In which Physicsgirl puts her math degrees to practical use...

I'm in Athens, having too lovely a time to worry about putting up pictures, although I'm taking many. I heard Athena's owl hooting near the Acropolis today. And my math degrees, through which I learned most of the Greek alphabet, have been very useful in reading Greek street signs.

I spent most of the ferry ride working on my Venice pictures, so those should go up soonish. I've planned a little breathing room in Delphi as well.

I just noticed that I'm down to just over 28 days left of this adventure. The first month and a half has flown by. I'm still having a fabulous time; I miss my kitty cat, but I don't really want to go home yet.

That'll be $300 for the idiot tax...

Hi.  I'm Physicsgirl, and I'm an idiot. (Hi, Physicsgirl!)

Anyone who has talked to me about this trip will know that I've been relying on www.tripadvisor.com for many ideas.  Almost everyone on those forums said to avoid taking the train overnight from Paris to Venice.  The couchettes are very cramped (especially the 6-berth ones) with not enough space for luggage, and there are lots of thieves.  I read many stories of people who lost cameras and money.

I was determined, however.  I hate flying, I like trains, and it would be travel plus lodging all in one.  I'd managed to find a fairly inexpensive 2-person berth, which should alleviate the crowding problem somewhat, and I bought a special travel safe to keep my valuables safe, so I felt pretty good.

A mighty wind is blowing...

So, last night, we were concerned about the possibility of rain, and the guides had contingency plans all set out for us. I woke up this morning to a howling outside my windows. The rain is nothing; I could definitely bike in this rain.  The wind, on the other hand, is quite strong.  Blow us into the Rhône strong. As in, it's too dangerous to bike this morning.  Jenn (the other guide) said "Yes, the wind is disconcerting."  Understatement!  So we're being stuffed into a van and taken to Arles.

Hopefully the wind will have calmed down enough by this afternoon.

30 k + 40 k = a lot of biking

Yesterday, I was flying down a winding road next to a deep gorge in Provence and I thought: This is amazing. I saw wild poppies blooming by the side of the road. Wow, I thought. I saw olive trees and vineyards aplenty. Suddenly the fact that my cell phone will not be able to charge anymore and that my Palm Zire has suddenly given up the ghost didn't worry me as much anymore.

10 things I hate about Paris*

*From the movie 10 Things I Hate About You

1. I hate your hard water that makes my hair all crunchy and my tea kind of icky. 
2. I hate that there are all too many beautiful places that nonetheless smell like pee.
3. I hate that you are so expensive. I never got used to paying nearly $7 for a cup of coffee.  Although one does pay exactly what it says on the tag or menu because tax is included.
4. I hate  how much of my French I've lost, and how understanding everyone has been of my grammatical and vocabulary mistakes.
5. I hate your fabulous bread, tempting me at every turn.  Ditto chocolate.  And crepes.  And cheese.  And...
6. I hate that I am now addicted to macarons.  Oh, you delicate confectionary temptresses!
7. I hate the Paris "look" that I could never quite capture, and that no matter how often I practised, I could never quite tie my scarf with the same élan as the Parisian women.  They must give special lessons at the lycée.
8. I hate the café culture I have acquired such a taste for, making it near impossible to go back to work in July.
9. I hate how the waiters don't hover over you as you eat and actually wait for you to finish one course before bringing you the next.  And that they don't put smiley faces on the bill to get a bigger tip, because it's included.
10. I hate the efficiency of the labyrinthian metro.  And how it's quiet because of the rubber wheels.  And that some of the stations are downright beautiful.
11. I hate that I'm leaving so soon.

All is forgiven, Paris!  I'll be back!

There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it, and you received return for whatever you brought to it." -- Ernest Hemmingway, "A Moveable Feast"

Off to Provence!

Spring is like a perhaps hand*

So after I wrote that last post, I took myself outside (then back in again to get my trench because it got a lot colder all of a sudden) and walked south, doing pretty much the same route I took my first day in Paris.

And I felt less blue.

So kiss me and smile for me...

Paris, I believe, is a man in his twenties in love with an older woman. -- John Berger

I'm feeling a bit blue, today. It's my last day in Paris. My train leaves for Avignon at 7:46 tomorrow morning, but I've been putting off packing. I'm trying to eat the rest of my food, although I might be gifting quite a bit of stuff to Darlene and the next tenants. I've made my last pot of tea.