My dream visit to Paris is now a part of recorded history. Today, I’m zipping through France towards Nice.
My dream visit to Paris is now a part of recorded history. Today, I’m zipping through France towards Nice on the TGV, France’s high-speed train service known for its rapid travel between major cities. The TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) is a remarkable mode of transportation, reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph)… so when I say “zipping” its no joke. According to RailEurope, the fastest trains from Lyon to Nice take around 4 hours and 22 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 292 kilometres. I couldn’t wait to see what was next on my journey.
Reflections on my last day in Paris
To catch up on yesterday – my last day in Paris — I can say it was pretty much wasted. However, it’s sacrilegious to consider any time in Paris a waste. I spent the morning doing what should have been done weeks ago — buying a train ticket. After spending hours on the computer and the SNCF app trying to make the ticket purchase- both in the US and Paris- I went to the train station closest to my hotel.
Troubles at Gare Montparnasse Train Station
If you’ve never been to Gare Montparnasse, try to avoid it. It’s huge. It’s a good thing that walking was one of my goals because I put in a bunch of steps to find my way around the station. When I arrived at the SCNF office, a manager had to be called to find out why I couldn’t book a ticket through my account. The SNCF, or Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français, is France’s national railway company that operates the extensive rail network, including regional trains and the high-speed TGV.
Let me pass this jewel of information on to you. NEVER use a graphic symbol when writing your address or other information on a computer form. Why? Because if you type a “#” sign — like before your apartment number — it causes a malfunction. Who knew??! Believe me, that one little abbreviation cost me hours and hours of agony.
How I spent my last day in Paris
With my train ticketing troubles out of the way, it was time to relax and soak in as much Parisian charm as possible before it was time to go.
Window Shopping
I may not have walked away with any actual purchases, but window shopping was an adventure unto itself! Sure, it might not sound noteworthy, but I had more fun than I ever did at a mall back home. After all, who needs to buy something when you can admire everything from a safe distance and dream about all the fabulous things you’ll never own?
An Onion Soup Contest – Soupe à l’oignon
I hear you gasp because I didn’t spend my last night in Paris at some fabulous restaurant. Instead, I wanted something warm to eat and a glass or two of wine. Why not a “soupe à l’oignon contest,” I told myself. I’d tried out the soups at two cafes. “Make it three!”
Zipping to Nice with Fannie
Fannie is a trooper. On the stay in Paris, there were days that she was raring to go. Some mornings, she wanted to hide.
Happily, Fanny is adjusting to her jet-setter dog life!
