I try and go at least once a year sometimes on an organised coach trip. However, an Ad popped up offering Eurostar Train tickets to Lille for £29.00 each way. Obviously, there are always restrictions such as ....book by a certain date..come back by a certain date etc. I was not deterred and booked a day return for the end of October. Always make sure you read the small print because if you want to change the ticket there might be a large cost implication that ruins the "bargain."
The day arrived and I got up at 5 a.m and wandered down to the Station hoping that the Southern Trains were not on strike and I hadn't heard about a last minute change. Anyway, it was all fine the train arrived and I was in Ashford International within 50 minutes.
I am often late but today I was early..hoorah! I had time to buy a coffee and wonder in amazement at the check in area. I was like a little girl reflecting on train journies of my youth. A friend of mine joked "have you got your Bradshaws Guide?" "Don't be silly.." I said "the Eurostar hadn't been invented in Bradshaws day."
Everything was organized, civilised and quiet until I boarded the train. I found my compartment and there to my horror was a lady and her toddler climbing all over my seat! Well! Really...Anyway, the lady was polite and moved to another seat.. Be careful as it appears that some people do not pre-book and just randomly sit where there is a space. As the Train was going to Lille and ending up in Marseille there would be plenty of passengers getting on and off.
I arrived in Gare de Lille Flanders around 9.30 a.m. local time. Lille was very quiet and then I realised it was because the shops do not open until 10.00 a.m. The shops stay open later than the UK, around 9 p.m.
Anyway, in the Central Square are plenty of Cafes where you can enjoy a Coffee and a Croissant until the shops, museums and attractions open.
Lille is very grand and the buildings are staggeringly beautiful..
It is great to wander around the streets that to begin with were very quiet. However, around 10.30 Lille begins to wake up and people start rushing to work.
I retreated to a coffee shop for a well earned Croissant. I was delighting in world travel...Ashford one minute Lille the next. Well, not quite but you know what I mean? During the first weekend in September Lille close the streets and hold La Braderie a hugh antique market in the streets. There is live music and moulles et frites on every corner. A good time to go if you like antiques and mussels!
I discovered that it is possible to take wine/liquids back on the train as long as the suitcase has the correct dimensions. So, unlike the airlines it is possible to buy wine and spirits so I headed to Carrefour in the huge Shopping Mall next to the Train Station..
I wander round the Supermarket salivating at all the wonderful food..
I thought my French was quite good. After all I have lived in France, admittedly some years ago. So it wasn't until I started rubbing cream on my face thinking to myself "this is thick", that I decided to read the label. It seemed that I was rubbing hair conditioner into my face.. I felt such a twit, screwed the cap back on the bottle and slid it back onto the shelf!
Time soon passes and so with a bag full of French goodies I headed back to the Train. Again, there was an air of calm when I boarded the train until I got to my seat. There in my seat was a girl breaking a baguette into pieces and spreading cheese everywhere. She had a laptop on the other seat. "Is this your seat? " she asked. "Yes" I replied. "Well I am having my lunch" she said. We then proceeded to have a somewhat heated discussion and I asked her if she could move. I complained to the guard and he just walked off. I waited for a while for the girl to unplug her laptop. In the meantime I was surrounded by people trying to get to their seats and a French lady saying "I don't understand what eeez 'appening?"
After what seemed like ages I relented and moved to another seat.
Perhaps I should have complained more and they might have "upgraded" me but I didn't. I sat for an hour feeling fed up that my seat was covered in camembert and I wasn't in the seat that I had booked... quel dommage!
I didn't let the seat problem ruin my day. I wandered home, unpacked my French goodies feeling very happy
and even happier when I had made Tartiflette, a French Alpine Dish from the Reblochon Cheese I had carried home..Bon Appetit!
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