Train Day October21

Today is the day we take the TGV high speed train to Paris from the south of France.


We left our place at 9 am and headed to the now infamous Bus 600 (otherwise known as Mrt. Toad's Wild Ride) bus stop.

We have relied on Bus 600 to get us from Mougins to Cannes each day, where we made our connections for our destination of the day.

The road is curvy and downhill to Cannes. and the busdrivers all drive like they have a schedule to keep. Our fellow passengers were business people, students, and housewives, depending on the time of day we rode.For 1 euro each direction it took us many times up and down that hill.

We had finally almost aquainted ourselves with the schedule, and now it's time for anew learning curve in Paris.

   We got of the 6000 this morning and took care of a few little errands (a visit to the 2 euro store, croissants from the patissarie for the treain ride, and last minute photos of Cannes.)

JoBeth wanted to brave the automated WC again, and I decided to give it a try also. For .50 euro cents you get a trip into the selfcleaning bathrooom. After each use it locks and then washes itself. JoBeth took her turn
and all went well. It was my turn next, and with a little instruction I entered the cubicle. I struggle with the heavy door and wasn't entirely sure I had closed it properly. My friends were right outside, so no matter.

As I sat, I again wondered if the door was closed al the way, and decided to grab the handle and check. Curosity, you know..... Little did I know that's the way you tell the bathrooom's brain that you are all finished.

Except, I wasn't all finished.... the door began to open, I jumped up to wedge my foot in the door to prevent it from opening further, while trying to pull up my pants. Well, the door beginning to open and then being closed again tell the bathrooms brain that it is time to wash itself, so floods of water began to rush around my feet. And then the spraying began... all as JoBeth (who thought I was ready to come out) calmly coached me as to how to open the door. Little did she know I was desperatly trying to stay inside to make myself presentable. Hilarity ensued as I finally disgorged from the Toilette. Apparently I didn't break it because as we stood there and laughed making a spectacle of ourselves, the WC finally locked itself and we heard the washing commence.

   We had allowed ourselves plenty of time, so after a short wait our rain to Paris arrived.We had been assigned a four person seating area with a table in the middle, and that is where I sit typing this blog entry.

We folllowedd the coastline for the first two hours from Cannes to Marseille and then north through Avingon toward Paris. We have seen vineyards and farmland, and of course the "wrong side of the tracks" neighborhoods ubiquitous to train travel.

   My travel partner enjoyed a bread, cheese olive and wine repast for lunch. My stomache began to rebel again last night so I am back to veggies nad apple sauce and hope to not have to move all the way back to broth.More and more I am suspecting an intestinal bacteria.It's hard not to be discouraged when I was so looking forward to the picnic lunches of my imagination prior to the trip.

   Lauri located an organization that for a donation will provide a local Parisian, in love with their city, to take us on a walk of a chosen arodissement (Parisian neighborhood). We will be joining Phileppe in the Monparnasse area for a two hour walking tour.