<< June 7, 2008 >>
so here we are (again)
Dublin -> Paris, via Holyhead & London (with add'l changes in Crewe, Birmingham, & Northampton)
well, i made it. it was quite an interesting and challenging journey, but i am perhaps too tired to write about it now. notable things that make travel fun:
- i missed the bus to the ferry; had to take a 10 euro taxi to the terminal.
- it was fortuitous that i had been unable to purchase the UK rail segments online, for i misunderstood their pricing, and would have paid 2x as much instead of just getting a return fare.
- so, they are doing some rail maintenance in england so i had to take a "coach" from birmingham int'l to northampton. of course this will be done by my return trip, which i get to do direct london -> holyhead
- there are two tube routes that go from euston to st pancras, and of course the one decided to take was shut down for construction. 50-50 chance on that.
- dinner at the train station was something called a pasty? i entered under false pretenses thinking some sort of confections were to be had but it turned out pretty ok.
- i could have made the 19:00 eurostar to paris if i wasn't an idiot.
- when everyone at a metro stop goes for the elevator, even those without luggage or strollers, you should do that too. i lost count of how many flights of stairs i lugged my suitcases up. it is some sort of miracle that, at the last moment, i decided against lugging my guitar with me. i wish i had decided before the last moment, and given it to the movers, but see above wrt. idiocy.
- i think the dublin westin was like 1800 euros a night, so i didn't even look at the prices here. i am staying at an awful comfort inn near sacre coeur ("no lift" was the advice from the doorman, with a laugh), but i am unable to complain. i am in paris.
two days, two more metro systems (dublin dart (they don't have one for luas there) and london underground) (plus the SF ones which i hadn't yet added):
tomorrow: adventures. tonight: sleep.