Said they could not live out of the suitcase!!) they headed out for breakfast! Back AGAIN to Cafe Benugo - if nothing else they are creatures of habit! Once again they sat and watched everyone going about their business before moving on for a final stroll about! First stop was 'Liberty' - but they must be one of the companies that let their workers rack up after the pre-nine rush as the shop does not open until10am! So....no wandering round looking at all the things we could not put into the packed cases!
So...they headed up to Regent Street and had a look about their before heading back up to the hotel via the BBC once again! Still no celebs so all in all quite a poor strike rate! After a final check they gathered up the the bags and checked out of the hotel! Now, the question was do they walk, take the tube or a taxi to St Pancras? Well, walking was no good, and the tube required a walk to Oxford Street and then getting down to the train level with four bags! So, taxi it was! The receptionist asked them if they needed a taxi....to which they said yes and she said she would phone! Well, 15 minutes later they were still waiting so when they enquired how long it might take, she sheepishly said she would check! Next thing we see is the poor door man running to the end of the street to hail a taxi! Well, they could have done that themselves!
On arrival at St Pancras the next issue was finding where to go! This, of course, had to follow a toilet stop! St. Pancras and King's Cross seem to be right next door and the station was like an airport terminal Shops and cafés were in abundance and they stopped in Prét to pick up a picnic lunch to take on board!
Check in was like a 'cut back' airport check in! They scanned their tickets and made their way through to the security check area. Being in the bag was worrying for me as I am always worried that I might be discovered and have to explain why I have no passport or visa. Another thing that concerns me is going through that x-ray security machine! I have no idea if these do me any harm or not? And why do I never get picked up on this? Do I have some sort of diplomatic immunity??
Passport control was typical....walk up, present passports, try to smile and be pleasant while some gruff, fed up looking person looks at the picture and thinks 'Wow, they haven't aged well!' And hand it back with not so much as a smile! I think I know someone who could get a job there!!
Then it was find a seat and wait till the flight......sorry.....train....was called! Tea and a latte later the call went out and suddenly there was a charge for the moving walkways that would take you to the platform! Once on the platform they had to find their coach and then stow their luggage! Finding their seats they realise they are I between two windows....typical.....so the view in the tunnel will not be what it could have been!!
At precisely 12.25pm the train takes off....sorry.....glides away......and they start wondering about the route! You would imagine that you go south....as France is to the south! And the question they discussed was why build the International Terminal north of London when they have to go through London to get to the channel! But of course, they were not going south. They were heading east and South east towards Dover! The only part of London they saw from the train was the top half of The Shard! Before they knew it they were out in the country and then suddenly we were in the tunnel! And then.....we were in France! The ticket said the journey took just over three hours....but this included the time change of an hour forward in France! So before they knew it they were there!
The train was extremely long and it took quite a time to make it down the platform and like in an airport everyone appears to be rushing to get out first! They took their time....knowing that soon they would need to make a decision about which was to go to their hotel! Now, this was because someone, not giving anything Way, had checked on Google maps how far it was from Gars Du Nors to the hotel! Well, the route finder plotted a fairly straight forward route....and said it should, take around 10 minutes! Well! No need for a taxi if it's only ten minutes! Having battled through all the taxi touts at the exit someone looked quite confident saying....'Non' to any eager taxi tout....before they stopped to decide on which way they have to go! Now, if you have a map and a phone....it means you DONT have to ask the way! Checking the street names he made an educated guess and set off! 'This way, Linda, follow me!' He was like Stanley heading off Into the African jungle looking for Livingstone!
Well, he did get it right....and numerous stops to check progress against the phone map showed they were in truth heading the right way! However, it was hot.....I mean HOT....and they dodged in and out of any available shade as they went! They were looking for Rue de Lafayette. They found this....and he kept on saying....'Its just at the end of this street and then off to the right!' Well, that was true,...but the street stretched ahead like Regent Street or Oxford Street! Well, they walked and walked! Not far now!! Honestly, not far now.,!
Both were thinking ...if the other one says let's get a taxi....fair enough! But, no one said it...so on they went! Mind you....the roads seemed to be at total gridlock at every major junction so goodness knows how long it would have taken!
Finally they found Rue do Matherins....and so...really....it was .....not far now! At long last they made it and almost collapsed into the reception area! It wasn't the distance....it was the heat.....the four cases....the people who seemed innocuous to the fact we were laden down with luggage.....the pavements with steep kerbs and dealing with zebra crossings that really are NOT zebra crossings! Some...you just seem to step out.....others you wait for the 'green man' and when it does go on it does not necessarily mean the traffic won't continue to come your way! Poor A was slightly put off by the colours of the red and green man! The 'green' here is NOT the green of home and both red and green looked distinctly similar making it awkward int he crowds! And then there is the running water! Many of the streets seemed to have running water flowing along the kerbs....but where it came from they are not sure!
But they were there! When entering a hotel one likes to look cool, well travelled and as if it was what you are used to doing every day of your life! However, they piled in with their cases in tow looking rather hot and sweaty and relieved tok have made it. You could see the guy on reception thinking....'Oh my god, here come the Clampetts!'
During check in the guy mellowed a little and asked if we had just arrived! A explained they had come by the Eurostar but that Google had said it was a ten minute walk from the station! He looked a little surprised.....no....it's definitely NOT 10 minutes....so I presume you took a taxi?
At the point there was a moments silence....do you say....yes, of course we took a taxi or front up and impress him that we battled on and walked! Well, he was slightly surprised....but it apparently did not lead to an instant discount not he hotel cost!
He have us a map and pointed out a few places we might be interest in visiting....you know....places like....Notre Dame, The Eifel Tower, The Louvre and Sacre Couer! Well, at that point A did. To think it was appropriate to pull out the three day itinerary....rather just thank him and say....oh that's great.....Merci!!
The hotel is very nice but again they have the room on the top floor at the very END of the corridor! Is that where they put all Scots??
The room is nicely decorated but a major FLAW is the lack of a Kettle! Never, after a myriad of hotel rooms up and down the UK have they had a hotel room with no tea and coffee making facilities! So much so they even hunted for the kettle!
However, the toilet has facilities for two to go together! However, one of them has no seat and there is a tap which could prove problematic! I then wondered if it was a Ted sized bath or jacuzzi....but Linda told me quietly it was a place where I could wash my paws!! Oh...well....ok!!
And the bath has TWO showers! Now, what's that all about??
Anyway, it is very nice! And yes....they had to unpack once again!
So...after having a rest and recovering from their lengthy case trail and Linda managing to get a fix on Facebook once again they were off out for tea! They took the map and headed off into the unknown! They followed the streets and went where they thought there was a bit of life! Before long they ended up at the Gare St Lazare and started looking in restaurants! They found one which was very busy...Cafe Marco Polo...and they thought they would try it! The waiter, on the ball....offered us a menu in Anglais! The meal was very nice, sitting outside in the sun and heat.....with a nice cold beer ...what more could you ask? Well, not having some large lady sit right next to you who only ordered a shot of coffee to set about playing games on her Samsung tablet....while smoking incessantly! The meal was lovely and did not cost the earth!
But, there is a far greater number of smokers here than London! And of course smoking in public places is banned and so as we looked around everyone was trying to look cool with a wide range of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and very jazzy slim, silver cigarettes! They will need to sus out if they can smoke inside or if they can smoke anywhere!!
So...tomorrow beckons....and day one is all planned out! I wonder how long it will take before it goes pear shaped!? We, and you, shall find out tomorrow!
So....it's Bonsoir from them and Bonsoir from me!!
Sent from my iPad
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