Je deteste les trains francais

Well I survives two nights in Paris and made it the INSEAD Q&A session (10 minutes late) so I'm happy to say I acomplished my goal for the weekend.  It also looks like I'll even be making it back to the farm without too much adventure. I really should have figured out today's travel schedule yesterday while I was at the station so I could guarantee my seats, but I was too tired at the time. Today when i arrived I checked the bus schedules from the two towns I could travel through and realized I was actually cutting it quite close.  Fortunatley I made it through te long reservation line in time and there was still a seat available.
Now here's where the obligatory ranting and raving comes in.  I hater the french train system.  To be fair, the british system is probably even worse - for some reason there seats are smaller than most planes - I seriously couldn't sit in them without facing some awkward diagonal direction or amputating my legs.  The french trains are much better in that regard - unless, as so often happens to be the case for me, you're assigned one of the table seaats where four people share a little table and the same legroom.  The other day I had the misfortune of having  to upgrade to first class to get where I wanted to go.  But I still ended up in a table seat. Being in first class it  was just two people facing each other, not four. Even so, i'm not so sure wha was first class about it. There was no water in the bathroom (no spiegs, i didn't soap up before discovering that ;-) and I had to sit sideways to fit in my seat. The table was to low - my legs didn't fit under it.  At least not if i didn't slide my feet all the way under my seat at an uncomfortable angle.
One day i'm going to build scale model furniture exactly 10 percent smaller than normal so that people who are 5'8" can see why those of us who are 6'3" are always squirming in our seats and inevitably develop so mant back problems.
So today is like any other. I'm across from another relatively tall guy who was kind enough to trade seats with a short girl that wanted to sit next to her friend. These seats should be reserved for couples because in order to fit across from each other we've both had to spread our legs and precariously weave them together with each of our knees in the other's crotch.  Couples or short people. The ticket people need a bi button to say 'tall passenger' avoid seats 51-58 at all cost.
The real problem with the train system here though is the sevice. It's not limited to the train system either. The other day I walked up to the information desk at the toulouse bus station and said I wanted go to cazaubon. The attendant plays with her computer for a minute and the asks me which bus line that is.  I look at the sign that says information and think, "why would i be talking to yoiu if i knew that?" I pulled out the slip where i had written down which towns the bus stopped at. They said there was a bus that left at the time I expected abd went to the first town on my list, but they didn't know if I could change to another bus there. I asked another person. Same response. So then i tried to buy a ticket. No. This wasn't a sails desk, just travel information. You buy the ticket on the bus.  When the bus arrived, the sign on the  front of the bus listed all the towns i had expected.  S somebody tell me, what was the point of the disinformation desk? Job creation i suppose.
Everywhere seems to be the same though. The bus drivers and train conductors seem to know what they're doing.  But once you get into the station they're really mostly all useless.  It'd like the stereotypical dmv worker in the states. Any little thing you ask is greeted with an agonizing sigh of, "oh no, you can't be serious. You want me to do my job?" YES! That is after all why you're here, isn't it?
I was hoping it would be a bit diferent now that I can speak a smattering of french. Clearly there's much more o infiltrating the system than just that.  Maybe one of these days.

Uexpected diversions

I've decided to take a sudden detour on my way to staying where I was. I've spent almost a week at the most recent farm/country cottage and I had no intention of leaving for another week or so, but then yesterday morning I finally got around to looking up some information on a university near Paris that I was hoping to visit while I was in the country.  That's when I discovered they give guided tours every friday afternoon. I fly out from paris a week from wedesday so that only leaves tomorrow and next friday. Unfortunately next Friday also happens to be a national holiday so that really just leaves tomorrow.  I could also call to arrange another time, but I'd rather go at one of the standard times in the hope that I won't be the only obe there. It would be nice to see who else is interested in going as well as size up the competition so to speak.
So this morning after moving some gravel, I took a quick shower and packed a few things in my day bag. My host dropped me at the bus station and now I'm on a train to paris. It took me forever yesterday to find a place to stay - one of the many downsides to traveling during peek tourist season, but I finally did. So I'll be spending two nights in Paris and taking a day trip into Fontainebleau tomorrow. 
The gite (a french word for vountry cottage pronounced jeet only with the j sounding more like the 's' in measure) is beautiful. There's a big barn, some wooded area, some prairie, a large set of vegetable gardens and a small natural pond which is continually filled by an underground spring flowing out of an old well. She's building a half court basketall court next to the barn for when her son (and any other fans) visit - that's where i was moving gravel this morning.  She's also renovating and fishing the interior of the barn to make a workshop/art studio. Yesterday we spent part of the morning painting the masonry exterior wih paint made from water, lime, dye and fermented pee :-)  Talk about marking your territory! I've also spent some time weeding, mulching and picking vegetables in the garden as well as demonstrating my new found skill at cutting down blackberry brambles with the oversized weed wacker.
It's been fun and relaxing though and the food albeit not particularly french, is delicious. Most of it comes straight from the garden. I do regret not being forces to practice my french more, but at this point I was greatful for the opportunity to save some money and I'm enjoying my time.
Take care all,
J