I some up at around 5:30am, which I wasn't that happy about, given that it was long before my alarm. I went online for a bit though, and generally woke myself up before getting out of bed.
Once up, I showered - new haircut doesn't do well overnight - and got all my stuff together with the aim to fitting everything I needed for the weekend into an averaged size rucksack.
Everything includes, but is not limited to...
- Shorts
- 6xtshirts
- 2xshirts
- 5xsocks
- 5xboxers
- Hoodie
- 3xchargers (a photo camera, a video camera, and a phone.
- 4x euro adapters
- Glasses (case)
The list goes on.
Once all packed, and once everyone was ready, we set out for the airport. Inverness airport first of all. We arrived super early, so we sat and had something to eat before my mum and granny left, leaving me alone to get though security. Easy.
Once through, I bought some water and got a free paper. I started reading it, bit stopped soon after. Stupid free paper.
The flight, according to the couple sat next to me was 20mins late in leaving, but it arrived 10mins ahead of schedule - there was a severe lack of fanfare upon arrival... I miss ryanair.
Sitting at the airport, watching all the people mill around me, reminds me of Tampa airport times. The cold opening of Friends, and other geeral hilarity. There's a lack of L. Ron Hubbard merchandise here though (probably for the best).
Emily arrived at the airport a little after 5, and we went to check-in. Or, at at least I want to check in, if I had known she'd already checked in online, I wouldn't have waited. The queue was massive, so it took a while and, by the time we were through ee were told that we were running crazy late and if we wanted to get through security we would have to go with the priority line, which cost money... A grand total of £3. £3 to walk, pretty much, straight through security - I can deal with that.
Once through through we rushed to a departures board to find what gate we were at.
The flight to Paris was short and we landed on time. We made our way to the RER station and bought our travel passes for the weekend. We were promised a free shuttle, I can only imagine it was free because it didn't exist.
Travelling into Paris, I thought it'd be nice to go into the city before going to the hotel - we had 24 hour check in, so it didn't matter if we were a little late. The first stop took us to Notre Dame, from there we could see the Eiffel Tower, so we then headed to Trocadero to take some pictures of that and then, being as we were already on the right metro line, we headed a couple of stops to the Arc de Triomphe.
Emily was hungry, so we went to the closet food place, which is Mcdonalds. On leaving there, it was already getting really late, so we headed to the RER, aiming to go straight back to the hotel - I say 'back to'...
We walked down to the platform, which was all but empty, the TVs were blank. The sign not lit up. From across the.platform, a guard shouted. In French, but his hand motions made it clear, we had missed the last train.
Fuck.
We looked at the night bus maps and timetables, but considering I barely understand buses in the UK, knowing which one to get, and where we were going made it near impossible. So, we opted to walk and look for a taxi, figuring we could ask how much it would be before getting in.
We walked. And walked. And walked...
And walked...
And walked.
Eventually, we found a taxi rank, and waited. We didn't walk to move any further. Even if the taxi was going to cost €100, I didn't care any more, eventually, after a lot of waiting, a free taxi came along. I opened the back door.
I pulled out my phone and showed him the address, and asked him how much it'd be. He pointed to the meter. I then used some hand motions to signify a rough guess, which surpisingly worked and he wrote down '20-30' - given that I'd talked about being okay paying whatever at this point, that guesstimate seemed very reasonable.
By the time we got to where we needed to be, it came to a little over 20€, and given that it was now around 3am, it was, to me, 20€ well spent.
We got to the hotel, the doors were locked, but there was a night bell. We pressed that and someone took a leisurely stroll over to open the door for us. Before checking us in.
The hotel is nice enough, nothing fancy, but its clean and has beds. Upon getting into the room, I really wanted to just pass out on the bed there and then. I didn't though, I managed to squeeze in brushing my teeth and taking my clothes off first.
So, yeah, all in all, a pretty eventful start to the trip.
Once up, I showered - new haircut doesn't do well overnight - and got all my stuff together with the aim to fitting everything I needed for the weekend into an averaged size rucksack.
Everything includes, but is not limited to...
- Shorts
- 6xtshirts
- 2xshirts
- 5xsocks
- 5xboxers
- Hoodie
- 3xchargers (a photo camera, a video camera, and a phone.
- 4x euro adapters
- Glasses (case)
The list goes on.
Once all packed, and once everyone was ready, we set out for the airport. Inverness airport first of all. We arrived super early, so we sat and had something to eat before my mum and granny left, leaving me alone to get though security. Easy.
Once through, I bought some water and got a free paper. I started reading it, bit stopped soon after. Stupid free paper.
The flight, according to the couple sat next to me was 20mins late in leaving, but it arrived 10mins ahead of schedule - there was a severe lack of fanfare upon arrival... I miss ryanair.
Sitting at the airport, watching all the people mill around me, reminds me of Tampa airport times. The cold opening of Friends, and other geeral hilarity. There's a lack of L. Ron Hubbard merchandise here though (probably for the best).
Emily arrived at the airport a little after 5, and we went to check-in. Or, at at least I want to check in, if I had known she'd already checked in online, I wouldn't have waited. The queue was massive, so it took a while and, by the time we were through ee were told that we were running crazy late and if we wanted to get through security we would have to go with the priority line, which cost money... A grand total of £3. £3 to walk, pretty much, straight through security - I can deal with that.
Once through through we rushed to a departures board to find what gate we were at.
19:00 Charles De GaulleWait in lounge? What lounge? It remained 'wait in lounge' for another half hour or so, before eventually telling us the gate number. Easyjet say 'if you're late, we won't wait!' -What if YOU'RE late, easyjet, what then?!
Wait in lounge
The flight to Paris was short and we landed on time. We made our way to the RER station and bought our travel passes for the weekend. We were promised a free shuttle, I can only imagine it was free because it didn't exist.
Travelling into Paris, I thought it'd be nice to go into the city before going to the hotel - we had 24 hour check in, so it didn't matter if we were a little late. The first stop took us to Notre Dame, from there we could see the Eiffel Tower, so we then headed to Trocadero to take some pictures of that and then, being as we were already on the right metro line, we headed a couple of stops to the Arc de Triomphe.
Emily was hungry, so we went to the closet food place, which is Mcdonalds. On leaving there, it was already getting really late, so we headed to the RER, aiming to go straight back to the hotel - I say 'back to'...
We walked down to the platform, which was all but empty, the TVs were blank. The sign not lit up. From across the.platform, a guard shouted. In French, but his hand motions made it clear, we had missed the last train.
Fuck.
We looked at the night bus maps and timetables, but considering I barely understand buses in the UK, knowing which one to get, and where we were going made it near impossible. So, we opted to walk and look for a taxi, figuring we could ask how much it would be before getting in.
We walked. And walked. And walked...
And walked...
And walked.
Eventually, we found a taxi rank, and waited. We didn't walk to move any further. Even if the taxi was going to cost €100, I didn't care any more, eventually, after a lot of waiting, a free taxi came along. I opened the back door.
"Parlez vous Anglais?" I asked hopefully.Fuck.
"Non..."
I pulled out my phone and showed him the address, and asked him how much it'd be. He pointed to the meter. I then used some hand motions to signify a rough guess, which surpisingly worked and he wrote down '20-30' - given that I'd talked about being okay paying whatever at this point, that guesstimate seemed very reasonable.
By the time we got to where we needed to be, it came to a little over 20€, and given that it was now around 3am, it was, to me, 20€ well spent.
We got to the hotel, the doors were locked, but there was a night bell. We pressed that and someone took a leisurely stroll over to open the door for us. Before checking us in.
The hotel is nice enough, nothing fancy, but its clean and has beds. Upon getting into the room, I really wanted to just pass out on the bed there and then. I didn't though, I managed to squeeze in brushing my teeth and taking my clothes off first.
So, yeah, all in all, a pretty eventful start to the trip.
