Three Flavors of Alps

DAY 273: The sun came up over the Rhône as I waited for an early morning taxi on the riverbank. I was the only one awake in probably all of the Ile de la Barthelasse at 6:30, other than security guards or groundskeepers. I was the only one on the island trying to get an early train out of Avignon to move onto another destination.

Usually I just make a reservation the day before for a train I want to take, but for the past three days, the French national TGV train network reservation computer system was down, forcing anyone who wants to get a train pray for a seat the day of departure. I knew I had a long day of train travel ahead of me, so I wanted to get the first train out -- my early awakening paid off and I got the train I wanted that departed at 7:31.

My ultimate destination was Florence, Italy to the southeast, but with the Sunday schedules, the only way I could work out getting there by sundown was to actually go northeast first, via Geneva, Switzerland. My early morning train took me to the French city of Valence on the way, where I switched trains to one bound for Geneva. After an hour layover in Geneva, a train took me to Milano Centrale where I hopped on yet another train for Florence. I spent about three more hours in transit and arrived in Firenze (Italian for Florence), where I managed to find a place to stay a couple of blocks away from the Arno River.

Spending all day on trains wasn't too bad. Most of the time I caught up on writing, although a lot of times I just spaced out the window. The four trains took me through the Alps, and I traveled over the borders that separate them into three flavors: French, Swiss, and Italian (picture above). The French were nice, as were the Italian -- the Swiss ones I was pretty neutral about (pun totally intended).

Most of my train trip I kept from starving eating panini sandwiches from train stations, the cheap but decent way to get by in the area. That frugal diet all changed when I met an Aussie named Val at the hostel, who had been traveling all over Europe on a severance package from Oracle Systems in Dublin, spending most of his time crashing at friends' houses. In fact, when he checked into the hostel at the same time I did, it was he first time checking into such a place.

"Do you usually worry about your gear?" the hostel novice asked me.

"Nah, most people are usually worried that you're gonna steal their stuff," I said.

Val had really lived it up with his package from his former employer; in just about six weeks, he had blown about the same amount of money I had spent over eight months, splurging in fancy hotels, bars and clubs across Europe. With a cheap place to stay this night -- after deducing his funds wouldn't last forever so he better start toning the decadene down -- he didn't scrimp on a place that just served paninis. Instead, the two of us went out to a nice outdoor restaurant/cafe in a piazza to swap travel tales over risotto, gnocchi and a fine bottle of chianti.

As far as the flavors of the fine Tuscan food and drink went, they were rich and robust, the way real Italian food should be, and there's nothing really neutral about that.

If you enjoy this daily travel blog, please post a comment! Give me suggestions, send me on missions, let me know how things are going back home in the USA. Knowing that I have an audience will only force me to make this blog more entertaining as the days go by. Don´t forget to bookmark it and let a friend know!

Posted by Erik on July 22, 2004 05:00 PM
TrackBack | Category: European Union

well, instead of starting my work, i read your story. nice story to start the day :) i remember when robin and i saw our first ALP, yes, just one from our ride on a train from venice to nice... BTW nice is STILL NICE!
N :)

Posted by: nikkij on July 22, 2004 11:47 AM

Ok, I finally got to see episode 3 or AR5 (Erik, I'm keeping them in case you want to watch them when you get here). Charla and Mirna are right on my nerves. That "let's talk like we're talking to babies all the time!" tone is most annoying.

Posted by: Liz on July 22, 2004 12:10 PM

LIZ: I couldn't agree with you more. I thought the whole, "I'm a little person excuse," would've lost it's valor at this point but they keep abusing it. Oh Mirna is the worst of all. I'm pulling for the Christian models.

ERIK: As usual great pics. How long were the stops at each station?

Posted by: Paul on July 22, 2004 12:40 PM

I love that sunrise pic - it's now my new background pic on my work computer. :) I think the Italian Alps picture is the best!! I like Paninis... I can't wait to get to Italy!

Posted by: Noelle on July 22, 2004 01:29 PM

Erik, do you ever get your paninis grilled? That was my staple in Italy.

Liz is right on the money as usual. Mirna has got to be the most irritating person in AR history!!

Posted by: Td0t on July 22, 2004 03:44 PM

Is it my imagination? ....or does it seem many people that are following Erik and his blog are seasoned travellers? People that love to travel have the bug and when they can not get away due to many factors enjoy travelling through other people! I would appreciate comments. Just an observation.

Posted by: Rose on July 23, 2004 09:45 PM

ROSE: That's pretty much my story to a tee! I found Eriks site through bootsnall and have been following it, and only his, ever since. I hadn't realized that I can get my 'travel-bug' release through someone else before that.

Thanks again Erik!

Posted by: Harry on July 23, 2004 09:53 PM

Hey Rose and Harry -
Exactly my story too. I get the bootsnall email, and found his blog by chance... and, it's been the most awesome thing ever since! :)

Erik - you rock. Once again.

Posted by: Noelle on July 23, 2004 10:38 PM

Rose (mom): I think it was moving around so much as a child ;) Life isn't very exciting staying in one place all the time. You get the itch to go somewhere and do something different. Erik's blog is great because it is giving me ideas of all the other places I want to go now! Ah to dream of travelling. (Oh I also found Erik's blog thru BootsnAll)

Erik: Speaking of itch to go somewhere and do something different... are you interested in South Korea? There are always weekend deals here (flight and hotel) for about $300 US. Mmmmm barbequed meat and kimchee. :)

Posted by: Liz on July 24, 2004 01:21 AM