Making My Way Back to You…France

I cannot tell you how ridiculously good it felt to see the train sitting on the tracks that said “SNCF.” I have loved my travels to Italy and Germany but I am just ready to return to France. I was thinking about how I would have really liked to have gone to Poland and Austria and checked out more places during my travels in Italy and Germany, but I am glad with how it all worked out. I like the having a home base somewhere and being able to take day trips to small villages and towns outside of the major city, especially since that is where I find the culture that I am looking for. One week in Munich was too much for me while one week in Bad Woristofen was A.O.K. I think what I am most excited about is not having to try to just get by with the language and being able to use what I know and try to learn French better. I was overwhelmed with going to Italy but I saw after a day or two that it was doable. Being in Germany has taught me, my French and English mean nothing and not eating pork and most sausages makes it a hard place to enjoy gastronomically.

I woke up early as I did not want to miss my train and showered and got ready with no problem. Of course I barely unpacked last night so I did not have to worry about packing this morning. I headed down the elevator that is big enough for…me and one piece of luggage praying that I would not get stuck. I reached the reception desk and checked out. They said that although I did not pay for breakfast, I could enjoy a coffee or tea. I decided I should take them up on that but nothing was set up yet.

I went to the train station and got a big bottle of water and croissant. I waited and watched all of the drunk people at 6:20am trying to decided if they were coming or going. I love seeing all of the outfits and laugh when I see the girls in their beautiful dresses and aprons and heals. You are going to kill yourself – follow everyone else and just wear the flats! I cannot imagine how many sprained ankles occur due to Oktober Fest. I sat on my luggage and some 20 year old drunk guy got right up in my face and said something. I just stared at him and he me. Finally I looked away and he wandered off. I kept repeating what he said so that I could look it up, but of course when I got to my train I began looking for the car and seat number and forgot what he said. It was not a threatening in my face though; if I had to guess what he said I would go with “why are you all by yourself, leaving Oktoberfest?!” He did not say anything nearly that long or mention Oktober Fest but I threw it in there anyway.