Wanderings

On Friday I made my pilgrimage to Arles, land of Van Gogh- it didn't turn out to be much of a pilgrimage, since I was tired and somewhat grumpy and needed above all else a wireless connection to plan my next leg of the journey. But I figure that where I shamed Van Gogh by spending most of the day in an internet cafe, I honored his memory by being hungry for most of it, and surviving basically on bread alone. 

That's a complete exaggeration, actually. There was also salad, couscous, lentil soup, and a delicious chevre, fig, and nut bread consumed that day. Oh, and yogurt. But my stomach has been more rumbly than usual since I dispensed all my extra money on my fabulous haircut, and simultaneously started to face the reality of how expensive actual travel in Europe is. So I feel I have a right to temporarily claim ownership of the starving artist/vagabond image.

Anyhoo! The financial situation led me to choose Nice as my next destination, rather than Italy, and I am currently at the Villa Saint Exupery hostel.... a converted monastery, it sits up on the hill, with a sublime view of the ocean. Each room is dedicated to and decorated with works by a different artist (I'm in Henri Matisse), and the chapel has been turned into a bar/hang out space... the stained glass windows light up and Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson blast out of the sound system 24 hours a day. There are slick computers, TV, piano, huge kitchen... and of course a wide variety of the typical hostel types socializing in every corner. I requested an all female dorm yet find myself the only girl in a room of British and Brazilian men... basically, it's already quite the experience and I may have to stay here a few more days just for the sake of gathering stories. Right now the sounds of the Scissor Sisters and scent of vodka red bull are lulling me into relaxation... 

and now, sunset over the Rhone in Arles!