Research Update: The Half-Way Mark

Alright, although I can't upload any photos (free wireless ≠ fast wireless), I'll just go ahead and give a brief word update. First off, I'm currently in Chantilly, after a serious transportation adventure.

Anyways, here's my transportation adventure (as edited from the REALLY long email I sent my grandparents/parents):

I managed to get to Lyon with no difficulty. I was even surprised by the fact that they gave us little sandwiches on the flight between Pisa and Lyon. The bus that Michel found for me to take from the airport to the train station by my hotel worked out great as well and even led to me meeting a really nice woman (and having a good half hour of conversation). So far, I've been very fortunate in meeting nice people. The woman on the bus is Lyonnaise, but lives in Seattle, where she teaches French (exactly what I want to do—I think—but the opposite), so we talked a about that and how it worked out for her (well) etc. The hotel in Lyon was nice and I've had no problems (if you don't count the lack of internet... I refused flat out to pay 12 euros an hour. What a rip off).

I ended up using the internet (for free) in the mall right next to the library. In fact, I'd forgotten that in France they don't have sales racks... instead, they have periods of "Soldes" or sales... which happened to start last week (therefore everything in the stores practically was on sale... up to 60% off... AMAZING). Thankfully for my budget, I didn't do any shopping. It's a bit hard to maneuver through sales racks with a rolling suitcase, a laptop bag, and a purse.

Unfortunately, on the way from Lyon to Dijon, by accident, I got on to the wrong train (right platform, wrong train) and ended up in Rouanne (You've never heard of Rouanne? Oh, good. Me either). I actually had to ask the guy ahead of me in line to show me where we were on the map of rail lines in France that is printed on the ticket holder. Thankfully, I eventually got to Dijon (3 hours later than I should have). In fact, it took me 6 hours total, during which time it would have been possible for me to have driven from Miramas to Dijon in the car with time to spare.

It was quite the adventure (as Michel kept reminded me when I talked to him on the phone), I ended up going from Rouanne to a gare called "Saint Germain au Mont d'Or," where there was literally no one. Literally no one. Ticket windows closed, all the screens were off/broken, and there was no one waiting (well, except the one nice guy who helped me carry my luggage and find the one working screen that told me at which quai my train would arrive). After he left, I was literally the only person in the train station. Then THAT train (the one that would take me from St. Germain to Dijon had a 30 minute delay. In the end, it wasn't too big a deal waiting for the train, as between calling the hotel to tell them I'd be super late, singing at the top of my lungs—since I was all alone—to music on my iPod and talking alternatively to my aunt and my cousin, the time passed rather quickly. I only had one quick scare when I thought I'd missed that train too. It was quite the adventure. At least the hotel in Dijon was awesome, it was really a little efficiency apartment. Too bad I only stayed one day or I could have done some cooking. Anyways, I was very happy when yesterday was over. I really did almost have a panic attack in the train station in Rouanne before talking to the really nice man working at the Chef d'Escale office in the gare who found me my new trains.

Dijon was lovely. I got lost finding the library (I didn't have a map), and again, lucky me, I met a really nice woman who actually walked me 10-15 minutes to the doors (even inside) the library to the library reception. At the library, I was a little disappointed with the manuscripts (one had all of "my" illuminations brutally cut out (i.e. slashed) from it and the other only had one illumination in the whole thing. On the other hand, the room in which I did the research was gorgeous. One doesn't find libraries like that in the States. It had vaulted stone ceilings and wooden bookcases lining the walls. I meant to take a photo, but I didn't have the chance. Furthermore, the librarian that I worked with (Mme Houlin) was wonderful. We had some interesting conversation and she was very easy to work with. I think the thing I like most in France is meeting (and discussing with) new people. Afterwards, she told me some interesting places to go, and I ventured over to the Place by the Palais des Ducs/Pays du Bourgogne/Hôtel de Ville de Dijon which was gorgeous. From what I was able to see today, Dijon looks like a really cool city. Kind of Parisien in its architecture, but smaller, with a lot of young people and interesting things to see. Hopefully I'll be able to spend some more time there one day.

Oh, you'd think the adventure about transportation would end after Dijon, but no, it doesn't (sorry this post is so long). The ride from Dijon to Paris was very pleasant, but, I get to Paris and have to switch train stations from Paris Gare de Lyon to Paris Gare de Nord. This wouldn't have been a problem (just get on the RER D and go straight between the two for a euro), except for the fact that there was a FIRE 5km outside of the Gare du Nord, so the RER D wasn't running. Again with my luck, I met a nice guy who took me on the Metro then RER A and dropped me off at the Gare du Nord... where I proceeded to stand around with 5 million people waiting for the trains to start running again. Then, when I arrived in Chantilly, I saw that my hotel was rather distant from the Gare, but, thankfully, the nice guy I met on that train (I've just noticed that most of these nice people have been men... maybe being a woman looking particularly lost looking helps here) took me over to the buses. There, the SNCF man directing the buses said that he'd just drop me off in his car (which he did). Very lucky, I am.

Beyond that, I've passed a very agreeable sejour in Chantilly. I researched Friday and then yesterday the library was closed, so I slept in, then walked into town and saw a movie ("Un jour, peut-être" / "Definitely, Maybe"), got hit on by a French man while writing in my journal ("If you're writing to Prince Charming, how will you ever get my address?" ....awkward), and then ate a nice lunch on a terrasse looking over the main street. All in all an agreeable day. Then, to top it off, I spent the night talking to Katy on Skype. Lovely.

Now, I'm going to leave for the train station here in a bit. Last city = Paris. For 6 nights. Then I get to go home and do laundry. And sleep in my bed. I.CANT.WAIT. Sink laundry is pretty much annoying.