Nicely done, indeed

Hello world out there!
I write to you from Nice, in the heart of the French Riviera! We arrived on Saturday, after a slightly traumatic experience on the train where I was separated from the entire group. If you would like to read the story, continue reading! To skip the lengthy detail, just skip down to the *
Story:
We were taking a 5.5 hour train ride from Paris to Nice, but as it is the french train system, (and because of that whole volcanic eruption in Iceland) it was suuuuuuuper crowded and people were everywhere and it was confusing. I saw what I thought was car 17, so I sat down, then realized it was car 7 not 17. I ask a very nice french man and he was like '17 is all the way at the end in the other train'. Zut.
I grab my stuff (suitcase, duffel, backspace, purse, little shopping bag) and turn around to see the most gigantic pile of suitcases I have ever seen in my real life. Seriously. And there weren't just suitcases, there were people too. FORTY people and their suitcases, as I was to learn later.
Anyway, french trains, unlike about everything else here, leave on right on time. So there was no possible way I could hoist myself over the suitcases (and the people), let alone myself and my bags, to get to the other train. I begin to tear up. Many people see me. They were very very nice, and a little freaked out at my trying-not-to-cry face. This chic woman was like 'no one is sitting here right now its ok! sit down! breath deep!' so I did. But I was crying. And then an announcment came on saying that since it was so crowded not everyone had made it to their seats, so if you were one of those people come to this specific car. Imagine trying-not-to-cry-but-failing-at-it me walking through a gazillion cars of french people. not fun. however the same thing happened to this other french guy and he was pissssssed.
But not crying.
Anyway, turns out there are two sections to this train, because it was a very weird train - basically two trains stuck together. And there was no way to reconnect with my group. The train was completely full but they told me I could sit in the restaurant area. I go back and jump the slightly smaller pile of suitcases. All the people there were so so sweet to me. Thank you God for that!
I was trying to get my stuff over the pile and finally this woman in her mid fifties or so said 'come with me, we will take care of you' so she takes one of my bags and I follow her up and over, and we reach one of the four-seat sections where her husband was.
Apparently they were part of that gigantic group (going to something which had to do with young tennis players. Mind you, this was all in french). They had a ticket for the four seats and gave me one of them. Me. A stupid crying american girl. And they were talking to me and trying to help me calm down. And then another young guy came down and sat there and offered me some peanut m&ms. And then she let me use her phone to call katrina, and I left her a message. And then I finally calmed down. I think had I been traveling alone, i would have been fine with an unexpected detour. however, the pressure of being separated from the group was more...trying.
Then the leader of the young tennis group who had seen and talked to me earlier came over and talked to us and then in broken english made jokes with me, and started taking pictures. Which was slightly humorous. I hope they enjoy that later on. Finally two hours in the woman told me "ok, you have three minutes at this first stop. you want to try to get back with your friends?" so her husband went and got my green duffel bag and we took my stuff to the platform. I didnt even have time to thank them properly, because i BOOKED it down the entire space of platform with all my crap and barely made it onto the other train thing.
In any case, i will never forget those people's kindness, but it was a rough day.

*Annnnd we are back!
After a rough start in getting to Nice, I have been bathing in the beautiful sun of the Mediterranean. No, seriously, I am sunburned. Nice is amazingly beautiful, in its beauty completely surpassing my expectations. Despite the homework and mandatory museums, for the first time it kind of feels like vacation. My presentations done, with only museum sketches and art analyses left, I feel free-er, able to hike up to that beautiful waterfall we visited, lay on the beach, swim in the ocean, wander through the fresh flower and food markets, or eat one of the 86 gelato flavors at that one shop (ranging from tomato and avocado to lavender and jasmine).
I am looking forward to seeing you all again, but its going to be more than difficult to leave this beautiful country.
loves of warm sun-burnt hugs
natalie