Being without online access is a little new to me and can be frustrating at the best of times. Couple this with overseas travel and I am in a cold sweat even as I write about it. Even so, I surrendered myself to online freedom and packed light for easy travel to France. The journey started, as indeed all journeys should, with a glass of champagne and breakfast at Carluccio’s. I picked up my e-tickets at the machine and the journey went without a hitch – even the guy serving coffee in the buffet was tres jollie!
Gare de Nord was a culture shock but I was too troubled about getting to Gare de Lyon for my connection to care. The cab driver did it in thirteen minutes and soon I was calmly walking down the platform to board the Dijon train to Besancon. Apparently smoking is banned on the platforms in France but hilariously the French completely ignore this. As the train began to pick up speed, I settle into my Dan Brown and promptly fell asleep. Before long I was in Dijon, where most of the train emptied and I am began to get excited about seeing Don and Celine again.
Don is waiting for me on the platform and he hasn’t changed a bit! It was so good to see him and he immediately whisked me off in the car to pick up Celine and the kids and head over to Celine’s mother and Jean-Luc. Celine was the picture of maternity, with a vast belly – she is eight months pregnant - which only enhances her natural Gallic beauty. This is her third baby and I am introduced to Axl aka Johnson, who I have already met and Storm aka Smurf, who I have never met. Each one is the image of their parents! At Jean-Luc’s I sipped the local brew and tried to absorb the culture shock. It all seemed far too easy!
Gare de Nord was a culture shock but I was too troubled about getting to Gare de Lyon for my connection to care. The cab driver did it in thirteen minutes and soon I was calmly walking down the platform to board the Dijon train to Besancon. Apparently smoking is banned on the platforms in France but hilariously the French completely ignore this. As the train began to pick up speed, I settle into my Dan Brown and promptly fell asleep. Before long I was in Dijon, where most of the train emptied and I am began to get excited about seeing Don and Celine again.
Don is waiting for me on the platform and he hasn’t changed a bit! It was so good to see him and he immediately whisked me off in the car to pick up Celine and the kids and head over to Celine’s mother and Jean-Luc. Celine was the picture of maternity, with a vast belly – she is eight months pregnant - which only enhances her natural Gallic beauty. This is her third baby and I am introduced to Axl aka Johnson, who I have already met and Storm aka Smurf, who I have never met. Each one is the image of their parents! At Jean-Luc’s I sipped the local brew and tried to absorb the culture shock. It all seemed far too easy!
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