Thursday, February 5, 2009
Woke up at 5:15AM! Took the metro to the train station where there were more pigeons. We were there really early and had my new favorite treat – a chocolate filled croissant. Asked for help finding our platform then got on my first real train (well, TGV)! Pretty cool. Sat across from a total nut who was tripping out the whole time, had to be drugs. Slept on and off for a few hours then when we got close the scenery was so pretty! Saw Cannes, St. Tropez, etc. with all the Mediterranean style houses, steep hills, and the blue/teal water on the rocky coast. It was cloudy though and sprinkled. Stopped by the tourist office and got a map then headed toward our hotel. Had lunch at a cute little place nearby and split two meals – lasagna and pizza. Good but just different, it’s hard to explain but all the food in France is so sharp. Waited out the rain for a bit then headed to the hostel we wanted to stay in which was being completely gutted and reconstructed. That explains a lot! Went to our next choice which you had to buy a €15 hosteling international card, ugh. Headed to the mall to regroup a little and got kicked out of our seats since we weren’t going to buy anything but there were no benches or chairs and bathrooms costed – so frustrating. Went to our choice but that was also under construction so we gave up and came back to #2. Free breakfast and wifi and kitchen was open to use so it ended up being ok. However, the sheets were super messed up, so hard to explain but the pillow tucked under it and it was sort of like a sleeping bag. Bright yellow furniture and 7 beds but we were alone. Walked around town – so cute! Lots of shopping and the whole city is setting up for Carnaval which starts on the 13. Lights, grandstands, speakers, etc. – this is a huge event that someone explained as “rivaling Rio”. Walked along the shoreline where the water was SO blue, but a different color than other places I’ve been to. Really pretty and not completely freezing but sprinkling a little and the clouds were rolling in. Stopped by the grocery store and got soup, sandwiches, chips and salsa, and bought chocolate croissants in bulk J Had dinner and used the internet for a little bit and noticed that there were a lot of older people in the hostel – odd. There was a group of four French adults having a full sit-down meal? Showered and almost felt clean. (FYI you had to hold the shower button the whole time for constant water at both of our hostels in France, how annoying.) Super tired and missing home tonight.
