France
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Benelux Adventure – Metz
Departing from Luxembourg should have been a relatively easy task – there are frequent direct trains to Metz in France, just 63km to the south. But the French railways company, SNCF, doesn’t like to make life easy – ever. Even with a rail pass, there is a mandatory reservation fee of at least €12. But…
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Part 3 – Marseille to Bastia
Distance : 339km Travel time : 14 hours Marseille had been a delight and it was well worth spending a whole day there before my next move. I’d originally thought about going to Italy through Cannes and Nice by rail, but my AI research threw up and alternative; hopping across the Med via the island…
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Part 2 – Paris to Marseille
Distance : 662 kilometres Travel time : 3 hours The Gare de Lyon in Paris is a vast array of concourses, escalators, walkways and noise. The first time you encounter it, it can be overwhelming. But after a couple of visits you soon get used to the general chaos. There are three main halls with…
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Part 1 – Nottingham to Paris
Distance : 477km Travel Time : Apporx 4 hours The travel cubes worked – kind of – I’ve been able to get almost everything required into the drag-bag, as it will be known from now on. When I say almost, it’s a tighter squeeze than usual for Mr Mutt. Still, he’s getting old now and…
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Eurail Adventure Part 6
It’s the final day of my European rail journey – and just like day one, an early start. The TGV InOui service to Paris leaves Stuttgart at just befor 7am. Thankfully, the helpful staff at my hotel have arranged a takeaway breakfast bag, meaning I don’t have to wolf down a croissant and coffee before…
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Eurail Adventure Part 1
It may seem an odd way to travel to the South of France – surely flying would be cheaper and quicker than going by rail? It’s a question a lot of friends ask when explaining the joys of train travel. But to me, it’s a no brainer. Consider the amount of time it takes to…
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Allez les travailleurs
In recent months, the UK has seen a number of strikes by both public and private workers. Doctors, nurses and yes, railway workers have all withdrawn their labour in a series of industrial disputes. Yet nobody does it quite like the French. And without resorting to cultural stereotypes, it’s a fact that the country endures…
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You’re English – rescue me!
By the evening of day two I’m pretty confident of my bearings in Lille, so I take another stroll around the main square and then back towards Rue Messana to see if there’s any more cabaret on at Le Sherwood. Sadly, I’m disappointed. Nothing gets going in Lille until late evening, and at about 6.30pm…
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Taking The Piscine
Lille looks a lot better in the morning sunshine. It’s cold and dry, so a good day to get exploring some more. Although come to think of it, it didn’t look too bad last night either. I cross town to Wazemmes, one of the most multi cultural parts of Lille, and home to a real…
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A Load of Crepe
Normally when I arrive in a new city I’m pretty quick in getting my bearings, and Lille is no exception. Although its streets twist and turn it’s essentially a compact place, and no sooner have I walked out of the hotel I’m in the Place du Theatre, and next to it the Grand Place. Ye…
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