Nice!

Ah, it is so nice to be in Nice. Couldn't help cracking the pun at least once. But it's out of my system now, so everyone is safe again. Took 11 hours to get here, but the ride was so beautiful that I can hardly complain. I was highly amused by the different states of trains though. When the first one pulled up in Barcelona, I couldn't help but think, "This is a passenger train? For sure?" In it's defense it was much nicer on the inside. Just very simple and rather old. Then when I changed trains in Montpellier, what a difference. The French train is fully automated with all the bells and whistles. And those were plush seats. With fold out tables at each one individually. Quite a nice stretch of track.
Once I got here to Nice, I couldn't find the road I needed to take, so being the savvy traveler I am, I decided to ask some locals. The first two people were very helpful, each pointing me a bit closer to the street I was looking for. The last group, I an just amused at how unhelpful they were. It was three girls and a guy, probably in their mid-teens. I asked where the street was, in French, and the two girls shrug and apologize, and make it known that they are not familiar with the street. The boy looks at me and says, "WE DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH." Thank you, for clarifying that, so loudly and rudely, boy. Especially since I had only attempted to speak in French, and not spoke a word of English until then, and the girls and made themselves perfectly understood, even though neither of us spoke each others language before you even said that. The best part of all? I continued walking, and the street was the next intersection a mere 20 ft. away.
So I get checked into my hostel, and the manager (who is from Spain and has recommended several places to go to, including where to stay for the best and cheapest) informs me that the hostel is full of Americans. And he doesn't know why. It is just this week for some reason. He found it very amusing, and was telling me, "At least you won't be lonely!" which is quite true! So far we represent WA, WI, NJ, NY and that's only the couple of people I have talked to so far. I have heard many more Americans talking around the rooms.
Anne, who is my roommate so far, is traveling the same way I am. Just graduated, didn't like her career job so she quit and bought a ticket overseas. She was in Ireland while I was in the UK, Paris at the same time as me, and arrived here in Nice today as well. We are also leaving Nice on the same day, both having added a one day extension last minute as we checked in. She also took my Anne McCaffrey book off my hands, which makes her cooler both for loving Anne McCaffrey and for lightening my load that much.
My luck has held with the weather again though. My entire walk to the hostel was nice, dry, just cool enough to be comfortable. When I stepped out for dinner it was pouring rain. I don't mind walking in the rain, I'm just happy to avoid it when I have my backpack on, as there would be no good way to keep it dry. Unless I dug out the poncho to wrap around it, but that is currently in the bottom of said bag and not very accessible. All my gear is dry though, and I cannot wait to go explore tomorrow!