The journey

At Calgary airport, ready to roll. Sporting our new Eiffel Tower luggage tags, gifts from Debbie.




We managed to get 3 seats together, and like schoolgirls, we giggled most of the way. Our flight attendants were less than hospitable, and one of them seemed to have it in for Debbie. There was a knee bashing incident, some spilled ice water, and her elbow was knocked out from under her, once. Serves her right really, she did, after all, get an extra chocolate button on her dessert.




After a sleepless night, we arrived in Frankfurt. There's a train station right at the airport, which is so convenient. We found a small commuter train and took it to the main station, with a minimum of getting lostedness.
The signs really weren't much help to us.







We had a few hours to kill at the main station, so we got our bearings, figured out where we needed to go to catch our train to Paris, then headed out to explore the neighbourhood.




















Just your average seedy train station part of town. We didn't have time to go further afield, so we missed these sights.
























Oh well, next time.
Back to the train station to hang out for a bit.




Found a wi-fi hot spot, and while there met a delightful young girl from Edmonton, who is studying to be an environmental scientist at U of A. She's taking a course in Berlin, and was on her way back there after a quick weekend trip to Rome. Bright girl, she'll go far!




Waiting...








A series of cartoons advertising who knows what. I just found the profanity to be a little unusual.




De train, de train!




Ah, a glimpse of love through the window. These two really, really, didn't want to say goodbye.








And we're off...












...and out!




That pretty much sums up the 4 hour journey.
We have a room booked in Paris for 3 nights, but not until tomorrow night. We showed up anyway, hoping our sad, tired, puppy dog eyes would help to secure an extra night. Nope, no room at the inn. The place next door however, was more than accommodating. This sweet, smiley guy talked our ears off, let us choose between a couple of available rooms, and reluctantly allowed me to take his photo, as long as he wasn't the only one in the frame.




So we made it! We still don't quite believe it!
We don't have a plan for tomorrow yet, but it definitely doesn't involve alarm clocks.
Even so, I really shouldn't be awake right now, so goodnight.