Biarritz 1

Well, I'll get around to past updates whenever I do, but I'd like to chronicle my vacation somewhat closely, so here goes:

Monday I left, taking the Merto to the Gare Montmarnesse, in the southwest quarter of Paris. There, I got my ticket (though forgot to ask for a discount with my International Student card; perhaps they can correct things on Sunday when I go back, otherwise I am kicking myself) and a sandwich for lunch. Following that, I boarded the train TGV (Train de Grande Vitesse, or "Train of Big Fastness," or, more eloquently, "High-Speed Train") and rode out to Biarritz. The TGV is nice - it's generally super-smooth and was, aside from this spazmoid baby that would cry because of anything (this high-pitched, whining cry, too), the car was extremely quiet. (Oh, also, there was this dumb old woman who at one point started like having a conversation with this woman who was sitting in the middle of the car, which is separated off by automatic doors (like on the Metra, though fancier) because it is where the baggage is kept and where you can make calls. Anyway, the two of them were talking, and they kept opening the automatic door as it tried to shut every 15 seconds, which was so unbelievably annoying. Just go out in the fucking middle of the car! Yeesh...) Anyway, I did my class reading on the way there. In the course of five hours, I read a chapter of French-translated Adam Smith. (Admittedly, a 20-page chapter). Nevertheless, wow, sucky showing. To be fair, though, there was a letter written in there and a brief nap taken.

Arriving in Biarritz, I took a cab to my hotel, which is quite adorable. The receptionist was quite nice, and we had a little conversation in French, and then I headed up to my room, dropped my stuff off, and then headed out to dinner (which necessitated another conversation with the lady to figure out where dinner could be found). Anyway, it was like 915 by this point, which is a late dinner for me but about average for the French. Nevertheless, the streets were deserted, and reminded me kind of a Fellini movie during a scene where it's like Rome at 3 AM - lots of empty squares with occasional cars whizzing by.

After wandering around and trying to figure out where I was for a while, because, like the rest of France, Biarritz has wacky-ass streets that come into existence randomly and wriggle about, I eventually ended up at this place called Le Pizarria. It was nice. I had a seafood pizza, because since I'm right on the ocean it was pretty cheap (relatively), and, of course, it piqued my interest. It was good, though it had the unfortunate affect of causing my burps to taste like fish all night. Anyway, along with that and a glass of wine I had a delicious ice cream concoction and it was all celebratory and wonderful. Nevertheless, it took me a little while to figure out how to dine on one's own with dignity in a restaurant filled with couples. Of course, they were all, individually, twice my age, so I guess that kind of helped. I ended up writing a letter and just sitting there and sighing contentedly, trying to drink my liberty from the others in my program and the beautiful surroundings of the town (though all I could see out the window were construction signs, since they were repaving the sidewalk).

Anyway, following that, I returned to the hotel and payed an exorbitant amount for a week of Internet. But, since a great part of this trip's goal was to get some (pleasure) writing done, which includes blogs and whatnot, I coughed up for it. (Also, it's my dad's money, though I still feel guilty spending it.)

Today I got up at the shocking hour of 845 to experience my free continental breakfast. It was all right. Croissants and baguettes and cereal and pain au chocolat and slices of meat and cheese, and raw eggs with a boiler and raw toast (bread) with a toaster. And drinks. But no scrambled eggs or anything like that. Has the art of the free continental breakfast really fallen so low? Anyway, it was fine, for being, theoretically, free, though the lady in the room did ask for my room number. I'm wondering why. The girl at the desk said that my breakfast was free, so then why did this lady ask for my room number. Does it cost money for people with other room arrangements, and she's just keeping track of how many people are coming to pay and to not pay? Or did I take a croissant from the wrong table or something and accidentally quality for a 10 euro breakfast. I don't know, the whole thing is far too much for me to understand. I'll ask at the desk tomorrow...

Anyway, following that, I headed out to explore the city. I walked down the street I had found the restaurant on the night before and continued along until it ran out of shops. Then I started winding my way back, trying to find other streets that looked like they had shops, though this was hard and I kept getting list. Nevertheless, it was all pretty, and it was nice to get lost. Eventually I ended up back in the center of the village, and I headed out to the beach and looked around. It was quite awesome, and rest assured pictures (though hopefully not all of the 250 or so that I took) will be posted. I continued along the coast for several hours, and it was quite beautiful, though I wished I had had a friend there to share it with from time to time. I eventually ended up by the Musee de la Mer (Sea Museum, which equals aquarium), which, unfortunately, had just closed for repairs the day before. Darn. I like fish.

Following that, I had to find my way back to the village, which I eventually managed to do by wandering in its general direction (The only map I have is the one the hotel gave me, which isn't very good and is photocopied). Since it was like 230, all the restaurants were closed, because they are only open for lunch and dinner hours, with a break in between, which ruffles my American feathers. Nevertheless, I found an open creperie and got a ham-egg-and-cheese gatlette (buckwheat crepe). I was the only one in there, so I got to make nice conversation with the crepe woman and practice my French. It was good. She said my accent was good and complimented me on learning the language of the country I was going to, an idea I agree with in principle, though it becomes less practical the more one travels...

Following that, I went back to the hotel to empty my full memory card and to take a nap, because I was balls tired from all the walking.

Anyway, also, last night I went through the excitement of picking my next quarter's classes online. Unfortunately, there are few good Cinema and English classes next quarter, so this was a little difficult. I decided I could also take La Comedie Classique (I hope I do not have to translate), as long as the new undergrad advisor, whom I have heard is very nice, would allow it instead of one of the French literature sequence courses (since I figured it was basically the same thing). Anyway, the way in which this factors in temporally is that, upon waking, I found I had an email response from her. She said she was willing to consider this but, more importantly, reminded me that I am actually not able to count this study abroad sequence as both a Civ. fulfilment and a French minor fulfillment. This filled my soul with a profound despair, as this quarter has been so brutally crushing and the only thing getting me through it was the thought that it was really like getting 6 quarters of work done. Anyway, I quickly responded saying we would sort this out, and quickly followed that up with an email to my advisor asking if there were any loopholes or anything. I mean, when you fill out and sign the minor form, the woman says to you that you can back out any time but if you complete the form you will get the minor. I'm wondering if I can just pretend I never emailed this woman and take the last course listed on the sheet I signed and then get the fucking minor anyway. If I have to take another 2 or 3 French classes to complete the fucking thing, I will not be doing that, I can say that for sure. Anyway, I'll kept you abreast on these developments, but, needless to say, I am displeased....

Anyway, following that, I headed out for dinner. I expected there to be many more people out this evening (since Monday most everything is closed and most everyone stays in), but, as it turned out, there really were not. I guess this is about the level of commerce that this town sustains in the winter, which is a little sad, I suppose, but whatever. I wanted my peace and quiet, and I got it. I ate at a little cafe where I had lamb, which was quite good, though there was not very much of it. I then returned to the hotel, since there is, apparently, nothing to do here after like 9 on a weekday, as the streets are all dead. The only things that are open are bars, but they, too, usually have three or four people in them, usually all one group that came together, and I see no point in sitting in a bar trying to look like I'm being part of a nightlife that doesn't exist. Besides, I came on this vacation to relax and get writing done, so I headed back to the hotel and relaxed and wrote.

One delight of the evening was the discovery that 1) I receive the comedy channel and that 2) it was playing My Cousin Vinnie. Needless to say, this was a lot less good dubbed into French, as Peschi and Tomei's wonderful vocal work is utterly ir-replicable and anyone below the age of 40 (i.e. poor Ralph Macchio) sounds like a prepubescent. Nevertheless, it was a good exercise, and I found I could understand pretty much all of it. A big help was the fact that I basically knew it all anyway, so when I wasn't understanding something, I could use my pre-knowledge to sort it all out. All in all, a very good time.

Anyway, beyond that, I have written, and it has been generally good. I'm slowly learning to allow myself the pleasure of relaxing, which theoretically I have embraced, though realistically (as the above paragraph about bars surely evidences), I am constantly hounded by the thought that I need to be doing and experiencing more. But, honestly, this program has me so exhausted that I think I deserve to just have a vacation, and so I am going to be making an adamant effort to do just that. Besides, I am going out and exploring the town during the day, and, turns out, there is actually a fair bit to explore. Though that may just be because I wandered around the coastline for two hours today and didn't have any time left to explore the village center. But oh well. That's what tomorrow is for...