Bonjour, un croissant et un café latte s’il vous plait. Merci, Au Revoir.
That is pretty much the extent of my French unfortunately. The rest of the time I find myself speaking English in broken sentences with a ridiculous French accent. Thinking for some reason this may be understood, which it actually often is. More likely because they could understand English not the poor accent.
As I sit alone at one of the restaurant tables that line the street pavement, I take a sip of the crisp vin rose’, and a bite of the irresistibly fresh white bread that is complimentarily put in front of me every time I sit. Later I will discover that to avoid the temptation of bread and save a little money, I will opt for the delicious peaches that are in season from the corner store. Rose’ is not something I would usually drink at home, but I have come to know that here in the midst of wine connoisseurs this grape is a refreshing sip of heaven. With time to take it all in, I sit and listen, watch, taste and feel the presence of where I am. The table next to me is a table of four. An Englishman and his French partner that I can tell he has clearly been with her for a few years due to the extent of his French vocabulary and his need to hold a conversation with her parents. On the other side is an older German couple. I have come to know, they speak five different languages. He, a retired engineer and has a passion for European history. As we discuss linguistics I welcome the history lesson. I have always been one to learn through experience. I wander back to my room, exploring a few streets on the way before it gets too late. A girl on her own must be smart, but then who am I kidding, I would be going to bed at this hour anyway. As I rest my head on the foreign pillow and cheap sheets, I dream off to sleep thinking of my days…
From north to east, to central and south I’ve travelled through France. My arrival to Paris was the perfect start to settle in with the company of a good friend. Taking advantage of the French cuisine, we dinned and talked and walked and walked. A beautiful and romantic city its true, but I have found cities are only good for a couple of days or if you live in them. A solo journey begun with a train rides to the east. Although it was now French land, the German history was strong. Quaint villages, cobbled stone streets, tiny alley ways filled with flower windows, and houses all the colours of the rainbow, I knew I was in Europe. Further south the villages varied from ocre, to stone, to white washed walls as the coast gave way to the Mediterranean. I rode through landscape that took my breath away, as the green fields of vineyards stretched out to the distant mountains. I hiked along towering white cliffs to climb down to the most stunning clear aqua water amidst the jagged coast.
I have been on the move, no more than three nights in one place. Taking it all in. I miss the ocean and the surf, but patience, I know it will come. This time in Europe I wanted to go places I haven’t been. In fact, to the absolute opposite of what I seen before as it is always good to keep an open mind, so inland it is. Each day I’m growing more relaxed. I have some days that are magnificently inspiring and light up my insides with a huge smile. Other days I’m just content. I use ‘just’ lightly, as to be content is a wonderful thing. I realize it’s not a holiday, it’s day-by-day, it’s absolute freedom, it’s a travellers life, just like I wished. With my skin now turned that beautiful golden brown from the subtle Mediterranean sun, unlike the scorching heat of Australia, it’s time to move on. The lightbulb I carry in my mind, I see a flicker if for just a brief moment. I know that it works, but it is not on yet.
That is pretty much the extent of my French unfortunately. The rest of the time I find myself speaking English in broken sentences with a ridiculous French accent. Thinking for some reason this may be understood, which it actually often is. More likely because they could understand English not the poor accent.
I have been on the move, no more than three nights in one place. Taking it all in. I miss the ocean and the surf, but patience, I know it will come. This time in Europe I wanted to go places I haven’t been. In fact, to the absolute opposite of what I seen before as it is always good to keep an open mind, so inland it is. Each day I’m growing more relaxed. I have some days that are magnificently inspiring and light up my insides with a huge smile. Other days I’m just content. I use ‘just’ lightly, as to be content is a wonderful thing. I realize it’s not a holiday, it’s day-by-day, it’s absolute freedom, it’s a travellers life, just like I wished. With my skin now turned that beautiful golden brown from the subtle Mediterranean sun, unlike the scorching heat of Australia, it’s time to move on. The lightbulb I carry in my mind, I see a flicker if for just a brief moment. I know that it works, but it is not on yet.
