Couch Surfing in Aix

Aix en Provence, France

I arrived this morning by night train, and then a bus, to Aix en Provence. This trip, rather than take the sleeper-car, I opted for the reclining chair. I've learned my lesson. It wasn't necessarily very uncomfortable. Yet when I awoke at 5 AM to an arctic blizzard with my nose almost falling off from frostbite (I'm slightly exaggerating here), I was forced to rummage through my pack for any garments that could protect me from the overzealous air conditioner. Needless to say, I emerged from the train as a giant bundle with only my nose and eyes protruding from behind walls of scarves, hoods, and woolen caps. When I stopped to ask a group of train attendants about my next train, one of them said something in French (most definately about my appearance) to which all the others laughed. I would have laughed too were my lips not frozen in place. I quickly drank a bitter espresso, made use of the bus attendant-directed bathroom in the bushes, and hopped on the bus with time to spare for a little video journal action.
I mentioned in an earlier blog a website called Couchsurfing.com. Well I used this site to find two French girls that live in this city that are allowing me to stay with them while I am here. After getting off the bus, I walked to a pre-designated location where I met Stephanie. She provided me with directions and keys to her apartment. I had known her all of three minutes before she had entrusted me with access to her home. At the apartment, I met her roommate, Aurore, who briefly pointed out the bathroom and coffee location before rushing off to class. I will go take a nap soon.

I also wanted to briefly touch on the past few days in Biarritz. Sunday night, I wanted to go dancing. I met some people (Brazillians) who were going to a Latin Festival in town. So I went along. I drank a delicious Colombian coffee and then attempted to dance Samba per the instructions of my new Brazillian friends. I must say, when I decided to travel in Europe, I had no idea I would get a little taste of South America. The Samba is such a funny dance: very quick, tiny, almost-impercetible feet movements. It's like something I would have created as a joke. The one Brazillian guy that I really connected with is light-skinned, dark-haired, heavyset and jovial. He would stand very close to me and frequently touch my arm or shoulder as he spoke to me. We had a lot of fun. And because they didn't play any techno music as I was hoping for, we had a techno dance party in their rental car on the way back to the hostel. We spent the day (yesterday) together driving around Biarritz taking pictures... my new Brazillian friend probably took twenty pictures of himself in front of different sights. At the end of the day, we exchanged information and he invited me to come stay in his house in Brazil whenever I want. Then they left. Perhaps we will meet up in Nice.