“Well I tell them there’s no problem, only solutions”
- John Lennon
I am writing this from the St. Nicolas hotel in Bar-Sur-Aube, where the receptionist has the best accent in the world and asks everybody immediately upon entering the breakfast room first, if they slept well and then if they would like a
« ‘omemade w-eiffel»?!
(Yes!)
I spent the first part of yesterday camped between the tourist office of Brienne-Le-Château and the Napoleon museum.
The musée offered free WiFi, the tourist office; help to reload my SIM card. Reading the fine print in french is hard, but Elizabeth, who worked at the front desk, was incredibly helpful.
“If you can wait until half past 12, I have my break and I will go with you”, she said. And so I did, and it worked!
With my SIM card loaded, I started the 25km to Bar-Sur-Aube at 1PM. I felt a little anxiety about leaving late in the day, but there was nothing to do but practice calming my mind and start walking. As soon as I began, I saw a good sign!
A little orange house cat was rested on the grass in front of the city limit sign. A very special wildlife sighting for me, a waffle!
Waffle is the name of a little orange cat who lives in Manhattan with all my friends; the mascot of our group. He was rescued from an animal shelter by my friend Cindy. After starting his new life mostly hiding under beds, he is now well-adjusted member of the group.
I knew right away this French cat was Waffle’s spirit animal and a special connection to my friends in New York!
I thanked the little cat for the photos, Snapchatted them to the group with my new data, and walked on through fields of wildflowers.
The kms ticked up and the afternoon grew later. When I reached a little town about 12 km outside of Bar-sur-Aube, I was delighted to discover moving water that cut through the town.
A bit further, I discovered the stream widened and fanned into a lovely picnic spot.
I shelved my backpack on the stone wall and climbed over to explore.
I resisted the urge to peel off my socks and jump in, reminding myself I had “miles to go before I sleep”. But even the brief respite refreshed me.
When I finally reached Bar-Sur-Aube, I was wiped.
I pieced together the healthiest meal I could from the McDonald’s “petit faim” menu and tried to connect to their WiFi. The noisy children dining alongside me with their parents made me smile. There’s something comforting about universal way kids act and speak -
Child: “Papa!!!!”
Mother: “Shhhhh!”
-when you are living with a bit of a language barrier.
I hiked to the hotel to discover another surprise, familiar dance and pop records blasting through the streets.
I learned the 21st of June is the “Fête de la Musique” in France; “an occasion va for people to play music in the street where they want and until when they want”
I enjoyed the music very much as I walked down the street looking lost.
Maybe even moreso when an older gentleman wearing all the French colors passed by and without stopping, gave me an energetic update on France and Argentina’s standings in the World Cup before storming away.
It was good day.