Paris : Day 1
Friday, 13th August 2010
The journey begins with delays and cancellations to trains from East Midlands Trains southbound service, due to cable theft and vandalism between Leicester and Market Harborough.
Fortunately, as I was walking up the steps of Market Harborough’s Platform 1, it only took around 4 minutes for one of the delayed trains to arrive. I plonked myself down in the quiet coach, whipped out Mistress (pet name for my new iPad), fired up Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars, and tried to fight away the travel-sleep feeling!
The train arrived at London St. Pancras International station at 08:43.
I packed Mistress away, grabbed my rucksack (full of treats), took a deep intake of breath, and made my way to the Eurostar ticket machines.
Just before I was about to go through the domestic station barriers, i had a sudden flood dread wash over me…MY SUITCASE!
I’d left it in the overhead luggage racking! Panic filled my bones – every stride I made back towards the train seemed as though my legs were made of lead.
Luckily, my suitcase was still where I had left it. Recovered, I made my way to collect my Eurostar tickets, and change £150 GBP Stirling, into €Euros.
Once through the barriers, I made haste to WHSmith to pick up a travel adaptor plug (I couldn’t find any of mine at home before I left). The queue was long and slow, which gave me time to pick up and flick through some of the Paris city guide books on the shelves.
They seemed quite expensive, so, whipping out my iPad and connecting to the free WiFi at St. Pancras, I endeavoured to see what the AppStore had to offer. I plumped for the Lonely Planet Paris city guide app for just under £4.
Unfortunately, by the time it came to board the Eurostar, the app hadn’t had time to download…something I would have to hope I would be able to rectify at the hotel, if they provided a WiFi service.
The journey was a bliss…bar the annoying kids and chavvy families.
Thee Eurostar really is a very impressive service. However, I’m really surprised that there is no WiFi internet access on the train, given that Virgin and East Coast trains provide a WiFi on most of their journeys – a pay-to-surf and free service, respectively.
My journey ended at Marne La Vannee – Chessy …right on the doorstep of the Disney Village and Walt Disney Studios! I took a few minutes toss have a brief look around at the entrances, take a few snaps, and pick up some tourist guide brochures from l’office de tourisme, before taking the VERY pink no.54 bus to The Dream Castle, where I was staying.
A short journey of under 10 minutes saw me arriving safely, and queuing for check-in, in the lobby of a replica medieval castle…with added annoyances of pinball machines, arcade & air hockey games, all with their gaudy flashing lights and wailing sirens.
I had soon collected my room key – 5100 on the 5th floor – and was unpacking my suitcase, charging Mistress, and having a wonderfully refreshing shower!
The tiring week of work that had gone before, plus the early start for my initial train, must have really taken their toll, as all of a sudden it was 17:40 local time (Central European). I had totally zonked on the bed, and slept for about 3 hours! I grabbed my swim trunks, flip-flops, a towel, and made my way to Ground 0 – where the swimming pool, sauna, spa and fitness centre could be found.
I’d not been swimming for about 2 years, and it felt *so* good…and the sauna was perfectly soothing – not to mention swelteringly hot! …but I guess that is that point…
The rest of the evening saw me visiting the restaurant and bar in the hotel, and connecting up to the hotel’s WiFi – €6 for 3 hours – to finish off the download of the Lonely Planet Paris city guide app for my iPad, and posting a few Facebook and Twitter messages.
Before retiring to bed for the night (WiFi was only available in the public areas of the hotel; lobby, bar, restaurant), I spent about an hour taking photos of the main attractions inside of the hotel – there was some very impressive armoury displays and statues!
With the Land of Nod, and Mr. Sandman finally weighing down my eyelids, I set my alarm for 08:00, and looked forward to a day of sightseeing in central Paris.
