So I didn’t get my dream job, so traveling through France
and Spain is still happening. Well in actual fact this is one of my other dream jobs (everything happens for a reason)
I had my last follow up regrading my clinical trial and I
have to go back due to I am not back to normal. So I had to stick around for
that then it was one last pint at Punch and Judy before it was time to catch
the bus to Parieeeee. Get more stamps in my passport. It was late, I was well
on my way of being drunk and the bus was action packed. Having not “checked in”
I was one of the last on the bus and not many seats free. So I found myself
sitting next to a Scott, and gotta say never meet such a wingy woman, first she
didn’t like my torch, then my phone screen was too bright. I felt like telling
her to close her eyes and problem solved!!! So I moved to back seat bandits
with another weirdo pom, and cute as cute Frenchy. So we got chatting (as you
do).
I asked him if there was a bar on board when we get on the
ferry. He clearly didn’t understand ‘ferry’ and said no! No! No bars on board, I just stay on the bus and
sleep. (Me thinking that’s weird as the spirit of Tasmania you had get off)
We boarded the ferry and we had to get off, he was like
‘this is weird, have t had to do this before. Then we found ‘a bar’ surprise surprise.
We got a pint, and then sat down to eat. All of a sudden Cute Frenchy, “goes
OMG I can see water, we are on a ferry” (Light bulb moment)
Now fellow traveller’s word of advice: if wanting to catch
the bus to Paris
1.
Goes with a friend so you can sleep on each
other and not feel awkward.
2.
If you go on the ferry make sure you sit up
front of buss, get off first and go get that couch, chair, anything to ‘try and
sleep for two hours’ or u will be like me sleeping on the lino with no real
sleep.
3.
Go on a bus that takes you on the Euro tunnel as
u don’t get off the bus and can sleep.
4.
Or bla bla car…… ill fill u in on bla bla car
later.
Arriving into Paris at 7am with no or
little sleep and fearful of my lack of French, needing to make my way to my
hostel without getting lost. Can I do it? I thought so.
1.
Brought my ticket – easy no dramas,
2.
Asked which stop, -advised to get off last stop,
easy no dramas’
3.
4stops till end, peak hour on the train, get
abused in French as this time I did not know how to say ‘je ne parle pas francais’
(I don’t speak French) or ‘ju ne comprends pas’ (I don’t understand), until
another women just advised I am taking up too much room I need to stand up.
(with the women who abused this in French giving me dirties all the way till
her stop) lucky it was Friday
4.
Got off
last stop: was like ummmm this is not
where I should be I don’t think, (freakkkkk out, no sleep and my
backpack and me)
5.
Finally found a English speaking person who
advised I need to get back to this spot and change here to get onto this line
and get off at that station (easy right)
6.
So did as she said, got up from the underground
and saw Maccas, made a bolt for it “Free Wi-Fi” (no phone or Wi-Fi in a foreign
country = hard.) need to learn to travel back in the day with no technology.
Made it to my hostel.
7.
Found it 3 hours later…. Check in ummm you can’t
check in till 2 why thank you, but may I leave my bags please….. So then
question was what to do till check in as I was leaving Paris the next day, no
sleep, stinky from bus and need to get most of it…..
So I decided to head out until after 2 have a power nap
before heading out at night for a bike/boat cruise tour.
I went to Arc de Triomphe as was told it has the most
beautiful views of the whole city to as far as the eye can see. Millions of
stairs, lucky for my Botox knee….. It
was good exercise on the legs, breathing. I suggest going there if you ever in
Pariiiiiieeeeeee. 2 o’clock hit, headed back to hostel, as I also organised to
catch up for a picnic at the Eiffel Tower before our tour.
You know that moment your head hits the pillow, alarm seems
to go off like 5 min later which is really 1.5 hours, drool on the pillow and u
can’t keep your eyes open! Well that is what happened… and do you think I made
it to the picnic; I was pushing for time for my bike tour….
Mind you I am now an expert of Paris train line….
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