A lesson in how I spend my day.

I made it into Marseille last night. I hadn't orginally planned on visiting, but the train stations in Toulouse and Carcassonne had exceptionally sketchy characters running amok. It was already growing late as it was, and I didn't need another panicky Mousafa incident. So, I'll see the awesome Carcassonne castles another time. (Gorgeous when lit up at night though, rest assured.) Basically, I just rode until the end of the line. It's a 6 hour ride here from Bordeaux. (Having me entering Marseille at 11 pm) And!!! Sketchier people in Marseilles than the other two. So there goes my intuition.

I've decided to carry this board throughout the entire duration of the trip now. Who wants to mess with a fellow growing a haggard neck-beard and carrying a somewhat hefty blunt object? I feel safer at night.

To keep up my caloric intake, I've been drinking a 1.5 litre bottle of Fanta, sans bulles (non-carbonated) in the mornings. Keeps the hydration up as well! I then find a boulangerie (bakery) and load up on carbs. If I'm in a new city that I didn't get to explore at nightfall, I'll make a B-Line for the Office du Tourisme and gather the information I need there. This includes maps and possible touristy junk that may interest me. Stamps and postcards are found at the Tabac stores on virtually every corner. Everyone hands me 1€ and 2€ coins in change. At first I was exceptionally irrated at the growing weight of my pockets. But after having made frequent use of the metro and buslines... totally essential.

I look for an Internet Cafe, like the one I'm at currently, so I can keep up on possible hosts, hostels, and use Mapquest.fr for quickest footpaths. Find a place to stay for evening, and rid myself of the weight of the cumbersome backpack.

I'll add in pictures later. I was primarily using this post to kill time until the extreme downpour went away. 'Sides, I've still gotta make it to "place to stay for the evening" portion of the day. Last nights hotel was trop cher! Now I'm off to do that and see some museums.

Oh... and remember that I'm right around 10 hours ahead of you all. So when I'm ending my day, you're eating lunch.

---

Update: I found an extremely cheap hostel that I'll stay at for a couple days. I'm rooming with a fellow from Cambridge and a gent whose accent suggests Australia. I think they're language profiling! And the rain keeps a coming. Some folks from around here say that it's not common for it to dump like this. Thus I just added the pictures from today. Not much, but should tide you folks over. I also need to buy an umbrella. My bones are soaked to their bones.

---

---