I woke at 5.30 and copied some photos over to Flickr, so we
are now up to date up to last night. I then began typing up remaining parts of
the blog for posting later.
At 7.30 I showered and dressed and Drew did the same soon
after, at 8.45 we checked out of the hotel and walked about half way to the
Gare du Nord before stopping for breakfast. We opted for the petit déjaunir
Français which was orange juice and coffee with a croissant and jam for Drew
and bread (a French stick) for me.
We then walked on to the Gare du Nord, a very impressive
facade at this station. Inside we checked in with Eurostar and sat in the
lounge.
The train was called at 10.50 and we boarded soon after
ready for departure at 11.13 p.m. We had a pleasant lunch on the train with a
starter of Chickpea, yoghurt and coriander salad and a main of roast chicken
with basil potato mash. Drew swapped me his chicken for the Apricot Tartlet
that was dessert, while he had both of these.
When I blogged about the Eurostar journey at the beginning
of the holiday someone asked me how long we were under the tunnel. I guess that
it was about 30 minutes, but I timed it today and it turned out to be exactly
20 minutes from entry to exit, hardly any time at all.
We arrived in London St. Pancras at exactly 12.30 and got to
the Hammersmith and City line tube station by 12.42. The tube train arrived in
2 minutes and was absolutely packed, but we got on and got to London Paddington
at 1.05 with 30 minutes to wait before our train to Cardiff.
I’ve been remarking on this blog at the excellent timing of
trains in Italy and Spain, well it was the same in London. The train left
Paddington at exactly 13:37 as scheduled and arrived in Cardiff at 15:56.
We had a 30 minute wait for the Valleys train, this was on
time too and we arrived at Taffs Well at 16:43. A 15 minute walk meant we were
home at 5.00 p.m. time to ring my father, and for Drew to ring his mother and
then to get the washing in the machine.
Walking back from Taffs Well at the same point as we talk a photo going |
So as we begun I turn to Tolkien to sum this up adapting the last two lines for my own purpose:
- The Road goes ever on and on
- Out from the door where it began.
- Now far ahead the Road has gone,
- Let others follow it who can!
- Let them a journey new begin,
- But I at last with weary feet
- Will turn towards the ... light of home,
- My evening-rest and sleep to meet.
That’s it folks, trip over, thanks for joining us on our
travels.
It was a pleasure :-)until the next time ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome :-)
ReplyDelete