Day 8 - You can not break me...

Bonjour Mes Amis,

Last night, after enjoying my glass of wine and a glorious sunset, I organized myself for today. I removed items I deemed least important and prepared a bag to ship home.

I woke up to a lovely sunrise and started my day still tired.

La Poste was 10 steps from my Hotel, I figured maybe it was a sign. I was there promptly at 9 am and was greeted by a sour, older woman who glared at me from over her spectacles. I was polite and spoke in my broken French and asked if she spoke English. Again, I get the NON! And said with such force and disgust as if I have somehow offended her. I was clever this morning and used my Google translate while I had wifi and took a screenshot of what I wanted to say. I showed her my phone screen and she motioned me to a touch screen machine which I thought is fine, it's probably friendlier than her anyway hahahaha. It also spoke English 😉

I navigated my way through and almost choked when it told me 70€. I paused, then began filling out the form on screen... but it wouldn't accept my Canadian Postal Code. Voila! Another sign.

I accepted defeat and left...still a heavy load. I bought myself the best coffee I have had since arriving and tried to calm my increasing anxiety from over-packing. 

I am hoping to hire a bag transfer and just carry less without having to throw out any of my stuff. It's also an expensive option but I need peace of mind and haven't had any yet. Still haven't found my groove.... I am hoping I find it when I get to Spain.

Today the distance was too far to walk, no train nor bus for me to take. I was forced to take a taxi but knew this well in advance. I had hoped this town would have had something to offer but it's really not much to look at. My hotel is locked and won't open until 5 so I can't even drop off my 400lb bag. There was a pizza place across the street so I went there hoping for wifi and a coffee. Nice enough guy cleaning the patio tried to speak English and said they don't open until 12 (it was 1145am) but then said "but let me ask my wife" 🤣

He came back out with "she said NON!" Despite being rejected I will return there for wifi until my hotel is forced to accept me. For now I found a big restaurant with a patio and ordered coffee. I still have not eaten. There is a market across the street with produce and baked goods and a huge table of just fromage! 

Aprés café, I went back to the scary wife pizza joint and as it turns out she was amazing! Not a word of English but hubby was a decent translator. We are now bffs hahaha. 

They gave me wifi, a pinchet of wine, it's a carafe ... like half a bottle... cold water and since I can't eat pizza she made me a giant deluxe salad and it was probably the best salad I ever had. I don't even know what the greens were but they looked like 4 leaf clovers lol.

I guess it's my lucky day. And for the record, the wine was fabulous, from a local vineyard.

Using their wifi, I tried so hard to work out all the kinks of my planning. I have since organized a bag transfer in Spain so I can enjoy the walk and save my knees and back. I tried to do the same in France but they are fully booked. Again with the NON! France is trying but I won't give in. Me and the internet are a force to be reckoned with. I researched until I came up with a solution. I stashed my ridiculous backpack behind the hotel and went to the grocery store... again. I bought a little granny grocery cart to get me through the next few days in France. 

France has been trying to break me since I arrived. But guess what France? You can't break me. I am Canadian. We don't break that easily. I left the grocery store feeling like such a clever beast. I walked back to my hotel with my new 2 wheel drive and well I can't tell you exactly what I said but let's just say I had the biggest grin. I had plenty of wine in me and my music playing and I was singing and smiling.  If France has given me anything at all it has been strength and freedom. And also perhaps a big ass attitude. I will not be broken.

I finally checked in and had an hour to kill before the bar opened. I went for a walk and stumbled into a Chateaux. Only in France. It was like an absolute dream.

 I stood there just waiting for Prince Charming to come out and say, "oh there you are darling"... but he didn't. So I came back to my hotel for another pinchet of wine. Feeling no pain today folks!

I've been day drinking again and at around 7pm I had the best mandatory meeting with my coworkers, mes amis, my friends. Thank you ladies for keeping me company!

I have relocated to the back garden of my hotel and it's lovely!! And all for just me!

I have been promised a steak (entrecote) with vegetables and a salad... I hope they don't notice that I am sitting here drooling hahaha.

I inhaled my dinner in about 3 minutes. The tomatoes and peppers were perfect. The steak was good the wine was the best. My belly is full and this is just the meal I need to fuel me for tomorrow.

I know tomorrow will include alot of road walking and will likely be flat and uneventful. When I arrive at my destination tomorrow however I am hoping for another glorious sunset on another beautiful beach .

Stay tuned and Bonsoir xx

Sent from my Galaxy