The 41.5 kg lug up the stairs
Trip Start
Jan 26, 2008
1
26
36
Trip End
Feb 29, 2008
Paris,
France
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Getting back to the hostel at 10:30am, we collected our belongings from out lockers, checked-out, regaining the 20 Euro key deposit, and then set off for the airport. This involved dragging our luggage back to the Metro station, downhill this time, catching a train, making two interchanges and then commencing the long haul from the train station in Terminal 2 to out departure gate in Terminal 1. We arrived at the airport with about 20 minutes to spare before check-in officially opened but were able to check-in straight away. Our bags came in at 20.5 kg and 21.5 kg and once more we got through with not even a raised eyebrow - our concern about EasyJet strictly monitoring luggage weight seemed to have been unfounded. Next was the security check which was quite thorough, there were plenty of people being frisked although Belle and I managed to avoid that dubious honour. Our departure gate was not yet showing on the electronic sign boards so we headed off in search of lunch and located a cafeteria that sold bocadillos, allowing us to indulge for one final time. After about an hour we re-checked the sign board and we now had a gate. We headed to the gate, found a seat and waited. About 30 minutes before boarding was due to open we started lining up at the gate. We were not initially first in line but the two couples ahead of us were sent to the back of the queue as they were both in boarding group B. At first we thought we were in really good shape to get on the plane first. When boarding opened, however, it turned out that there was no airbridge and instead there would be a bus ride out to the plane - our efforts to be first in the queue seemed not to have been worth the effort. I stationed myself next to the front door of the bus and refused to budge when others tried to force me to give up this prime position. My stubbornness paid off as, when finally we were driven out to the plane and let off the bus, I was first up the stars into the plane and secured the front row for Belle and I. We took up residence in the aisle and middle seats and once more ended up with the whole row to ourselves.
The plane ended up departing for France about 40 minutes late but this was due to a change in aircraft. The aircraft we were initially scheduled to travel in was going to be two and a half hours late in arriving in Madrid. The flight was just short of two hours and we landed in Paris shortly after we were originally scheduled to arrive. We left the plane, collected our luggage and then it was out the door, once more without spotting a customs officer. We then proceeded to follow the signs to the trains, purchased our tickets and headed to the platform. We got on board the first train for the trip in to Paris. This train was moderately full but everyone still had plenty of room and most people had a seat. Once we arrived at Gare du Nord we had to change to the Metro train system. Escalators are used sparingly in France and as a result I had to lug both our suitaces down several flights of stairs before we reached the first of the two Metro trains we had to catch. It was now about 6pm and right in the middle of the evening peak. Fortunately we managed to stand on the platform at a spot immediately adjacent to were a train door ended up and also, as this station was a major interchange, many people exited the train so we were able to board but then had to endure the crush of many other commuters piling on behind us. I kept a wary eye out on all my pockets and managed to keep hold of all my belongings. A few stops latter we made our final interchange, again having some luck as far as getting on the train, although this line was not quite as busy as the previous line had been. Arriving at our stop we debated which exit we should take and fortunately the one we picked turned out to the be the one closest to the hostel. Also no escalator at this station, going up or down, so now I lugged the two suitcases up several flights of stairs. There was a Macca's at the top of the stairs so we decided to determine if John Travolta's character in Pulp Fiction, Vincent Vega, had been telling the truth about a Quarter Pounder with Cheese being called a Royal with cheese in France. Turns out he was almost right, there is no 'the' in the name, it is simply a Royale Cheese.
After sating our hunger we headed out in search of our hotel and found it not to far from where we had emerged from the Metro. It is called the Hotel Richard, we have a private room - excellent, it smells - not so good, there are shared showers and toilets - okay as they are clean, and the staircases in the place do not inspire confidence as you climb them.
After settling in to our room we headed out to explore the neighborhood a little. We spotted a bakery from which we intend to get breakfast in the morning. We visited the local supermarket where you can pick up a bottle of Glenfiddich for about 25 Euro. We bought some apples in the local green grocery and we despaired that the local Fromagerie was closed. We got back to our Hotel after bout an hour and decided to hit the sack as we have a big day planned tomorrow - Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Jardin de Tuileries, Notre Dame and the Lourve.
