Train from Paris to Amsterdam
Morning arrived early, with hugs and goodbyes to our dear
co-apartment dwellers. A dieu, Paris.
Traveling on the Metro to catch a train is such an adventure. We changed metro trains twice, nearly got on
the wrong one, then had the process of finding where at the train station did
we go to validate our EuRail passes.
Complicated, with making four different stops before we finally found
the right ticket line. Everybody kept
saying, “Not here.” We were glad that
Dick had been diligent in getting us correct reservations for many of the trains
in advance, as we watched people in front of us in frustration try to find
connections. Our questions were relatively
easy for the guy at EuRail.
We rode a "bullet train" from Paris to Amsterdam. Flying along at over 180 miles/hour. Fast!
Things close up to the train were just a blur, and traffic on the
parallel road appeared to be just stopped.
It took just three hours to get to Amsterdam from Paris. We rode in first class which gave us nice
seats, complimentary drinks and food (including a lunch choice of vegetarian
crepes or rabbit), and free WiFi.
Traveling in style!
We arrived in Amsterdam at the train station at about 2:00,
and then followed the excellent directions to our next Air B&B home. Quite a bit less hectic with just the two of
us, rather than the six we had been living with the past week.
Amsterdam is also a lovely place, and we spent the afternoon
and evening wandering through the neighborhood, soaking in this next new
country. Dick as been there several times, but the first time for Patti and she
wanted to make the most of our short two days there.
We immediately went to Tourist info and bought our "I
Amsterdam" card. This 48 hour pass gave
us totally free access to buses and trams, plus fee museum entrance to dozens
of places. We would use it to good avail
over the next 48 hours.
We were able to follow the great directions of taking the
bus to our next Air B&B place. This
one was about a 20 minute walk from the Central train station, at the home of
George and Helen. They live in a
traditional old fashioned Dutch home, where we went up VERY steep stairs to get
to the second floor suite. The couple
live on the 3rd and 4th floors, and have a lovely room
with its own remodeled (lovely) bathroom with a great shower and giant
bathtub. This location is going to work
out great for us: near enough that we can
walk most places or catch a bus or tram very easily. But also giving us the chance to see what it
would be like to live in this regular neighborhood out of the tourist craziness
downtown.
We took a nice walk and then an hour-long canal boat ride to
get oriented to the city. It is such an
old city, nearly 1000 years old, built below sea-level with these rings of
canals. We had the chance to have a
quick go around and see glimpses of what the city has to offer. This is one of Dick’s favorite places, and he
was so glad to be able to share it with Patti.
We had dinner at a place that focused on traditional Dutch
food, probably the type that grandma would cook. Patti had Green Pea soup along with a sausage
that you cut up and ate in the soup.
Dutch comfort-food.
Exhausted from such a full previous week, Patti went to bed
very early, because tomorrow will be another very busy day. Dick took the chance to download photos and
put in some time on photos for the blog.
So much social time during the past week ahs cut into the time it takes
to record our travels. The photos are
excellent, just needing to be worked with in order to share.
James Weldon Johnson
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