Swine flu, don't bother me

Something that has been interesting in Europe is the way I receive international news and how it affects me. In Brussels, my friend Robert told me about the earthquake in Italy. Thank goodness it happened then, after he had been and before I had gone. Papers everywhere talk about Obama. How he is going to end piracy, the war in Iraq, and basically how the size of his heroicism will rival the size of his ears. Also, Michelle Obama touched the queen of England, half of England cares, the other does not. So now it is the swine flu. My cousin Barrie is reconsidering her trip to New York and my mom may not be able to meet me in Spain. 

What if they close the borders and I get stuck in Spain? It's enough to make me want to run to Germany, which feels like my European home base. I almost feel more at home with Germans here than I do Americans, brits, or other Anglo-Saxons. And I am sure their healthcare system beats that of Spain.

Yesterday I stayed in and read, then watched Friends episodes all night. I enjoyed the lovely view and weather from inside. very relaxing. Today I caught the train to Monaco (Monte Carlo) and discovered that local trains in France do not require a reservation. Saves me money, yay! Monaco was lovely, but very touristy. I enjoyed the stone buildings embedded in the cliffs and it was fun to see the yachts sporting flags from all over the world, but I lamented the lack of beach and "realness." Then I went to Eze, which was the opposite. I did not go up the mountain into town, but ate a banana on the stony beach and enjoyed the relaxed views. In Nice, I went into a not-nice part of town. I didn't realize how bad it was until a man with no teeth started fretting about me finding my way. I was just wandering, but then I started heading to a better (which unfortunately always seems synonymous with non-Muslim) part of town. Where I got accosted by a man.

Man: *some French moonspeak*

Me: Pardon? Non francious.

Man: Espanol?

Me: Non, Englais.

Man (taking my hand): I love you. 

Me: Oh. Merci?

Man: I love you, would you like to eat lunch with me and my friends?

Me (trying to get my hand free): Oh, no. I have to go.

Man: I love you, you're beautiful.

Me: Merci. Au revoir!

Man: I love you, I would like to sleep with you.

Me: No, no, no, goodbye.

I preferred the "bad" part of town.

Then I went into Valbonne Village (my cousin lives in Valbonne) and bought Barrie some flowers, walked around the quaint, EXPENSIVE little village, and then she picked me up and we headed home.

Tomorrow morning I leave for Paris. If creepy old man did not give me the swine flu.