And it all could have gone so wrong.
After much too much time apart, the plan was to meet at CDG either in the line for immigration, at baggage claim, or in front of the terminal 2 RER station, which is also where Bagages du Monde is located. All of this planning predicated, of course, on the fact, or rather the hope, that our flights would be arriving at about the same time and that they would, if there is any logic in the world, both arrive at terminal 2E. A hope that conveniently overlooked the more immediate fact that neither of us had ever gone through immigration at CDG nor been anywhere near baggage claim or the RER train station; but those are minor details, of course.
Fortunately, our European adventure started well when my flight landed 45 minutes early, giving me plenty of time to make it through immigration and head off to collect my luggage before Andi arrived. Unfortunately it also gave me time to figure out that there are two seemingly different baggage claim areas for terminal 2E and that my baggage would be arriving in one area and Andi's in other. But India has learned me well: just because all the signs indicate that the stairs are only to be used for going down into the baggage claim area doesn't mean that they can't also be used to go back up to the immigration control area. And so with no-one there to stop me, I collected my bags and made my way back up to immigration to (not very patiently) wait for Andi to arrive.
And it was the happiest trip through immigration ever!
Collecting Andi's luggage and finding our bearings, we made our way to Bagages du Monde, repacked the luggage, dropped two bags off for the week, and followed the signs to the RER station. We had been warned, by a much more seasoned traveler, that buying train and Metro tickets in Paris is a bit complicated; after a few failed attempts at the automated machine we gave in to the long queue and the human ticket agents, successfully hoping for an agent who would understand my nearly non-existent spoken French and condescend to our English. After the long wait in the heated (!!) ticket office, with train and Metro tickets in hand we were out of the airport and off to see the city in just under an hour and fifteen minutes.
Our first stop was Gare du Nord, the Paris Eurostar station, to drop off two more pieces of luggage before heading into the city.
And here the trip got very very good. Not only were we together but we were together and on our own. Now as you all know, we love John and are every day thankful for finding such an amazing driver. But oh my it was nice being out in the world without the responsibility of a third; with the mobility of a walkable city and a well-planned public transportation system; enjoying the freedom of being able to wander.
And what did we do with our freedom? With four hours to spend in the city, we headed straight for Notre Dame: a quick non-transfer Metro ride from the train station with amazing people watching and lazing in parks potential and within walking distance of some really good looking GFree friendly restaurants. At Notre Dame we were having so much fun simply being together outside in the city that we decided not to go inside - saving that for another trip. Instead we spent the afternoon strolling around the island before heading across the river for a quick and tasty lunch.
When Andi fell asleep twice standing up, and I fell asleep once sitting down, we decided it was time to start heading back to Gare du Nord.
After retrieving our luggage, filling out a few forms and passing through immigration, we were officially in the UK, waiting to board the train for London. And like that, our stay in Paris was over. Or rather, and like that, we were curled up on the train fast asleep, resting our jet-lagged bodies, dreaming of saying goodbye Paris, hello London.
After much too much time apart, the plan was to meet at CDG either in the line for immigration, at baggage claim, or in front of the terminal 2 RER station, which is also where Bagages du Monde is located. All of this planning predicated, of course, on the fact, or rather the hope, that our flights would be arriving at about the same time and that they would, if there is any logic in the world, both arrive at terminal 2E. A hope that conveniently overlooked the more immediate fact that neither of us had ever gone through immigration at CDG nor been anywhere near baggage claim or the RER train station; but those are minor details, of course.
Fortunately, our European adventure started well when my flight landed 45 minutes early, giving me plenty of time to make it through immigration and head off to collect my luggage before Andi arrived. Unfortunately it also gave me time to figure out that there are two seemingly different baggage claim areas for terminal 2E and that my baggage would be arriving in one area and Andi's in other. But India has learned me well: just because all the signs indicate that the stairs are only to be used for going down into the baggage claim area doesn't mean that they can't also be used to go back up to the immigration control area. And so with no-one there to stop me, I collected my bags and made my way back up to immigration to (not very patiently) wait for Andi to arrive.
And it was the happiest trip through immigration ever!
Collecting Andi's luggage and finding our bearings, we made our way to Bagages du Monde, repacked the luggage, dropped two bags off for the week, and followed the signs to the RER station. We had been warned, by a much more seasoned traveler, that buying train and Metro tickets in Paris is a bit complicated; after a few failed attempts at the automated machine we gave in to the long queue and the human ticket agents, successfully hoping for an agent who would understand my nearly non-existent spoken French and condescend to our English. After the long wait in the heated (!!) ticket office, with train and Metro tickets in hand we were out of the airport and off to see the city in just under an hour and fifteen minutes.
Our first stop was Gare du Nord, the Paris Eurostar station, to drop off two more pieces of luggage before heading into the city.
And here the trip got very very good. Not only were we together but we were together and on our own. Now as you all know, we love John and are every day thankful for finding such an amazing driver. But oh my it was nice being out in the world without the responsibility of a third; with the mobility of a walkable city and a well-planned public transportation system; enjoying the freedom of being able to wander.
And what did we do with our freedom? With four hours to spend in the city, we headed straight for Notre Dame: a quick non-transfer Metro ride from the train station with amazing people watching and lazing in parks potential and within walking distance of some really good looking GFree friendly restaurants. At Notre Dame we were having so much fun simply being together outside in the city that we decided not to go inside - saving that for another trip. Instead we spent the afternoon strolling around the island before heading across the river for a quick and tasty lunch.
Name that Apostle!
Name that Pope! Or are those Bishops?
People watching paradise.
Pont des Arts bridge
Wait, where are we going?
When Andi fell asleep twice standing up, and I fell asleep once sitting down, we decided it was time to start heading back to Gare du Nord.
Sleepy, sleepy tourists.
After retrieving our luggage, filling out a few forms and passing through immigration, we were officially in the UK, waiting to board the train for London. And like that, our stay in Paris was over. Or rather, and like that, we were curled up on the train fast asleep, resting our jet-lagged bodies, dreaming of saying goodbye Paris, hello London.
loved all the flickr pictures. Had fun touring tonight.
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