Use Eorostar for convenient dirty weekends! (Eurostar)

Member Name: GST2

Product:	Eurostar
Date:	09/01/01 (1735 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast and easy

Disadvantages: Expensive rank food

Ah, Paris. The city of romance and revolution, of artisans and architecture. The perfect place for a weekend break just before Christmas, just for two. And what more romantic place to start the holiday… Waterloo!

Our EuroStar railway journey began at 6.19am on a cold Saturday. Luckily, we’d got a lift to the station (about 5.30am), because unless you live on the Embankment or in Westminster Abbey, forget public transport. Especially in these speed restricted times.

Check-in was nice and easy, putting large bar-coded tickets into a turnstile to be let in, and then strolling past some really bored security staff. My Englishness (tweed jacket, stiff upper lip, monocle, bull dog, dead fox,etc ) must have convinced them I wasn’t likely to blow anything up. Fools.

If, like we did, you tend to arrive early for these sorts of things, be aware. There is sod all to do at Waterloo station, especially at 6 in the morning. Not really that surprising, but a few chairs and a Costa Coffee (closed) hardly constitutes a restful or welcoming arena for travellers. However, boarding was quick, especially for the seven or eight social pariahs (smokers) on our carriage, and easy. All you non-smokers, stay calm, the smoking section is closed off right after departure and nobody is allowed in or out.

The actual journey out only took three hours. I fell asleep and didn’t even notice the tunnel but awoke for some lovely French countryside and a bite to eat. Again, be warned! I bought two mouldy bacon and egg muffins, two orange juices and two coffees and it cost nearly a tenner! Sacre bleu! Once we had arrived at Gare du Nord, a short Metro hop and we were at our hotel.

On the way back, armed already with baguettes and Orangina, and on an evening journey, it was dark and I didn’t notice the tunnel again apart from a slight bit of ear popping. They do announce it, for those of you of a more fragile nature to take preca
utions, tranquillisers, etc. This time it only took two hours and 50 minutes to return to lovely London. No lift this time and the return to a place no more than 60 miles from the big smoke took a lifetime (well, nearly four hours).

EuroStar is by far the easiest and least stressful way to reach Paris. No complicated check in or parking at an airport, no seasickness and driving on the wrong side of the road like a ferry crossing. Getting to Waterloo in the first place is a bit tricky and getting back is a lottery. Ashford sounds far easier.

As for Paris, it was fantastic but that’s another story…

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