ichi is my husband and you are the fruit of his loins
I have been having and amazing time here in tiny Toulon!
It is only 100,000 people, but it feels much larger.
This whole couchsurfing thing is absolutely amazing! I am going to do it everytime I travel. You have a built-in group of friends, some of whom have lived here their whole lives and can show you the best out-of-the-way places.
Yesterday, Guillaume got up early to go in for a long work day. He works from 8am-6pm. ee ee! He is an overseer person at a factory that makes windows and doors? Anyway, when I finally woke up, I was feeling pretty foggy-headed, probably from the scotch last night. This feeling lasted the entire day.
I walked out the door with my key, looked around, and decided I want to walk to that moutain over there! Ok. Pretty easy to find your way to a moutain, n'est-ce pas? So I walked and walked in the noon sun upward. I saw so many beautiful houses and flowers. Everything is bright and vibrant in Provence. The houses are bright yellow, blue, orange... and they all had huge vibrant flower bushes in front of them. They have a lot of pine trees, which, I am told, with the realy strong mistral winds that come off the sea and then the heat, there are a lot of fires because of the dry needles. There is also a loud chorus of cicadas. Anyway, I started to get frustrated because it wasn't as easy as I thought to get to this mountain. The streets wound this way ans that and I couldn't even cut through yards because they were all gated and walled in. I finally got to almost the base of the mountain, but there were still some goddamn streets in the way and I was exahusted from walking uphill in the sun and I had to meet someone in an hour. It wasn't as hard as you might have thought to find my way back to his apartment. i wish I could instill upon you how impressive it is that I just wandered away without a map, never looking at street names, walking this way and that, only looking up at the mountain for my guide, and then finding my way back just fine! Intuition is working just fine. (but I am going to look at the map to figure out how to get to this mountain and I plan on conquering it!)
When I got back, I was really upset that I am so foggy-headed and I feel so not present. I want to feel like I am here, experience this. It is partially my meds, but I know it isn't all. I did some yoga and meditation (constantly pushing Cookie away). It helped a little.
Henri arrived. He would be my guide for today. I told him I wanted to go to the beach. He had his motorbike with him. I was a little scared. Especially because they drive a little crazier here than they do in the states. But I put on a helmet and held on! We zoomed around town and finally we were riding for a whole along the coast. I was trying hard to soak it all in, to unclench my heart and enjoy the wind and the speed and the view of the beautiful blue sea... When we got there, he said he knew a path that would take us past the touristy beach and to a much nicer place. Apparently this path was once used by smugglers? It was really beautiful and at one point we were up so high and could look all around. He pointed out an island that has a beautiful beach, and apparently the bus system also has some boats that you can take for 2 euro, just like a bus, to the island. I'm keeping it in mind.
We finally got to the beach and it was so amazing. I didn't have to wear my top, as french ladies do. The water was a little chilly, but really refreshing. Swimming in it in the sun was the most amazing feeling. Once, when I was under, I opened my eyes. It was so beautiful! The water was so clear, I could see beautiful blues and greens and rocks... I started only swimming with my eyes open. I really loved that underwater world. It reminded me of the place I went to in my mind when Emily lead me in a guided meditation. Then I got out and just enjoyed the sun.
I went home for a nap. Guillaume came home and made really yummy chinese food. I really like talking to him, he is very easy to talk to and is really funny. After dinner, he drove us to a different city where we strolled around looking at street vendors and got really yummy ice cream. He paid for my ice cream, which awkwardly made it feel like a date, but I think it was because he could tell I didn't have much money. This was the first time I talked to vendors and people who worked places in french and actually had them answer me in french! I am not sure if you understand what a big deal that is. Everyone talks to me in english, especially people like that. Being around Guillaume and having to talk in french is really improving my french. I am also teaching him english. Last night I tought him the two different "th" sounds, because they don't have them in french, and he wanted to say that he was going to brush his teeth.
If you are wondering if I am attracted to Guillaume the answer is no. He is kind of creepy and I don't find him attractive. But I really enjoy his friendship and his hospitality!
I am not sure what I am going to do today. Henri said he is going to show around some Brazilian visitors and go into the village center. That could be cool.
It is only 100,000 people, but it feels much larger.
This whole couchsurfing thing is absolutely amazing! I am going to do it everytime I travel. You have a built-in group of friends, some of whom have lived here their whole lives and can show you the best out-of-the-way places.
Yesterday, Guillaume got up early to go in for a long work day. He works from 8am-6pm. ee ee! He is an overseer person at a factory that makes windows and doors? Anyway, when I finally woke up, I was feeling pretty foggy-headed, probably from the scotch last night. This feeling lasted the entire day.
I walked out the door with my key, looked around, and decided I want to walk to that moutain over there! Ok. Pretty easy to find your way to a moutain, n'est-ce pas? So I walked and walked in the noon sun upward. I saw so many beautiful houses and flowers. Everything is bright and vibrant in Provence. The houses are bright yellow, blue, orange... and they all had huge vibrant flower bushes in front of them. They have a lot of pine trees, which, I am told, with the realy strong mistral winds that come off the sea and then the heat, there are a lot of fires because of the dry needles. There is also a loud chorus of cicadas. Anyway, I started to get frustrated because it wasn't as easy as I thought to get to this mountain. The streets wound this way ans that and I couldn't even cut through yards because they were all gated and walled in. I finally got to almost the base of the mountain, but there were still some goddamn streets in the way and I was exahusted from walking uphill in the sun and I had to meet someone in an hour. It wasn't as hard as you might have thought to find my way back to his apartment. i wish I could instill upon you how impressive it is that I just wandered away without a map, never looking at street names, walking this way and that, only looking up at the mountain for my guide, and then finding my way back just fine! Intuition is working just fine. (but I am going to look at the map to figure out how to get to this mountain and I plan on conquering it!)
When I got back, I was really upset that I am so foggy-headed and I feel so not present. I want to feel like I am here, experience this. It is partially my meds, but I know it isn't all. I did some yoga and meditation (constantly pushing Cookie away). It helped a little.
Henri arrived. He would be my guide for today. I told him I wanted to go to the beach. He had his motorbike with him. I was a little scared. Especially because they drive a little crazier here than they do in the states. But I put on a helmet and held on! We zoomed around town and finally we were riding for a whole along the coast. I was trying hard to soak it all in, to unclench my heart and enjoy the wind and the speed and the view of the beautiful blue sea... When we got there, he said he knew a path that would take us past the touristy beach and to a much nicer place. Apparently this path was once used by smugglers? It was really beautiful and at one point we were up so high and could look all around. He pointed out an island that has a beautiful beach, and apparently the bus system also has some boats that you can take for 2 euro, just like a bus, to the island. I'm keeping it in mind.
We finally got to the beach and it was so amazing. I didn't have to wear my top, as french ladies do. The water was a little chilly, but really refreshing. Swimming in it in the sun was the most amazing feeling. Once, when I was under, I opened my eyes. It was so beautiful! The water was so clear, I could see beautiful blues and greens and rocks... I started only swimming with my eyes open. I really loved that underwater world. It reminded me of the place I went to in my mind when Emily lead me in a guided meditation. Then I got out and just enjoyed the sun.
I went home for a nap. Guillaume came home and made really yummy chinese food. I really like talking to him, he is very easy to talk to and is really funny. After dinner, he drove us to a different city where we strolled around looking at street vendors and got really yummy ice cream. He paid for my ice cream, which awkwardly made it feel like a date, but I think it was because he could tell I didn't have much money. This was the first time I talked to vendors and people who worked places in french and actually had them answer me in french! I am not sure if you understand what a big deal that is. Everyone talks to me in english, especially people like that. Being around Guillaume and having to talk in french is really improving my french. I am also teaching him english. Last night I tought him the two different "th" sounds, because they don't have them in french, and he wanted to say that he was going to brush his teeth.
If you are wondering if I am attracted to Guillaume the answer is no. He is kind of creepy and I don't find him attractive. But I really enjoy his friendship and his hospitality!
I am not sure what I am going to do today. Henri said he is going to show around some Brazilian visitors and go into the village center. That could be cool.