Once again we planned to spend the day at the beach. However, before we could indulge ourselves to a day of relaxation...we had to book our ticket from Nice to Barcelona to take the next day. Once at the train station, we quickly realized this would not be easy. Long lineup. Or as european refer to it, "a long Q ". (Took me awhile to figure that one out) Being that Nice is a smaller centre, we were curious as to why there were so many people. Then we found out. There is a strike of all trains in France that will start at some point tommorow.
Seeing that we had no where to stay in Nice, and a hostel waiting in Barcelona we crossed our fingers our luck would not fail us. At the teller, her first response to our request was "No, not possible. There is a strike." However, we have learned that French train tellers will always intially try to get out of helping you with a tricky request. So, we pressed her for a way to get out of France before the strikes started...no matter how early. After alot of glaring and rolling eyes...she had one option. We leave at 8:30 am, take three transfers, seven hours of lay over, arrive at 11:00 at night in Barcelona. Thats almost 15 hours of travelling. She also informed us that the trains may still stop running at anytime during this period, no gurantees. So, we took a risk and bought it.
After I googled excatly what it is that is going on with SNCF, the France national railway. Apparently last week, a conductor was stabbed eight times while working on the train and is in critical condition. The workers have all been demanding for more security on the trains for years now, this was just the straw that broke the camals back. Now, the workers are striking demanding for better safety measures to protect them while they work. Now, reading this all seems fair. But this was one spotanous strike. The day after we arrived in Nice, they all went on strike. In the middle of their shift, hundreds of people were dropped off in Nice with no where to go, no way to get out of Nice, and no where to sleep. Thank God that wasnt us.
While reading the European news, it became clear it is not just Greece whose citizens are distraught...it is spreading through the rest of Europe. Students and workers unions are protesting in Italy, France, Belgium ...as well there are talks of German airlines going on strike. I really hope not, we have to take a plane to Berlin in a couple of weeks.
Discouraged and nervous about looming events to take place...we went to the beach. The beach is a cure all. So we spent the day relaxing and tanning. No one can be anxious after a day like that. Realizing a few days ago it was Thanksgiving, we figured that night we would treat ourselves to a fancy dinner on the pier.
We were able to make dinner in time for Sunset. I do believe it was the most colorful sunset I had ever seen. Blues, pinks, and yellows vibrantly shawn against the palm tree backdrop. It was gorgous. So was the wine, calamari and salmon steaks. We figured if we couldnt get turkey, we might as well have some great seafood. I was able to skype with my family back home the day before. On holidays, you tend to miss your family the most. While skyping with my great grandmother, I apperciated how amazing technology is. While I may not be able to spend time with my family on Thanksgiving, I am able to see their faces and converse with them half way around the world. Thats amazing.
Though, all a little homesick we enjoyed our European thanksgiving dinner. We even went around the table to say what were most grateful for this trip. Christie was grateful for the stories and memories we have accumlated. Stefanie was grateful for weather being so hot and beautiful. I was grateful for the guardian angel watching over us, we have been in some sticky situations but always come out just fine. It was a unique, unforgetable thanksgiving.
After we got ready for the night. Our new canadian friends were meeting up with some aussie girls they met in Greece to go out. So we headed over to their hostel. Soon, the common room was full with aussies and canadians. After socializing over some beers and learning some new games, we all decided to head to the beach before we went to the pub.
There was a big group of us all chilling at the beach. The beach is lovely at night. The breeze and sounds of the waves seem to be amplified at night. Music to the ears that invigrates you to just be happy. The canadian girls showed us a simple but effective form of thearpy. You pick up a rock and scream out a worry, fear, anger, emotion that you want to get out...then throw the rock in the ocean. Its as if the rock is the vessel for your emotion and the sea is the universe. The universe takes that emotion from you and swallows it whole. You feel the negative energy being sucked out of you and into the sea. Its an awesome feeling.
After much time spent at the beach, we went back to the pub us girls visited previously. It was ladies night, which means 50cent champagne....now thats my kind of ladies night! We danced, laughed and giggled. Great thanksgiving indeed!
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