|
TRAVEL JOURNAL PHOTOS Trip favorites Rock am Ring Cities |
Crepes and Canadians I am writing from an internet cafe adjacent to the boardwalk in Nice. I am 50M from the Mediterranean, but I am wading in a sea of Canadians. At my one-star hotel, they outnumber Americans and Aussies 2:1. There are so many of them here from Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Montreal that if I were stateside, I could probably annex Ontario without much of a fight. But I would never do that because they have been very good to me on this trip. A friend from Montreal hooked me up with a friend in Amsterdam--so I had a place to stay for the beginning days of my trip. In Amsterdam, I visited the modern art museum. There, somebody once sent someone in Amsterdam a postcard a day for three months, telling him the time he woke up that day. (Nonetheless, I haven't mailed anything home yet.) Two years ago, while in Italy, I mailed a series of postcards informing people that I was on a train. At the time, I couldn't think of much to say. A few days back in Paris, the lines were short enough for the Musee Louvre and D'Orsay. The D'Orsay is easily the best 19th century art museum in the world with its collection of Monet, VanGogh and others. It also seems to have as many women on display as the Moulin Rouge. I purchased one such painting as a postcard in the giftshop. Although I would never try it, the picture could also be used as a "point card" should I meet any nonenglish speaking women at a bar. Though here in Nice, a Swedish roommate from Göteborg has already found a dubious traveling companion named "Sue Ellen." The Canadians describe her as "a little light in the head" and "she has no ass." In fact, she's only a torso, made of plastic, that he found at a bus stop. She now graces his nightstand. Another roommate, Donny had his heart broken last night. However, time is on his side. He's decided to spend 9 weeks--his entire trip--in our hostel. He has fallen in love with our room and Nice itself. I, too, love it here on the Frence Riviera. Nice is far nicer than Paris in many ways... it is cheaper, cleaner, more colorful and more relaxed. Today I was 10 minutes away in Ville Franche, a brightly colored fishing village on the side of a mountain, overlooking sailboats and swimmers in a deep blue sea. Yesterday, I lost 5 euros in Monaco although a friend came out 20 ahead. (and it was my idea to visit the casino) I will close here as I scurry off to find dinner for my last night in Nice. Tomorrow morning, I leave for Aix-en-Provence. |
