First days


Almost Day 1
On May 21, I went to my exercise class (Strength for Seniors) thinking I had better get limbered up for travelling. It felt tiring, but after a soothing bath at home, I was energized enough to finish packing. I was all ready by 2 p.m., and we went to pick Cynthia up even before the 3 o’clock plan. Took the scenic route to Ottawa airport, viewing some tulips by the lake, and sailed though the park’n’fly and the check-in process. All too swiftly, as we then had hours to wait in the far, quiet end of the airport. Our flight to Montreal was a bit late in leaving and arriving, and we had a very short time to traverse the airport. I was met by the wheelchair attendant, Audrey, who was very speedy. Neil and Cynthia ran, and got to the gate just ahead of us. That was exciting! We had good seats and service and I even slept a few hours. When I woke up, I found my glasses had fallen out of the pocket and been kicked across the aisle. Cynthia and the steward found them, and the lens that had come out.

May 22, Day 1
So, at 8:30 a.m. at the Lyon airport and TGV train station, I had to make some decisions. Perhaps I could have done better, but it certainly was an interesting day, full of surprises.
Neil and Cynthia quickly found a train going south and were off. I had reservations for the 2:30 train to Paris, for my connection to Aachen, and decided I had time to go into Lyon to get my glasses fixed. There’s a fast shuttle train, and although it was expensive (60+ Euros return!) I carried on. It goes to the Part-Dieu train station in Lyon and I knew there was a big shopping centre right there, with at least 3 opticians. It was neat to see Lyon again. They have been very busy with urban renewal, the mostly smart kind. Lovely open spaces, trams everywhere, SNCF stations getting spruced up, and even the shopping centre, once grungy but practical, is going upscale and looking very neat. Although I was tired, I forged ahead from the shuttle (on a tram line) through the train station, to the shopping centre, where a person at Grand Optical put the lens back in and tried to straighten the frame. I did some window shopping as I retraced my steps, and found a cafĂ© on the square for a quick lunch (Subway-style sandwich and a coke) before I took the shuttle back to the airport. 



I was happy to have seen Lyon again, and to get my glasses fixed, but starting to get quite tired. I restored myself with a good coffee and a pain au chocolat. Waiting was boring and the free Wi-Fi was not working well. 



Finally, I got on the train to Paris and sank into my seat. All went well for a while. Then we stopped! In the middle of nowhere.
Other TGVs zoomed past, in both directions. We were “immobilized” for over half an hour, and so arrived a half hour late into the Paris rush hour. That might not be a problem for a train traveller, except that I had to change train stations. That was the journey that ruined the day! And better choices might have changed things.

First, why did I leave such a long time between our arrival and my train to Paris? I thought there might be delays in the air…. But why didn’t I simply change for an earlier train to Paris? In hindsight, that would have been a very good idea, saving me the train fare and excursion into Lyon, even if there were a cost for changing my ticket. Then I could have taken an earlier train to Aachen or at least would have had lots of time to traverse Paris at my leisure. But at 9 a.m., I was pleased with the Lyon option and the flexibility I had arranged.

The next opportunity to make a choice came when we arrived in Paris. Should I continue my original plan to take the Metro, or should I take my chances with a taxi in rush hour? It’s not a long trip, but there is a lot of traffic at all times, especially late afternoon. I opted for the Metro. Getting a single ticket at the Gare de Lyon automated machines (everything has been automated, and there is less actual help than ever) took a while, with the big lineup of foreigners and the generally confused. Then to find my route. Maps showed me to take Line 1, then change at Chatelet for Line 4. Okay, I know how. But the corridors seemed endless and the stairs daunting. There are very few elevators and many stairs.
The first part went well. I got to Chatelet, but then made the wrong choice.
I think my head was pretty fuzzy by then, and my feet and legs were certainly not cooperating! I took the wrong fork on the #4 line, and realized 3 stops along that I was going the wrong way! I had to change directions: MANY more stairs, with some helpful people, and I was back en route for the Gare de l’Est. When I got there, I was late for my train, and went to ask at the ticket office. The man at the desk kindly told me I should have been at the Gare du Nord, ad that there might not be any more trains for Aachen that evening. He pointed me to a shortcut to the other station (it’s around the corner, basically) but his shortcut involved going up a two-storey staircase, which, when I asked at the office for handicapped travellers, was beyond the station and no one could help me. They told me to take the Metro. So, another ticket, some more stairs, and I was in the Gare du Nord, where I was sent around the corner to the Thalys Lounge (still not sure what’s that’s about) where an agent changed my ticket for the next morning.

Feeling that I had come to the end of my troubles, I went in search of dinner and a hotel.
I passed a Burger King and a McDonald’s but was hoping for something more French. I found a Basque restaurant that was just my style. I had a beer (with Picon) and a big Basque salad as I searched Google maps for a simple, inexpensive hotel … very close by. I knew I didn’t have many more steps available. I remembered staying in one in the area, but couldn’t locate it. I did find another on the same street, the Rue des Petits Hotels, and went for a look. That one was full, but the Hotel du Nord Est was still operating and had a room. The prices have gone up in 11 years: it cost me 100 euros for my little room, but that was cheap in Paris, and the room was quiet. I slept very well.



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