Italian Adventure: Days 1-3

So, I realized what I forgot to say in mylast blog. I wanted to let you know that contrary to the title of the blog I am going to use it from Italy. It is just easier that way. OK, so here goes!

Day 1 -
Very early in te morning (ok, not that early for most people, but early for me) I took the metro to the train station in Paris and caught my train the Nice, Frace. As the train got closer and closer to the south of France it got warmer and warmer and you can't imagine my excitement when I looked out the window and saw the ocean for the first time in a while. It was so blue and the towns that I was going though were absolutely beautiful. I got to Nice in the afternoon and saw the Russian Church near the train station. It was everything I ever learned about eastern european architecture, the faces in the paintings, the greek cross structure. It was beautiful. I then hauled my backpack around town for a while trying to find ythe busses to my hostel. It took about an hour and a half, which was lucky, because I was going to arrive before they opened anyway. At the second bus stop I met a woman who asked if I was going to the youth hostel. See, the difference between Paris and the rest of France is this, the level helpulness. In Paris, people would most likely just stare at me and think "zat crazy amerrrican." It was amazing to be leped by someone like that. I got to the hosel and checkied in... a few hours later I went to sleep. I was exhausted. I think I slept for like 9 hours without waking up once. It was great.

Day 2-
So, yesterday morning I woke up and had some breakfast at the hostel. I then packed up my bag and headed to the beach. Ah, the beach. While the pebbly natire of Nice beaches was kind of funny, I was happy to pass that morning ranquilly reading. I had brought my bag along because I wouldn't have time to go back to the hostel to get it. It ended up becoming a pretty comfy beach chair. Around 1 I got hungry, so I headed into the old part of the city. It was very cute and the streets were filled with peope giong through the market. I fuond a restaurant and got some lunch. It is kind of funny to travel alone... eating alone is pretty strange. I think I have already taken to talking to myself (more than usual, I mean).
After that I wanted to make sure that I got to the train station on time and since I had to wait in line to pick up my ticket, I got there around 3:30. The line was pretty quick, so I ended up passing a good part of the dayin the waiting room, with some pretty funny people. It is really funny to hear the French accent from the south. I have to listen extra hard to understand and it just sounds silly to me. No offense to those from the midi region.
So around 4, all the departing trains on the board started to turn to being late. Apparently there was a suicide somewhere, but later I fuond out that it may have been an illegal strike in Italy. Hmm, Europeans ans strikes... Anyway, my 6:05 train didn't leave until closer to 8, but I had nowhere to be fast, so I wasnàt too worried. When I finally did get on the train it wsa like out of a movie. It was a train with compartments, most French trains now are just like airplanes, with aisles and rows. It was cool. In my car there was a Columbian guy, Miguel, an Italin guy, David, and an Italian woman. Luckily the two guysspoke English, so we passed the time, eh, discussing worldly things. Socialists are funny and let's leave it at that. So far, my entry to Italy hasn't been so smooth, but it gets a bit worse.
When I finally got to Genoa, I was waiting at the bus stop at 11 rather than 9 and it was pretty sketchy. Luckily, a few Italian women started talking to me and even rode the bus eith me and waited with me for my connection. My Italian, well I have no Italian, so it is pretty funny talking to people. I have never reallyt beem in this position before, in a new place with a language I don't... by myself. Suffice it to say, I made it to the hostel, got checked in and passed out. It seems like Italy doesn't like me... I woke up in the middle of the night to a thunder storm happeneing outside. The weather has been strange to say the least.

Day 3-
So here we are today. I got up this morning and headed into town. Now I undersand what people mean about the small streets in Europe. The city is packed full of old and new buildings. and the streets wind this way and that. I walked around on a route recommended to me by a woman at the hostel and it was very pretty. I saw some beautiful piazzas and palaces and went to the acquarium. Fish are so neat. Apparently this is the second largest in the world and I believe it. It was really amazing. After this I was pretty tired and hugry, so I went back to the main piazza and ate a pesto and cheese sandwich. Delicious and I don't like pesto. I then sat on the square and wrote a bit in my journal, yes mom I have a journal-ish thing going on.
After that I decided to head up to the top of one of the hills for an amazing vista point. I went back to the hostel and "rested my eyes" for a bit (on accident) and then came down and ate some dinner. I got some cheese and crackers at a market down the street. Now there is a big gme on and I think I will grab a beer and watch! Go Italy... even tough they are in the same group as France. I am not risking it.

Future Plans-
Tomorrow morning I am headed to fair Verona and we will see what happens. I am hoping for some clearer weather. I hope you are all well and I look forward to hearing from you!
ps, sorry for typos... I am on a time scrunch and I hate editing.