first overnight train

The cabins held four people to a room. There were about 4 rooms to a car. The hallways were barely large enough for me to pull my suitcases in behind me. (A burly man would easily get stuck by the shoulders). The bathrooms were equipped better than Spanish buses, with toilet paper and soap. In my room I met two Aussies -sisters. We discussed our travel plans, our university differences, and then I excused myself because I heard Americans singing the star-spangled banner. Being that it was the fourth of July, I was anxious to celebrate the holiday in some manner. The trio singing told me that they were recent graduates from the Air Force Academy in Colorado. The same age as me- (more or less) the same amount of high-school exams -breaths taken -minutes in the sun -commercials seen- bugbites, these fellows informed me that they were taking a three week vacation of traveling through Europe until being hardcore Air Force peoples. When the windows got dark, we left the room to explore the rest of the cars on the train. We ran down the tiny hallways and made it to the last car, the dining car. We zoomed by dark hills lying out against navy blue backgrounds and we giggled like little kids when the train bounced us back and fourth into the walls.  I called it an night, went to my room, climbed over the lower bunk, and slunk into a light sleep. In the morning I heard Spanish and I looked down to see that the fourth companera of the room had joined us in the night at a different station. I asked her about her journey to Paris and she told me that she was Argentine, traveling to see her grandbaby. Not much later another Spanish speaking person entered the room to tell us that we would arrive at our destination (Paris) 4 hours later than our expected time. 

My two Aussie friends, 1 American friends, and I headed for the cafe car to receive our compensation for the delay. Marmalade with toast, orange juice, and cafe con leche now sits in front of me. I am not completely mad for the tardiness. I am sitting in the dining car and admiring the French countryside. Just having passed Bourdeux, I can see the leafy trees, the tall grasses, and little cottages filling the bottom - and the grey, full clouds filling the top of my window.