3 2 1 hour to Paris

in the TGV train to paris: crossing Rhein river, which is the French/German border line, without any stop: a fleeting border. in the train, a mix of french american german voices: "This river, what was it?" - "Der Rhein. The Rhein river. This is France now." - "Oh is it?" - "Oui, yes."  

then, Strassbourg. and then: fields fields fields. some villages. more fields. i try to remember the French words for things, form lines of french english german: Oui yes ja. Non no nein. Champs fields Felder. Village village Dorf. House maison Haus. Street rue Strasse.

the train moves on and on, at 200 kilometers / hour: the speed of life in the 21st century.