Well the day had finally arrived, it was the 31st August 2010. Time for my adventure to begin. It all started so well, no last minute panics, nothing forgotten, everything was waiting packed at the bottom of the stairs for the taxi. The taxi arrived on time and I got to Durham train station with an hour to spare. I got my tickets, that I had pre-booked, from the ticket machine and proceeded onto the platform, giddy as a school kid. However, this is were the problems began and the giddiness turned into frustration. Firstly the train was 30 minutes late, what a surprise. Secondly, twenty minutes after collecting my tickets, I noticed that the return ticket from London to Durham was missing. I had 4 tickets, and apparently I was meant to have five. Here we go, I thought. Nothing ever goes smoothly for me. I went to the ticket counter and informed the woman I was one ticket light. After a heated debate for several minutes, I was told that there was nothing she could do. 'The tickets sometimes get stuck in the machine', she said. I would have to buy another ticket for the return journey, great I thought. At that point my delayed train to London arrived and I had to make a sharp exit.
After major delays at Peterborough, due to overhead line failures, or some other bullshit excuse the train arrived in London about an hour and a half late, good job I knew how shit the trains were in Britain and booked the Eurostar for 4pm. When I arrived in London I managed to sort out another return train ticket back to Durham, but it cost me another £33!!! Not happy. Although at this point I did manage to let out some of that frustration, by bowling over innocent people passing by with my huge rucksack. I did get some stern looks, but I did not care at this point. lol
My excitement started to build once again as I checked in for the Eurostar, at this point I think it dawned on me what I was doing. 'Am I mad' I thought. (Don't answer that by the way folks).
Anyway I checked in early and had a beer and relaxed for an hour in St Pancreas International. I know this may sound a bit geeky, and no I am not a train-spotter before you ask, but the station was very impressive. It had more of an airport feel to it.
Anyway the journey to Paris took just over two hours, the channel tunnel part of the journey is only about 30-40 minutes, which I was surprised at. When I arrived in Paris, I got a taxi straight to my hotel. It is safe to say it was a 20 minute journey of heart stopping action!!!! The road system/regulations in Paris, if you can call it that, takes somewhat of a kamikaze approach. It is a case of every man for himself. Cars and motorbikes alike fight and jostle for supremacy. How the taxi I was in came away unscathed I will never know. There was French swearing (It's the only French I know) arm waving and all sorts going on, but this is an average day driving for a French person. I think the worst part was when the taxi and another car tried to fit through a miniature Arc de Triomphe, that was only wide enough for one car. It was a game of chicken, who would win, the taxi or the Renault!!!!
Anyway that's enough of that, I finally arrived safely at my hotel and checked in successfully, and breathed a sigh of relief. As it was quite late (8pm) I decided to just have a brief walk around. The hotel was situated in the Latin Quarter, not far from the Notre Dame Cathedral, so I set off to investigate. It was a beautiful evening as I arrived at the Cathedral. I stood in awe of this amazing creation, I took a few pictures, and sat and relaxed in the square directly next to the Cathedral. I sighed, a sigh of contentment, I had arrived, the journey had begun.
Bonjour everyone!!!
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