I'm hooked on a feeling

First of all, this is what I feel like right now:

so I suggest you press play before you keep reading.

I have so much blogging to catch up on, I'm starting with today and working my way backwards.  Bear with me as I upload Paris pictures and unload my journal onto my blog.  But first, today:

I just had the best 6 hours of my life!!!  After this morning's frustrations with my train (more on that later--I don't want to spoil the mood) I basically enjoyed the best train ride ever.  I had a perfect 4 days in Paris with Sara and Ginger, but today, the further I got from Paris the better it got.  I knew I loved southwest France, but seriously.  I started internally reprimanding myself for how corny and emotional I felt.  And then, just when it couldn't possibly get better (think vineyards, sunflowers, palm trees) the trees opened onto a huge valley and on the other side, mountains.  Mountains!  Like, purple mountain's majesty, blue, craggy, misty in the distance, mountains.  And we were going towards them on a super-high-speed train.  I felt like laughing out loud because of how ridiculous it was, but managed to limit myself to grinning into my hand with my forehead pressed to the window.  Under my cool exterior, I was giddy like a schoolgirl with her first crush.   My euphoria has finally started wearing off a little, but every time I looked down the street on my first walk through town, I would suppress a giggle at seeing the mountains looming past the edge of town.  I actually saw someone hang-gliding ten minutes ago.  Seriously?  That is just disgusting.  AND, I went from a cold fall day in Paris to basically summer.  The only way it could possibly have been better is if it had been gray and rainy in Paris.  In conclusion, sorry Paris lovers, but the southwest is where it's at. 

Now that you all know that I'm hooked on a feeling, high on believing that France is in love with me, I can start working on the real blog posts.  Just thought everyone would want to know I've arrived safely ;)