22 mars 2011 - Bordeaux

MARDI

I ran up the hill from my apartment to the train station to catch the bus. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was a sink, though sadly I doubt many people actually wash their hands. Full moon over Carrefour in Saint Cyrus where we pick up a passenger.

Board the train in Le Buisson and continue the journey west to Bordeaux.

There was a newspaper left on the train from yesterday; it had a photo of Boeing's 747-8 and a caption talking about its test flight the say before in Everett.

Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean.

Walked to the auberge de la jeunesse (youth hostel) to check in and drop off my bag.

Street cleaners, there is a guy with a powerful hose moving all the cigarette buds and debris off the sidewalk and into the street, where the second cleaner vacuums it up. I find the French litter a lot, but they are fortunate enough to have city workers picking up after them on a daily basis.

Dozens of people sitting with their friends enjoying their lunch break outside.

Et voilà, the reason I am in Bordeaux. I had a 1:30pm appointment at l'Office Français de l'Immigration et de l'Intégration, which consisted of a simple medical visit and an x-ray of my lungs to ensure I didn't have tuberculosis, then I got a sticker in my passport to validate my working visa.

Smile: the government is watching you.

Fisherman holding grapes to his mouth.

The white bus is un bus du coeur that tours around providing meals to those in need.