An Introduction to France

I felt it was finally time to write a post tonight not because I feel that I have been somewhat lax in posting, but because I, for what seems like the first time, have the time to write something, if not much. I am currently in Carcassonne, France, and more has happened in the last 12 days than I can remember, let alone recount. I will attempt to hit upon the highlights in upcoming posts (which at my current rate may well be published back in the States), because tonight, though I have some time, I feel the need to sleep before my early 8:30 am shuttle down to town. To start my retroactive accounts of what has been a simply incredible trip, I believe that deserves an explanation.

I am staying in a tiny, adorable little hostel called Sidsmum's (so called because it is run by Jan, the wonderful mother of a man named Sid, whom I have never met). Sidsmum's is located in a tiny little town call Preixan (pop. 200-300 according to my taxi driver) about 10 km outside of Carcassonne. Of all the places I have stayed thus far, this one definitely deserves the title "home away from home." Jan is the only staff present, aside from a few short-term volunteers, and the hostelers here are like a little family. Today I spent the day in the old medieval Cité with a few of my fellow tenants, Paul from Ireland and Pamela (though she goes by Michaela) from Davis, CA. The funny thing is, I found out today that Michaela has done a good deal of research at the Bodega Marine Lab, where my mom worked for a time. Small world.

We had a really good time and lots of good conversation considering we mostly met by happenstance. Paul just happened to be going into town when I was and I ran into Michaela half way through an audio-guided tour of the Cité's impressive palace/castle. After a beer (Leffe, Paul's favorite from Belgium I believe) we enjoyed a very good meal on one of the Cité's medieval streets where I tried and thoroughly enjoyed French Onion soup, a main course of Cassoulet (a local specialty stew of duck, pork, and white beans), and excellent bread pudding. Michaela then generously drove us back to the hostel. Immediately after getting back I went to the local store with most of the tenants, bought a bottle of my new addiction orangina (It's everywhere here and very refreshing), and joined two Australians (Margie, taking time off from a degree in Jazz Singing, and Caroline, her cousin) a Brit (Jess) and a Texan (Spencer, an amazing photojournalist www.spencerselvidge.com) down to the nearby river where we enjoyed excellent scenery, decent wine, smelly French cheese, good conversation, and poor crackers. Several hours later we returned to the hostel where we met the newcomers, two guys from New Hampshire and another Australian girl. We continued to talk into the night, until everyone dropped off to bed but me and Spencer.

Tomorrow I have a train to Barcelona at 12:10, so it's another day of travel (something I'd really like to avoid on any future trips, if at all possible. The day is all but wasted). I'm getting a ride into town at 8:30 because that's when Jan goes to town and there are no busses. I may run into some people I met in Paris there (A girl and her mom from Romania, though the girl lives in Canada and the mom in Holland), but we will see. I'm disappointed that I lost so much time in Spain, but at the same time glad I spent it in France. The countryside is beautiful, the history and architecture gorgeous and impressive, the people very nice if difficult to communicate with, and the journey has been a good one. I'm glad I extended all of my one night stays to two, and hopefully I can make due in Spain. I have until July 5th, when I fly back to Paris, and after that I'll just have to come back.

One thing I think worth saying is that I am envious of almost everyone I've met on this trip. So many of them are really awesome people who are taking 6 months, a year, two years, or even an undetermined amount of time out of their lives to travel the world. They love doing it, and they get to do what I can't - really experience the world I'm traveling in. I'm a stranger, they are a temporary citizen or permanently established presence. They get to see the intricacies of a town or city - often avoiding the tourist destinations altogether and getting to the real heart of the matter. Nothing would please me more.

It's off to bed with me now, but it's felt good to recount some of what I did today. I wish I had kept up with a journal or blog in the last two weeks, and hopefully I will in the weeks to come, but I will do my best to recall my time in France before the memories fade for good. Good night.