Crossing into France last night on the train, the French border police removed the drunken and passed-out middle-eastern guy, despite the pleas of his friends, as well as an African dude, despite the screams of his wife. But no worries, the western whiteys, myself included, were all given a courteous smile and a half-second glance at our passports. Arriving at Chambery a bit before 9 p.m., took the train to Grenoble, as the ride to Valence wasn't until the following morning. Night air was nippy. Stopped at a Chinese restaurant across the street that was still open and had me some dumplings. Walked around a a bit, got bored, returned to the train station. Two gypsy families were curled up in blankets on the floor in the lower section of the station. Decided to join them for the night. Rolled out my sleeping bag and mattress. One of the kids approved of my setup and gave me a thumbs up. One family was from Macedonia, the other from Kosovo. Spoke my shitty Serbian to the Macedonian father. Cool guy. Light-hearted. Disapproved of the stoner family from Kosovo. Woken up at 4 a.m. by the train station security, so hung out upstairs with my lobby companions and talked about our respective countries, France, and Jean-Claude VanDamme until my train arrived. I was off to wine, cheese, and a warm bed. They, just twiddling their thumbs until the cops make it around to this end of the heated room and shoo them off into the frozen pre-dawn streets.
In Valence, got my bearings, headed to a roundabout across town and got a ride to Livron, about km from my destination in Allex. Felt chipper, and so walked the rest. Found Stephanie working in the first building I entered in this old stone village on a hill. Met up with Don, shortly thereafter in their apartment, and as they left to complete their work days, thoroughly enjoyed my first warm shower in quite a while. Helped Stephanie prepare an eagerly-awaited Thanksgiving dinner. Ate it with Stephanie, Don, and two of their friends. Slept a hero's sleep. Visited the tower/keep in Crest, accompanied Don to one of his classes at a middle school. Ate so very well. Tried the Slovenian wine I bought. It was awful. Drank proper beer, much missed. Tried absinthe. Twasn't bad. Ahh, the cheeses, No comparison. Also cheap compared to their counterparts in the US. Made some pumpkin bread. Turned out great. Was very well taken care of in my 9 days in Allex. I shall miss it.
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