May 29: Geneva to Avignon
Right after leaving Geneva, my first time in Romandie transitioned to my first time in France, as I traveled roughly parallel to the Rhône, which empties Lac Léman and flows past my next destination, Avignon. This next leg was via a TGV to Lyon, the inherent coolness of which was punctured by (1) not having a reserved seat and thus having to sit in a fold-down seat at the end of a car by the exit doors — it was a different train than I'd bought the ticket for — and (2) the vitesse was distinctly petite due seemingly to construction along the way, and maybe also due to the winding geometry of the route. There were still some good sights to see though.
8184

Judging by the bridge, this would appear to be Bellegarde-sur-Valserine.
8188

A treewall and a selection of ducks down by the river.
8195

The silvery color of some of these trees makes it look like the wind was blowing, or could the color be from something else such as white flowers?
8203

An indefinite series of transmission towers once the land flattened out.
8206

At the Gare de Lyon (not sure which one), leaving the TPV to thread through the busy underground to the next platform.
8208

Parallels.
8209

The presiding pigeon.
8212

The final train of the day approacheth. I wonder how many trains I rode over these six months, not even including the Helsinki trams.
8220

The train from Lyon to Avignon had no air conditioning, and its windows could not be opened, so it was a rather sweaty and heatstrokish ride. But it was fascinating to finally see the landscape so popular with the Post-Impressionists et al.
8222

A dusty look at the Valence station platforms.
8223

*Gasp* Nukes!
8228

Don't slip!
8234

Hot sun over the Rhône, in another quasi-Estonian-flag tableau.
8237

Jealous!!
8249

Some cute li'l phones telling you to shut up inside the compartments and keep the yakking to the corridor.
8251

Getting pretty late in the afternoon for having left Zernez before 8AM.
8253

Hmm, also getting pretty tippy, at Orange.
8255

Some suspiciously Cézannesque mountains to the east.
8258

Finally, at arrival, time to grab all my stuff, pictured in toto here, and escape the sweltering train.