Ypres to Paris

Kurt, our friendly and obliging taxi driver collected us from our bed and breakfast at 11.00 on the dot and delivered us quickly to the railway station. It was about an hour before our planned departure but John decided to enquire whether there were any earlier trains arriving shortly that we might catch. As it happened there was one due in a few minutes so we hopped aboard when it pulled into the station.

When the conductor came along and punched our tickets, we enquired about our anticipated change and he told us that not only would we have to change trains at Kortrijk but we would then have to

get off the train at Mouscron and get on a waiting bus to take us to Lille. Apparently there is work being carried out on this particular branch of the tracks today.

We had no idea how long the journey was going to take and we couldn't get an answer to our questioning. So off we went and when we did arrive at Lille there were two railway stations, one for ordinary trains and another for the TGV's. We were dropped off at the "ordinary" station and of course our train was departing from the other station. About a ten minute walk away but we were dragging luggage and that always slows things down.

An hour's wait until our departure to Paris gave us a chance to have a coffee and eat the filled baguettes we had bought in anticipation of having lunch on the train.

We were in First Class on this leg of the journey so we were nice and comfortable upstairs on the speeding bullet. Honestly, where the tracks ran parallel to the highway we were passing motor vehicles as if they were standing still. The journey took about an hour. I just checked the driving time for the same journey and by car it is 2 hours, 20min.

The countryside passed in a blur but it was quiet and smooth and soporific. Found it difficult to keep my eyes open so that I didn't miss anything.

Arrival in Paris was a breeze. An orderly roped off taxi rank right outside the station had us in a taxi in quick time and it was just a short drive to our apartment.

We settled in and went out to explore our neighbourhood. It used to be the fish market area of the city. Now it seems to be the furriers neighbourhood.

Popped into a local mini market and bought some provisions for the apartment. A quick early evening meal and an early night. We were both pretty exhausted. No photo's today either so I am sharing a couple from Saint Petersburg.