it all seemed beautiful.

NEWYORKER: Stung