They were up early and packed fairly quickly before heading for breakfast at Prêt!
Before going A went to check with the concierge about getting to the station - Gare du Nord again! They weren't going to walk this time!! He said, 'Ah it is the final of the Tour today so everything will be busy!! The taxi firm we usually use will not be able to get taxis till three! What time do you need to be there? Oh..12.00 noon! Well, you could take the train as it should only be 8 or 9 minutes!'
He told us to get the train from Gare St Lazare! Easy ....it's 5 minutes away!
So breskfast, back and check all! Well, we wait at reception to check out! This American lady is there complaining she got locked in her bathroom and she thought someone had come in her room! Well, if I had I would have LOCKED her in and left her!
Then she asked where she could go to speak to a top barman in a really fancy hotel as she has a recipe for a vodka based drink that is going to take over tbe world! As if the hotel guy would know where she could go and talk to a cocktail maker in a top hotel!
Well, he was patient and suggested a few hotels on the Champs Des Eylysees and The Rotz which was not far!
Well - word of advice - dont go to meet cocktail makers in top hotels wearing the very SMALL denim shorts you are now! They will think you are a lush!!
So.....checked out and on tbe way! Simple!
Well the first error was the concierge did NOT say the Metro! He said the train station! So A queued AGAIN in a line for 25 minutes. On making it to the desk the man looked at him and said. 'Magenta? That's the Metro! You need to go down to the Metro!'
Merde!!
So...he went and got Linda and the bags and headed to the Metro! Now, whoever designed this station needs to be shot.... or as we are in France - beheaded!!
Signs were very unclear, they went up, down, round and round!! Eventually they found a ticket counter and got two tickets! But she said it was back and round and along more! So off we set again! Eventually after going down about two more levels they find steps saying 31 and 32! But is it 31 or 32? We ask a lady who says either - but then points to one on the right!
So we make it down and find we have a 15 minute wait! The train arrives and we get off at Magenta - which was the colour they were looking - and headed off to find Gare Du Nore! Well, first they have to compete with the ticket gate! Most have o place for a ticket so they stand swiping the ticket on anything that looks remotely swipey! No joy! Then another couple get stuck in their turnstyle! We get one to take the ticket but the turnstyle waits till you are half way through and duly closes! I think the air did get a little more magenta coloured!!
Now..in the main station they found the Thayls trains and waited for the platform number to be called!! So they are now on nosed and are whizzibg through the French countryside!
So I will wait to do my summing up on their time in Paris! Suffice to say another trip will be planned in the future! What a wonderful city!!
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