If you're thinking these pictures look completely different than
anything I've previously posted, you are right! I have left Northern
Europe, and all of its woodsy goodness, to begin the second (and some
might say "better") half of my trip - the Mediterranean half!

I am starting off in Nice, France, and I am SO excited to be here.

The last hour of the train ride in was framed by coastline, and some
of the bluest water I have ever seen.

I immediately felt like I was at home with the landscape and climate -
I'm not sure if this is entirely true, but it almost seems like an
older, more graceful Southern California. When I got off the train,
the streets were so ALIVE, in that beachy, strolling down the street
in San Diego sort of way. It's not quite trashy, there are some
beautiful hotels, but it's definitely got that "worn" beach feel.

I can't believe that half of my trip is over - there really is no time
to reflect on it now, but places like Amsterdam or Prague seem to be a
lifetime away. I can say that I feel like it's been such a success so
far, and there are so many things turning around in my head that I
hope to verbalize before this is all over. It's sort of hard to focus
on any of that though when this part of the country is just so
beautiful and fun!

One thing is for sure - I'm really glad I was in the more organized,
tidy, and less romantic area of the country while alone, because I
have to say - walking along the beaches, passing the outdoor bars,
observing all the happy couples, I am definitely starting to want some
company.