The cold was much less of an issue than I was worried it might be. This happens to me, you see, I have enough days in a row of poor sleep and a cold just finds its way in through my immune system. And there’s nothing like travel and jet lag and being away from my wife to make that a perfect cocktail.

Mais comme resultat, I took it quite easy yesterday and the day before, sippies off Matt’s wine (no fear of god cold symptoms, that one) but otherwise a lot of water and ginger tea and a lot of downtime, more than I’d really prefer for vacation. Angers is a pretty small town

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And all of the above has been waylaid because in this train station while we wait for the TGV to pull in to get back to Paris, the pianist in this beautiful, airy train terminal just started playing the main theme from Outer Wilds, and I fully started weeping in the middle of this terminal, memories of my friend who passed away, who I played this game with, washing over me.

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Back to it! Whew. Monday we walked around a garden and then found our way to a really sweet little beer bar, and then to a really spectacular wine bar where Matt was losing his mind (complimentary) over the wine and the truly world class charcuterie we got with little side tureens of homemade ajvar and tapenade, and then to bed quite early.

Then yesterday was a sculpture exhibit at a decommissioned church (itself a very interesting venue) and then an incredible fine-dining lunch, a four course meal for €45. Afterward, I navigated some bra shopping with the nicest woman who was happy to speak French and let me understand what I could, we switched to English and then back again, I asked what various terms were and so did she, and it was lovely.

PUIS, EUROVISION!!!! The first semi-final was last night, and this is the first time I’ve ever seen it live, though I’ve watched them after the fact. I got Matt to watch with me, and predictably and yet not, he got very into a few of the songs, because they’re great!! I am so so very excited to watch the second semi final somewhere live at a bar, when I’ve fully kicked this cold!

Now, to Paris on the TGV!