21st of July
In the morning Guillem and I go to the station where I take the bus to Andorra to meet James.
The three hours ride goes by fast as I’m sleeping nearly all the way through. I really try to stay awake cause it’s just beautiful outside but my eyes just won’t stay open so I finally give in.
James picks me up with the car and it turns out that Andorra really isn’t that nice. Just like everyone told me before.
So we go to Pas de la casa instead where James has to buy some stuff. From Andorra to Pas de la casa it only takes you about 20 to 25 minutes and it is pretty much on the same height but for some reason the temperature changes from about 25°C to 10°C. And I am in my shorts and flip flops.
Fortunately we don’t stay for very long and drive to James place in Gaillac which takes us about 2,5 hours.
Gaillac is pretty much on the countryside. James closest neighbours are quite a bit away and the place is just gorgeous. With the view over the fields and a swimming pool outside.
I’m very happy to finally get out of those big cities and to have some relaxed days in front of me.
After dinner we drive to the „main“ centre of the city where they have big fire works and a, what we would call it, village party that night.
The fire works are actually really nice and after that we meet some of James friends and go for a drink.
They speak some English but not to me that night, so I have to wait till the next day.

22nd of July
After breakfast James and I take the motorbike to meet his friends. This time it is a real motorbike but it is also James…. so I’m slightly scared. He tells me he will be careful and won’t drive too fast so I calm myself down and give it a try.
Well…. let’s just say he doesn’t drive as slow as he promised before but there is pretty much no one on the streets and as it is the countryside and not the city I am not scared. -Well, apart from the few times I jump up in the air because of the holes in the street. -
We meet his friends and I get the possibility to change into a car but I’m quite liking it by then so I stay on the deathbike.
Off that thing I have to face another fear of mine because we are all going canoeing. Once in the canoe it turns out to be great fun and we are having an awesome time.
Five canoes – the three boys take one each, James and I are in one two man canoe and Mathilde and her cousin (?) who is eight are in another one. The weather is great, the water is really nice and the three hours pass by way too fast.
We take the bike back home and at the end of the evening we are both exhausted and sunburned.

23rd of July
James and his father are both working so I’ve got the house to myself.
I talk to some people on Skype and get things organised for the rest of my trip. James comes home for lunch but leaves again after half an hour. I take a swim in the pool and sunbath for a while. Not very long though as my legs look really bad from the day before.
Funny how I spent such a long time in Italy and Spain but then get tanned and sunburned in France.
James and his dad come home some time around 7pm and we have really spicy – really sweet chicken and Kaiserschmarrn for dinner.
Second one is obviously made by Nina even though I have to tell the men to leave the kitchen (a couple of times) because they just don’t trust my cooking.
In the end they of course like it and I am pleased.

24th of July
James and I get up early and drive to the bank he works at.
There we have breakfast and then drive to the train station. I have to get the train to Toulouse and then to Paris. It’s all organised. The train leaves at 10.37 and arrives in Toulouse at 11.04 and the train to Paris leaves at 11.24. All I need to do is buy the ticket.
Because the first one is a regional train I only need to buy the ticket to Paris. But when we arrive at the station (20 minutes earlier) the guy there doesn’t know how to reserve a seat for me.
23 minutes later I still don’t have a ticket and the train is already waiting for me. I get on the train in time but need to buy my ticket in Toulouse. The train is late so I know it’s going to be really stressful. The guys at the station told be before that there is an English speaking person at one of the desks wo that’s where I have to go.
But when I finally find that person he tells me I have to queue at the normal desk cause he’s only in charge for short distance trains. By that point there are about 30 people queuing and my train is leaving in two minutes. So of course I miss it.
When I finally get to the desks and find someone that speaks English the next train is booked out and I have to wait 4 1/2 hours in Toulouse.
Slightly annoyed I leave my stuff at the statino and wander around the city. I get myself something to eat and drink and make my way back to the station. Finally on the train I’m exhausted and immidiatly fall asleep.
Time seems to pass by more or less quickly untill we get stuck in Bordeaux.
There is a fire on the train tracks and we spend at least half an hour there. That of course I only find out because I find a lovely English speaking lady on the train cause the announcements are only in French.
The train ride continues, we get stuck again but then somehow get to Paris. An hour later than planned.
Instead of 5 1/2 hours it took me 13 (!) from Gaillac to Paris.

I meet Anne-Laure at the subway station. She is having dinner with some friends at that point and we decide to go home to one of them to have a drink.
After that straight home and to bed.