TGV: totally groovy vacation

Our travel day Sunday took a toll, but successfully moved us from Geneva to Liège, leaving the university residence hall at 5:50 am by bus to the train station where we boarded the TGV for Paris. Our arrival at Paris Gare de Lyon on the southeast corner of the city left us the choice of a shared taxi at 6 euros each or a metro hike for 2 euros. Being old and wise, I shared a cab with 2 others and a delightful young French driver who taught us slang all the way across town, then used my time to have lunch on the terrace of the Café de la Gare, surveyed by this high flying lady and the triumphant flag of Europe, whose union is now under French leadership for her turn in the rotating administration. The repose helped steel us for another train and then bus ride with baggage, lugged from the bus stop to the residence hall.

As we have noted more than once, Dorothy, this is not Kansas any more. Where the Swiss were impeccably timely, organized, and spotless, the dorms here are reminiscent of, well, Ball State. On a Monday after Homecoming. Lisa and I share a bath between our rooms, and I will simply say that our first act was to take down the shower curtain and wash our hands. It’s been through the industrial washer and has changed complexions.

The biggest disappointment is the lack of dorm wi-fi access, due to the time it’s taken to get a login/password. The administration doesn’t understand just how belligerent 20 teachers denied internet access can get. If you’re reading this, however, we’ve resolved the problem (or I’m trucking my laptop to McDonald’s in the city for free wi-fi!) It took until Wednesday, but I have wi-fi, but only in the public foyer, not in my room, which means all my Skyping is in the 6 story echochamber of a concrete stairwell. Fortunately the speed is incredible and I uploaded all the back galleries of photos. It takes longer to upload the blog photos, so apologies for the delay time.

The Cité Universitaire is south of Liège (put the college kids as far from town as possible seems to be the logic, and welll-founded, I might add) but a direct 20 minute bus ride in and out. The town straddles the Meuse with a second arm of the river winding through the town center just to confuse things. Of course given its age the town has sprawling winding twisiting narrow name-changing streets. It will take some free time wandering to learn my way around.

We found a wonderful Italian restaurant nearby and had a terrific Sunday supper together. Marco Polo definitely has really Italian cooks and servers. A family affair, with Tiramisu Maison of the roman villa size portion. I watched Lillian and Lisa each down one and escaped with a nibble. Wow.

We will breakfast at the little cafè by the bus stop and catch the 8:15 bus for our 9am class. I am eager to meet this new community and learn more about this place, so caught between the surrounding European states.