Had a very early start yesterday (Saturday 25th April) for our day trip to Paris.
I had to be up at 02:30 to meet Ray at the coach for 03:30. Ray was driving the coach to St Pancras and I am going as a courier to help people along and offer any advice if needed.
Our first pick-up is in Whitehill at 03:50 and our last in Liphook at 04:45.
At this time of the morning there is no traffic and it is actually a pleasure driving into London. We arrive at St Pancras before at 05:50, an hour and five minutes before our Eurostar departure to Paris at 06:55.
They now have dedicated drop off/pick-up bays for coaches but nobody was about to lower the barriers so the coach couldn't get in to drop off the passengers! We all alighted by the road and walked into the terminal.
St Pancras is a beautiful station and a worthy home to the Eurostar. The only thing that lets it down is the facilities in the departure lounge where they have a small WH Smiths and two cafes. The cafes are modern coffee shops so are not the quickest at the best of times but when the terminal is busy it is difficult to have enough time to queue for a coffee (which I am gagging for by now!) and also queue for a paper as there are only two tills open. As we are early in the morning I settle for a paper I didn't want (no Telgraphs!) and no coffee!
The train departs on time and before you know it we are in Paris, just 2 hours and 22 minutes.
On arrival in Paris I show the group where the Metro is, having explained how it works on the coach to London, point some walkers in the right direction (I hope!) and take the rest of the group to the big open top bus stop where for 29 Euro you can buy an all day ticket to hop on and off at your leisure.
I am accompanied by Wendy and Hollie and also Deborah and Luke join us on the bus. The weather is ok with a bit of sun shining through the clouds and it is pleasant sitting on the uncovered top deck.
We spend a lovely day visiting the Sacre Couer and Montmatre as well as another couple of bus rides, this is turning into a busmans holiday, before returning to nearby the Gare du Nord for a nice meal.
Our train home departs at 20:13 local time and once in the departure lounge I am releived to see a lot of familiar faces as it ia always a worry that we shall leave somebody behind.
We all board the train and all of our group are in carriage one when I realise that my worst fears may have happened, we are one person short!
I check all of the carriages to no avail! The staff are very nice and will see if our missing person is at the terminal in Paris.
I am soon informed that the missing person is at Paris and will be put on the next train which arrives into St Pancras at 22:34, a full 53 minutes after we arrive.
I explain to the group what has happened and that we will have to wait in London for the next train and our passenger. This is a pain and a little frustrating but I feel we have to wait. The majority of the group are very understanding although some of the group are not impressed with this course of action.
My way of thinking is that the missing person is elderly and we can all make a mistake and it would not be very nice to have to travel across London to Waterloo in the hope of catching a late train home. For the sake of waiting an extra hour everything is sorted. Right or wrong I don't know but I am happy with the decision.
The later train is on time and we are away by 22:45.
A eventful and long day but good fun and it is always a pleasure visiting Paris.
Au Revoir
Jamie
I had to be up at 02:30 to meet Ray at the coach for 03:30. Ray was driving the coach to St Pancras and I am going as a courier to help people along and offer any advice if needed.
Our first pick-up is in Whitehill at 03:50 and our last in Liphook at 04:45.
At this time of the morning there is no traffic and it is actually a pleasure driving into London. We arrive at St Pancras before at 05:50, an hour and five minutes before our Eurostar departure to Paris at 06:55.
They now have dedicated drop off/pick-up bays for coaches but nobody was about to lower the barriers so the coach couldn't get in to drop off the passengers! We all alighted by the road and walked into the terminal.
St Pancras is a beautiful station and a worthy home to the Eurostar. The only thing that lets it down is the facilities in the departure lounge where they have a small WH Smiths and two cafes. The cafes are modern coffee shops so are not the quickest at the best of times but when the terminal is busy it is difficult to have enough time to queue for a coffee (which I am gagging for by now!) and also queue for a paper as there are only two tills open. As we are early in the morning I settle for a paper I didn't want (no Telgraphs!) and no coffee!
The train departs on time and before you know it we are in Paris, just 2 hours and 22 minutes.
On arrival in Paris I show the group where the Metro is, having explained how it works on the coach to London, point some walkers in the right direction (I hope!) and take the rest of the group to the big open top bus stop where for 29 Euro you can buy an all day ticket to hop on and off at your leisure.
I am accompanied by Wendy and Hollie and also Deborah and Luke join us on the bus. The weather is ok with a bit of sun shining through the clouds and it is pleasant sitting on the uncovered top deck.
We spend a lovely day visiting the Sacre Couer and Montmatre as well as another couple of bus rides, this is turning into a busmans holiday, before returning to nearby the Gare du Nord for a nice meal.
Our train home departs at 20:13 local time and once in the departure lounge I am releived to see a lot of familiar faces as it ia always a worry that we shall leave somebody behind.
We all board the train and all of our group are in carriage one when I realise that my worst fears may have happened, we are one person short!
I check all of the carriages to no avail! The staff are very nice and will see if our missing person is at the terminal in Paris.
I am soon informed that the missing person is at Paris and will be put on the next train which arrives into St Pancras at 22:34, a full 53 minutes after we arrive.
I explain to the group what has happened and that we will have to wait in London for the next train and our passenger. This is a pain and a little frustrating but I feel we have to wait. The majority of the group are very understanding although some of the group are not impressed with this course of action.
My way of thinking is that the missing person is elderly and we can all make a mistake and it would not be very nice to have to travel across London to Waterloo in the hope of catching a late train home. For the sake of waiting an extra hour everything is sorted. Right or wrong I don't know but I am happy with the decision.
The later train is on time and we are away by 22:45.
A eventful and long day but good fun and it is always a pleasure visiting Paris.
Au Revoir
Jamie
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