Six Down, Two to Go

So I'm finished with France. I'm on my way to Barcelona right now, but there's a three hour gap between one train and the next, so I'm waylaid for awhile in Marseilles. It's beautiful here; and the weather is perfect, and I found a cheap internet cafe so I'm not upset about waiting around. Now that I'm finished with France, I've been in 6 different countries so far. Next is a little slice of Spain, and then Italy :).

I got to Arles Tuesday night around six thirty. It was dark, and I had no idea where my hostel was, so I hailed a cab for the third time thus far (first when I was lost in Luxembourg, and then again in Paris because I was tired and didn't want to walk 4 miles and couldn't find the subway). Those things are expensive, and hopefully I won't be needing to take another one. Anyway I just unpacked and went to bed last that night. The next day (Wednesday; yesterday) I was up and out by ten, as usual, and saw what there was to see. It was raining until about 1 or so, so I got a little wet. No big, though.

Arles is a small town town full of quaint old Mediterranean houses and Roman ruins. I had a BLAST going through some of the best Roman ruins in France; there was a Theatre and an Arena and a cemetery and baths. So that was fantastic. Also, Arles is where Van Gogh went when he went a little insane and checked himself into a mental health institution. So I visited that place, and actually saw a couple of the places Van Gogh painted, and later became famous. I bought a couple of souveniers there (my first so far, actually) and shipped them home.

Next I went and treated myself to a nice meal. I don't speak French and my waitress didn't speak English, so ordering was interesting, but I managed to order a nice steak with mushrooms and vegetables and I think something like mashed potatoes. They slice up about a third of a baguette and bring it with the meal, so that was cool. I ordered what I thought was a small caraffe of wine (two, three glasses at the most), but it ended up being a small bottle - about half a liter, and it was more like five glasses. I am not a heavy drinker, and am not used to so much wine at a time, so I was drunk by the time I was finished (I paid for it, so I didn't want to leave it, and I couldn't very well take it with me, could I?). So I once again meandered along streets in a foreign country, laughing at myself the whole way because I'm so stupid. I made it back to my hostel fine, but they're closed during the day until 5 so I couldn't get in. Still feeling a little more bold than usual, I hopped the fence and went around in search of a alternate entry. I found one, but was immediately caught and kicked out until they actually opened. So I waited outside, feeling better once five o'clock rolled around, and apologized when I was finally let in. I swear, maybe I just won't drink again until I get home so I don't get into trouble.

I went to bed last night at around seven I think (I was trying to get to bed early so that I could catch an early train), but I didn't fall asleep until midnight. It's interesting where your thoughts wander when you have nothing to do but think. I may have arrived somewhere rather profound, but I'll wait until I get home to tell people about it. I wrote an essay this morning while waiting on the train to arrive (I overslept for the early one) in my journal so that I wouldn't forget it. It would take far too long to explain here.

So anyway, by ten tonight I'll have arrived in Barcelona. I plan on staying there through Saturday night, using either Friday or Saturday to lay aroud and do absolutely nothing. Then Sunday I'll head up to Florence, and be in Rome by Wednesday night. Ten days from now I'll be on my way home :-D.

I appreciate all the comments; it's really nice to know people are reading. I miss everyone back home and can't wait to get there, but right now I'm more focused on getting to Rome. I CAN'T WAIT!!

Oh and Red Guy... well that's understandable. And hiking together for ten days narrows the pool of possibilities for certain. Combined with marching band and Choraliers that definitely makes you a Sutton, but you said SEEING you, not BEING with you... so this must be Mr. Sutton??

I'll write again Saturday or Sunday, after I'm through with Barcelona. See you then!!

-Swag