[center][h2][i]Tatiana Adelbert[/i][/h2][hr] [i][u]Location:[/u] Budapest, Hungary, train ride to Paris [u]Date:[/u] April 13th, 2012 [u]Time:[/u] 7:00pm[/i][/center] The train moved swiftly as it left it's station in Budapest heading towards Munich, Germany. The floor lightly rumbled and the seats vibrated with movement as the progression forward commenced. The sun was still up though it was setting over the mid-spring sky giving the sky a gentle purple and red haze. In the distance beyond trees and between two hills were the peeking tops of an old cathedral, it's lights coming to life as the train began to pass it. [color=#e7b3f4] "Ferko, My Love, Look in the distance, there is..."[/color] Her voice trailed off as her hand instinctively wondered into the seat next to hers in search of her late husbands warm hand to grasp, finding her finger tips only touching the velvety seat cushion instead. She raised her right hand to her lips to stifle them leaving a single tear to graze her cheek, finding the light wrinkles that barely represented themselves on her face and flowing with them like a stream. A single drop to remind her of her love for him. Tatiana pulled a hand up to her inner chest pocket of her soft, lavender, knee length jacket and gently rang a finger along the edges of the envelope she had received. As if in a moment her thoughts drifted to when the letter had arrive. On the first of the year as she began her daily ritual with walking to the post to gather her mail she found that among greeting cards and well wishes into the new year was this single envelope, written on seemingly antiqued paper in exquisite penmanship. While on first receiving it she immediately thought it was a mistake and was not meant for her, upon reading it's too address she found her name, neatly written in an elegant calligraphy. She hurried home and with the sound of her front door closing she opened the envelope, finding the most curious note inside. Through a quick read she dropped the envelope and letter on the ground, spilling the envelopes remaining contents on the floor. Tatiana quickly and instinctively dropped down to begin picking them up when she found the train tickets, a pamphlet for the many architecturally genius buildings of Paris and a tarot card. At the sight of these additional items her curiosity had been intrigued again and without further adieu she reread the letter. The letter frightened her some as she was unsure of how someone she had never met and only vaguely heard of knew so much about her, including her preference to travel by train rather then plane. She repackaged all the items, placing them in a drawer and continuing to go about her day. She prepared herself for the florists shop and went on with her day. Through the passing weeks she thought of the letter, occasionally taking it out to read over once more, then continuing on with her day. One morning she began her routine then stopped at the front door, turned around and pulled the letter out again. The growing thoughts in her mind of the monotonic routine she has been stuck in for years beginning to consume and depress her. Her decision had finally been made, she would go. A soft touch on her shoulder woke her from a deep sleep. The right side of her face was chilled as it had been resting on the window for the duration of the train ride. She didn't understand how she'd fallen asleep or why her dreams consisted of only her letter and the decision she made but it was too late now to change her mind. Tatiana rose from her seat and clutched the leather grips of her mauve carpet bag before smiling at the attendant and making her way off the train to the Munich station where she would catch the connecting train to Paris. This train she caught quickly and as it was late, her eyes once again quickly closed, her head leaned against the window, this time a dreamless slumber. [hr] [center][i][u]Location:[/u] Paris, France, Paris Gare de Lyon Train Station [u]Date:[/u] April 14th, 2012 [u]Time:[/u] 7:00AM[/i][/center] Tatiana's eyes opened with the steady decrease in speed as the train approached the station. Though her rest wasn't quite as comfortable as she was used to, her eyes and mind her refreshed and ready for the day ahead of her. She clutched the handles of her bag and watch from the window as they pulled into the Paris Gare de Lyon Station. The large clock tower glimmering above them, the vines and sculptures that surrounded the building promising tales of adventure, love and drama with each carved stone and engraved arch. The train hind finally concluded it's trip into the city and Tatiana was once again in a city she adored in her youth, having been her many times while travelling Europe with Ferko. The elder but not old woman exited the train, greeted by the concrete stones that made up the ground and the early morning light glowing through the long windows that glimmered as large slits in the angled roof. Though early still, the train station was bustling with people entering and exiting trains returning from or beginning new journeys and adventures as Tatiana was. With the crowd she moved her way through the station and out the door to the nearest bus stop. If she remembered correctly she was close to the Notre Dame. The bus just as she had remembered it would showed up as if on queue, opening it's doors, letting out a trove of people while allowing more to enter it's welcoming doors. Tatiana slipped some Euros into the coin slot when out came a small ticket no longer then 3cm wide and 6cm long, on one side of the ticket was a small bus icon with the bus number, date and time while on the other was a single black line running directly down it's center. After a few stops the bus opened it's doors by the entrance of the great cathedral. It was early yet so it's doors were still closed to tourists and visitors. This was no matter as Tatiana's first stop would be a café. On the south side of the fantastic building was a walk way for cyclists and walking individuals who who wished to cross the river. Tatiana made her way in this direction, stopping in front of the building to give it a small curtsey saying, [color=#e7b3f4]"Jó, hogy újra látlak, kedves barátom, a Notre Dame. (It is good to see you again my dear friend, Notre Dame.)[/color] before she continued on her way walking slowly to take in the early morning light reflecting off the stream of water that ran below her. Ferries and fishing boats had already long begun their day. Tatiana smiled and waved at a small boat heading under the bridge when it's sailor removed his hat and swung it in the air in a wave in return. Her excitement began to escalate as she continued her walk across the bridge. Just a small ways down the road from the bridge was a small café named Aux Arts Etc... Cafe Galerie d'art. It's walls were lined with paintings done by local artists that were selected to put on display. The beauty and raw talent excited the woman even more, drawing her towards the counter were the smell of fresh coffee and warm biscuits enveloped the room. Tatiana ordered a glass of fresh jasmine green tea with a small croissant then sat next to the large windows. She knew some French from her travels but, was much better at speaking and reading English even with her thick Hungarian accent. Outside the windows were some street stalls set up displaying various different pieces of art mostly all locally painted and printed. Behind the stalls were trees where peeking through the branches were the grand arches and beauty of the Notre Dame herself. Tatiana sat a while, sipping her tea and watching people pass. Couples clasped together, a woman walking several dogs at once, a beggar being shooed off by a passing officer, the city was coming alive as the time passed. With her tea now gone and her croissant half finished she rose from her place, took one more tour around the room to gaze at the lovely paintings then left the building, making her way towards the Square René Viviani a small park just a block or so away from where she currently was. The large hedges of the park rose around it, it's vine arches just beginning to bud and the other new buds surrounding the interior of the hedge fence showing healthy signs of growth. A gathering of pidgins huddled around each other, picking at the ground for food while avoiding the springing fountain that decorated the center of the Square René Viviani. Tatiana sat on a stone bench and broke apart the remainder of her bread, tossing it gentle on the ground which sent the pidgins in a frenzy trying to get at it. The hooting and gurgling of the pidgins created a smile on the woman's face that was so wide and rich she wondered how long it had been since she had smiled quite this much. Her bread now gone and the pidgins never satisfied, Tatiana rose again and walked towards the book store in the plaza ahead of her. The Shakespeare & Company side was made of iron and was lifted high up on the building to be seen from far off. The entrance to the building was small but upon entering the massive amount of books about the room was nearly overwhelming. Books were stacked from floor to ceiling, covering shelves and lining the edges of the staircase leading the the second floor. The entrance opened up to a staircase on the right and a small hallway on the left that lead to a somewhat larger room also filled and stuffed with books. The smell of both old and new parchment mixed in the air creating a cosy atmosphere with a wealth of knowledge to be learned on every corner. Tatiana picked up a book from on of the stacks and sat down near a shelf of books labelled 'Drama'. Her seat was a large armchair that seemed to envelope her in it's arms. She glanced at the front of the book and realized what she picked up was a complete collection of Grimm's Fairy tales, translated in English with illustrations. Tatiana smiled small to herself as she began to read the pages filling up her mind with the original story of Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella. She spent some time in this position, reading and forgetting the world when at a chance glance she looked up and realized it was nearly 10:00am. Tatiana closed the book gently and proceeded to pay for it, placing it in her carpet bag before leaving the little shop. The sun was now much higher in the sky as she once again crossed the bridge towards the ever standing beacon of the Notre Dame. The doors were now open and outside of it was a performer, dressed as the Hunchback of Notre Dame impressing tourists and pleasing crowds. Tatiana herself stood by momentarily watching the costumed actor go about his rehearsed script. She gave him a 5 Euro bill before stepping back a few paces, sitting on a stone bench and pulling out a small book with blank pages. [color=#e7b3f4]"Okay, Taya."[/color] she whispered to herself pulling out a pen and beginning her almost calculated drawing of the Notre Dame. The lines were straight with no ruler the angles perfect with no assistance. The bells of Notre Damn rang and echoed of the courtyard in the chime of 10:00 causing the birds to take flight from the roof, parading overhead and a friendly spring as they flew off into the distance.