Europe 2018 Day 15 - Travel to Paris

We made the short walk from the Airbnb to the Nice-Ville station, where we had our first coffee of the day. We soon found out that rail work near Marseilles meant that the first leg of today's train trip would occur by bus instead, as far as Aix-en-Provence.

Boarding a bus around the corner, things picked up considerably once we were free from Nice traffic, and soon found ourselves speeding along the highway past low vineyards and high cliffs. I know France is known for its wines.....but still, I was unprepared for the sheer volume of vineyards lining even the highway.

We arrived in Aix-en-Provence before our planned train trip would have arrived, as the bus took a more direct route without passing through Marseilles. We grabbed sandwiches from the "Paul" take-away, delicious concoctions of simple but fresh baguette, ham and cheese.

As we waited to board the very high speed TGV train, we noted that beyond telling travellers on which platform the train would arrive....the signage even told us the specific area of the platform from which any given coach car of the train would board - very useful information to give Crutchie a head start to stand in the right place! Merci!!!

The high speed ride that ensued (up to 320 km/h) wound through rolling hills and steep tunnels, as we saw the majority of central France blur past from south to north. Arriving in Gare Lyon in downtown Paris, we made our way out front and lined up to catch a taxi. Our skilled driver sped us efficiently to the 1st Arrondissement, to the Saint James Albany Hotel, which would be our home for four wonderful nights.

With such a great location, across from the Jardins des Tuileries, beside the Louvre and steps from the Seine, we could conveniently strike out and explore The City of Light in all directions. After checking in at the hotel, as likely the only guests with backpacks, we opted for dinner at a nearby McDonalds. You can judge us if you like, but at the end of a long day of travel, one does not risk summoning Hangry Jane with a notoriously long wait at a proper Parisian restaurant.

Monaco has their own trains!

Beautiful Gare Nice-Ville

Taking the bus to Aix-en-Provence

Rugged southern France

Vineyards everywhere!

Back to the rails in Aix-en-Provence

They even tell you which part of the platform your specific coach will stop nearest!

Arriving in Paris Gare Lyon

Taxi Queue out front

Front of Gare Lyon train station

Room 205 for four nights!

Some local beers for the room

We don't belong here....

Our hotel for four nights!