Thursday 3rd November 2023

Orleans to Paris

The start of the long journey home started on a very windy day, courtesy of the massive storm coming across Europe – some parts hit with 160 kph gusts.

A midday train trip sitting in first class by mistake was full of interest. The troop of ticket inspectors marching up and down the aisle nabbed the usual fare evaders, who foolishly thought sitting in first class might have bought them a ride free card.

Outside the fields were full of windmills , power poles and a viaduct- like structure which went for about 20 Km’s. It was apparently a test track for a hover train back in70’s that never materialized and has just been abandoned.

It was a pretty quick trip to Paris into Austerlitz station that is undergoing major reconstruction. It caused a bit of havoc trying to find the connecting underground.

Worked out ok eventually and we found our hotel between Notre Dame, which is still under repairs after the fire, and the Sorbonne in Boulevard St Michel- we could have been walking a song from the 60’s by Peter Sarstedt.

Hotel was nice and had a lift just like most showers over here- no room to drop the soap.

Heard from hotel owner that airport train line was blocked, so did a trip to station to work out plans for tomorrow in case he was right.

Walk turned out to be a nice way to revisit some of the places we saw last time , as well as give you a look at Notre Dame, Seine and it’s boats, plus a distant view of the Eiffel Tower. It also allayed our fears , as it was only scheduled evening maintenance not a full line closure.

The streets were abuzz with police cars and ambulances , but nothing in news to say why.

The weather worsened so we ducked for cover and had a quick drink before heading out to our final dinner. Finally Jane managed to get her French Onion soup, in a restaurant where you needed a pension card to get a job on the wait staff.

Bar Manager was obviously best job, he must have had 3 glasses of wine whilst we were there.