Off to France Day 1 - Paris

Tuesday - had a really good sleep and woke up at 8 am  wow, may be we should have set the alarm. We lost no time showering and getting ready. We had to pack! 

But we still had to have a nice breakfast time.

Tobias, my lovely nephew, "insisted" of bringing us to the Recklinghausen Hbf. The train was leaving at 11 am and since it is not far he had told us he would pick us up at 10:30 am. He did come earlier if we needed help and he had to go to work right after dropping us of. 

We had gone into the hall because it was where we were out of the wind but could go around the outside to platform 1 because we avoided stairs (luggage!).

The train was punctual but we had to take care of the suitcases and find seats. No two were together. But the train had left before we could wave good-bye to Ute. As always we had a lovely time with her. 

Thank you, Ute!!!

Everything went fine until close to Köln (Cologne = where we changed trains), when the announcement came that we might be 20 minutes late. Something about misdirected tracks.

If that was the case it would get us mighty close to missing the train to Paris. This was our ticket I had printed. It had a QRcode and a second page on the back with seat 23.

On the way to the toilette I had to take the two photos. The trains were really nice ... for bicycles, baby strollers etc. 

On the way to the toilette, this lady gave me a smile but that is not unusual. But when we were about to leave the train she came quickly to tell us that she was Aschi, a very longtime friend of my niece Maren and she new exactly who we were. She just had reviewed the video we had made for Maren with birthday greetings and she was sure. She posed for this photo but I didn't catch her at the right moment. Sorry. She was so nice and how are the odds....

Everybody disembarked the first train as it was at the endstation. We had to retrieve our suitcases and when we were outside I saw the eurostar train pull in one platform over. So I ran for the lift but the line was so long that we turned around towards the steps. Steps down was probably more dangerous but easier. Around the corner steps up was hard work running with the suitcase. Then we were looking for our carriage 27 which was right in the front. At that point though we realized that we had made it and could slow down. We entered the carriage and at the door was where to stow the suitcases but then we had to walk all the way to the other end to find our seats. Consolation: there was no door at that end anyway.

The train pulled out and we soon realized that it was very close to 1 pm. Lunch time. Ute had encouraged us at breakfast to make a sandwich to take along. 

I enjoyed looking out of the window. Of course I always missed the best photos because the views disappeared so fast, trees got in the way, electric poles, stuff like that. But it was fun.

These days you can also look at your smart phone map which tells you where you are. Oh, already in Belgium. Now in France ...

At one point James went to carriage 24 for some to-go coffee. Unfortunately they were not very friendly, forgot the milk in the coffee and the cups were so hot that he hurt his fingers. 

But after it had cooled some it was good to have even black. Reluctantly.

This was a skyscraper next to the tracks in Brussels at 2:26 pm.

This photo proofs that James doesn't need to be in a plane to sleep when traveling.

Almost there at 3:56 pm.

Arrived totally on time at 4:06 pm at Gare du Nord Station.

When we were outside the station I entered the address of the hotel. When our tour-guide had called at home we had told her our situation how we would arrive and asked her about taxies or ubers. She had told us that it is also not too far to walk. We had the luggage but decided that we would really feel good to walk.

And yes, we really enjoyed that walk. It was fun. This is the Place de la Republique.

And here is our hotel. 

We had prepaid for the first night. The other two nights here are the start of our tour. And yes, we can stay in the same room. Ha-ha, I sent this next photo to Ute and family to say we have safely arrived!

After just a little while we headed out again. Just a little bit more walking. This church cought my eye. In the allee on the side are tents of homeless people. Sigh.

After a while we saw a pub which seemed inviting. There were tables and chairs outside but we thought it was a bit too cold for that when sitting and not moving. But there was room inside. 

James had the Filet Mignon de Porc, sauce, Moutarde, Puree

I had the Tartare de boeuf préparé, frites maison et salade

Only menus in French, no English or Alemagne (German).

Ha-ha, I could not resist: French french fries!

It was a little place but they were very busy and friendly. 

We went back to the hotel ... mainly because James had nicked his arm which was bleeding and needed a bandaid which, of course, by now I had packed into my luggage. No big deal. 

But we were not ready to stay in the room. I found our cards and we went downstairs into the lobby/bar, found a regular hight table, had some french wine which we as always enjoyed but I lost.

Before we went upstairs I had to take the above photo though. Such a nice vibe in the city.

Thanking the Lord for another blessed day. Night, night.