There are no pictures in this post. There was no time!
This is the story of how we got through Paris. It all happened yesterday, Sunday.
Bells were ringing in the churches of Duisburg as we rode to the cafe where Ina works. I said a small prayer for help in travel for the day, particularly in Paris. We had some things to drink at the cafe (Ina fixed a strawberry milkshake for Noralynn). Then her family drove us to the train station.
We took the Inter-city train to Cologne, then transferred to the Thalys train to Paris. Most of the ride was rapid, but there were some unusual slow stretches, and we were twenty minutes late coming into Paris.
There are at least five train stations in Paris. To get from Gare du Nord (where we arrived) to Gare Montparnasse (where we were to depart), one needs to ride Metro route 4. I queued up and bought tickets, then we navigated the rabbit's warren of tunnels and stairs that led to the tracks. Noralynn's right arm is still in a cast, so she pulled her carry-on bag, while I managed the two larger ones. The wheels on the heavier bag kept flipping it over; a kind Parisian lady gave very welcome help.
The metro was full, but speedy. We arrived in Gare Montparnasse, and again navigated the rabbit's warren of tunnels and stairs to the trains, arriving perilously close to departure time. It was not at all clear where our TGV train to Laval was to leave, as suburban trains also use the terminal. We desperately asked an information officer from the SNCF (the French train company).
No, she was sorry, the train had left. But as the Thalys had been late, we could get new tickets; it was not our fault. She took us to the service center, where she obtained tickets on the next TGV to Laval, where we were met by Chloe and her mother. The day's heat had been broken by a refreshing rain.
So my prayer was answered; not as I would have arranged it, but it wasn't my call.
If you're changing ever trains in Paris, allow plenty of time to get between stations. Probably two hours.
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