European Rail

As far as I can work out, when it comes to short trips, rail is definitely it. It's fast and cheap. However, once you reach two hours on the train, air travel wins.

I've just spent over 6 hours on two trains, at a stupidly expensive cost, for a trip that would have cost €70 if I'd booked it 2 days before flying, and would have taken, all things considered, checkin, security, travel to airport, etc, maybe 4 hours, 1 to the airport, 1 to checkin, 1 to fly, and 1 to get luggage.

However, I can now say I've been on the Eurostar (definitely not worth the expense), and the TGV - again, nothing special. Perhaps if it wasn't winter, there might be nice things to see.

Way too much money spent on this leg. Way way way too much.

Eurostar and TGV to Geneva

Date: 31st Jan

So I'm going to post the earlier days posts about the other cities, but for now it's easier just to write about what's current, until I get some real downtime.

Caught the Eurostar today, well, almost caught it yesterday. I'd accidentally booked it for tomorrow instead, so when I turned up, I realised my mistake. £188 later and I'm on the Eurostar as I write this. 

If it wasn't for some geeky desire to use the Eurostar, I really would have been much better off on a flight. Yesterday when looking, flights were around €80 from London (Gatwick) to Geneva - Eurostar is sooo much more expensive, and given you need to arrive 90mins before departure and go through security, one questions the advantages. The possible exception is luggage. You can take as many bags as you can wheel/carry - and some people did! One little lady had to have people assist her lifting her bags, 3 of them, on to the train. I have no idea how she wheeled them along - I assume like some kind of road train (trailers all hooked together)

In the tunnel itself, it's unsurprisingly black. There's nothing to allow you to judge speed, though as I write this we've just emerged from the tunnel. The train certainly doesn't win any speed awards on the surface, at least not thus far.

Shortly I'll be arriving in Paris, and itll be a relaxing (ha) traversal across Paris to the TGV. I have however, given I've spent a lot more money than I expected, upgraded myself for £30 to first class on the TGV. 😄 Hopefully I'll get a refund (minus change fee) from my original booking

Paris Wanderings (retrospective)

So as I said in my previous entry, I have been busy and haven't had a chance to document what's been happening.

Paris wanderings

Today is the full day in Paris, a rather tasty breakfast and then the bus dropped almost everyone off at the Eiffle Tower. Unfortunately the top (3rd floor?) was closed, but I walked up to the 2nd. That was 600 steps to the 2nd floor. It wasn't that bad of a walk, though I'd advise against it for anyone afraid of heights. 

(TODO insert photos 😝)

The view would have been good if it weren't so cloudy. Whilst it's probably great in the summer, the queues are longer, one person said it was usually 20min queue for the stairs, and 1.5hrs for the elevators in the summer(!!).

I then walked around Paris, down the river, through some beautiful parks. Paris really is beautiful (shame it's full of the French 😛).

I did of course visit the louvre, which is only slightly less required visiting for tourists in Paris. I did not see the Mona Lisa, because that's what everyone sees, and no one says it was worth the queues. I did try and see the oceanic exhibit, but, after an expedition rivalled only by Jules Vern, I found it, and it was closed.

They say it would take you over 70 days to view every piece of art there, due to the number. I have another theory; the maps of the place are so damn awful and seemingly deliberately confusing that it takes 70 days to find every section.

Whilst I'm exaggerating, it's not by nearly as much as it might seem. There were numerous signs pointing to dead ends, including one delightful "Exit" sign that pointed downward, with no stairs in sight. 

Speaking of exiting, I reveal to you the stairs to the exit in the main foyer;

Yes, the exit was closed. It was another expedition to find another exit, it really did feel like the place was designed to trap people in - I've found casinos easier to get out of.

Anyway, I continued my walking around Paris, and tonight is a burlesque show with the group.

France Post Day 1

Forgot/too-tired too post last night. Have a group dinner at the Hostel, then did a night tour of France.

The tour was quite good, but photography was quite difficult at night. Spoke to Chelsea on the drive around and learned a lot about Victorian and early 20th century history. 

Earlier yesterday I also met Mickie who works at a expensive resort in Australia (I'm being vague about the precise details to avoid actually identifying the innocent :-D), she's doing the round the world for similar reasons to myself, likes her job, but it's a bit boring so needs a distraction for a few months. 

Anyway, about to arrive at the Eiffle tower for the tourist thing. It's a required thing to do before you're allowed to leave France. :-)

Time: 0930

Location: 5 mins from Eiffle Tower

Temperature: 7°C

Effile Towers Seen: 1