Cycling, Socialism, Nudity, and Shopping

So last night I was chilling and looking at Velo News, and seeing what was new in that worlds. Turns out Credit Agricole has been kicking some serious butt in the Vuelta D'Espagne (essentially the tour de Spain). Part of that butt kicking effort has been Sebastien Hinault, a Bretagne native, who rides for France. It also turns out that Sebastien Hinault, is the boyfriend of a year-and-a-half to on of the girls host mom's. It also turns out that he has a CA team issue bike that hopefully fits, waiting for me, when he gets home! STOKED!
8 AM seems to be a good hour to wake up here. It is in the midst of the morning rush, so the busses and the metro run very often, and the pastries are fresh and hot. There was nothing on schedule today, so we got to play. I hopped on the 15 at about 8:30 AM without my Special K Chocolate breakfast, and headed to the pool for a swim. It appears that my body will no longer tolerate running in the morning and functioning for the rest of the day, so swimming it is. The pool at Brequigny park is amazing. It is 50 meters with a wall at the 25 meter line that elevates from the floor of the pool. There is also a full diving tower. It's pretty cool. So after having not swam (for real) for about 6 months, and not having done a long course work out since Christmas of my freshman year, I had my work cut out for me. I walked into the lobby and saw the desk where I assumed you pay. The clerk looked at me and told me to go in. I didn't get it...I don't have to pay....COOL! I like not paying taxes in a nation where everyone pays for EVERYTHING.
I walk through the gate and back towards what I assumed was the locker rooms. I walk down the stairs and there was a big sign that read "PIEDS NUS" (bare foot zone) in huge letters. I took my shoes off and continued down the corridor to find the men's locker room. The entire area was just a bunch of stalls where you walk in one side to change, and out the other for the pool. I walked towards the pool (with my stuff, I learned that lesson in New Orleans), swam my 2000 meters, and moved on. I was walking back towards the showers to set my stuff down, and I walk in and there's naked people EVERYWHERE. Not just guys...EVERYONE. At 9:30 AM on a weekday it is retirees and their very, very young grandkids...NAKED. YUCK. AH! I proceeded to take the fastest shower ever, and hit the highway.
My next stop was a bakery en route to the metro stop. I ordered a Briochette au Chocolat, and jus d'orange. She opened the cooler and reached for a can of OJ, and there it was. A carton of TROPICANA!!! WOOOHOOOOOOO! Finally. I arrived. IT WAS AWESOME!
We spent the rest of the shopping around Rennes. It was great. Lunch was about 8 bucks, and I bought almost nothing else today, which will make people happy at home *cough cough DAD*. I am fighting off my shoppers fatigue hard...so maybe more later tonigh. A bientot.