A Budget Student’s Take on 36.1628,0.9706
walked into a little café last night and felt like i’d stepped into a blender. the air was thick enough to film static cling. i just checked and it's freezing out there, like -0.19 if that's a thing, hope you like that kind of thing. the owner kept looking at me like i was made of money. maybe i am? who knows. some dude ordered 12 coffees and said, hey, budget student? this is why we can’t have nice things.
there’s this place a few blocks away where the walls smell like old bread. i walked past it twice and someone kept yelling french to me. maybe she thought i was lost? maybe she just wanted to practice. i heard that someone had been locked in here twice last month. i don’t know if that’s true. hearsay is the best kind. if you get bored, there are places across the river you can just wander into, way cheaper than a plane ticket. someone told me that. or so they said. probably dreamed it.
i saw this mural last weekend and someone in a beanie told me it’s haunted. according to them, the artist’s ghost paints new graffiti every full moon. i don’t believe ghosts. but then again, i don’t believe in anything.
The Haunting: Nonsense, said another person. I saw a cat here earlier and it looked at me like it knew something.
am i going crazy? probably. but here’s a photo of that wall just in case.
the weather stays weird all the time. today it’s been like 5.09 degrees but feels like i’m holding an ice cube. 84% humidity? that’s not a number i trust. the forecast said rain but it’s been dry as a bank account. i heard that if you’re not careful, the air here can steal your shoes. possible? maybe. i lost two pairs in three days. maybe the floor is haunted. or maybe i just suck.
someone told me that the train station has a secret bar. i don’t know if that’s true. i also don’t care. i saw a Yelp review where someone wrote about burning their tongue on the coffee. drink at your own risk? i’m gonna gamble. check it out.
the neighbors? mostly quiet. except this old man who keeps playing accordion at 3am. i heard that. or at least i think i heard it. maybe it was my neighbors dog dreaming jazz music. or maybe my brain is just festering.
i found a street art festival poster on a lamppost. it’s called "urban dreams" and allegedly features 20 local artists. too good to be true? maybe. or maybe i’ll trip and find it. who knows. check the local board for details. if you go, don’t trust the map app. it leads you into a pit of sewer rats. local knowledge is king.
someone else said the beach here is just a puddle. not even a real beach. but there’s a vending machine that sells salt and tarps. practical. i bought some salt. never used it. probably a waste.
i’m not sure why i’m writing this. maybe because it’s 3am and i’m still here. maybe because this place makes no sense. or maybe because i need to budget student things. whatever. the point is, this city has a vibe. a weird, sticky, 5-degree-vibe. i’d recommend it. if you like being cold and suspicious. tripadvisor says otherwise. probably biased. you be the judge.
p.s. if you’re visiting, avoid the cheese shop. the last person who bought cheese got followed by a pigeon. true story. or maybe not. depends on who you ask. photo of that cheese. don’t be that person.
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