In retrospect, today was a day of firsts. Let us start from the beginning shall we!
As I am writing this, I am sitting in the DFW airport waiting for my plane. I gave myself two hours to get through security but I ended up only 5. At the entrance to the airport security there is a TSA officer that checks your ticket and such. The man checked my ticket then told me to go to the line on the far left. Come to find out that in this "special" line you do not have to take your laptop out of your bag, take off your shoes, take out your liquids from your bag or anything. I had traveled internationally before and had to go through regular security, so I do not know why this time was different. Either way, I'm not complaining! Anywho, I am going to buy an extremely overpriced bottle of water because flying dehydrates me (I'm a baby). I'll write again once I am in the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris!
So. I made it. Navigating the airport was surprisingly easy! 1) because most signs written in French are accompanied by an English translation. 2) I have a basic foundation in the French language, but you would fair well because... 3) everyone is extremely friendly and helpful! Of course each person's experience will differ, but everyone I spoke to, whether they were a foreign traveler, a French citizen going home or an airport employee, was more than patient and willing to assist me through my broken French. A few times I had to ask people to slow down when speaking because it was hard for me to understand and not one person showed any sign of offense when I asked this. A few times I resorted to English and everyone was really accommodating. I even made a friend with a girl from Bordeaux which is not terribly far from Limoges!!
If you are traveling to Paris from the airport it might be easier (and cheaper) for you to use the train directly from the airport to Paris instead of a taxi. If you are going to use a taxi, When you leave the airport you might see people claiming to be taxi drivers outside the airport doors. Keep on walking because the real taxi drivers are further down in a special area for the real french taxi drivers.
Because I was going to Limoges, which is in central France (Paris is in Northern France) I took the SNCF TGV train to Poitier. Poitier is where you switch trains if you wish to go to Limoges or any of the various cities on the way. If you are taking the TGV and you need to print your ticket, you have to go to a special TGV area you can not miss it. It is bright pink and says TGV everywhere. If you need help finding it, there are plenty information desks everywhere, which is wonderful! You'll notice when walk the the TGV area that there is a huge line on the left, this is for people to try try try trying buy a ticket, if you buy your ticket ahead of time you go to a counter on the right (there was no one in line when I walked in) and a nice man or women will print off your ticket and explain where to go! Once you have your ticket, you will wait outside the TGV area and watch one of the several blue screens for your train. The first three trains on the screen have the platform number that the train will stop on to the right of the train's destination. Once your train has a set platform number (it was 1-6 in my case) you will follow signs to your platform which will be downstairs. Make sure that you are on the correct platform because the platforms are separated by railways so you would have to go back up and down the stairs to catch your train. Once you are on your proper platform, look for a illuminated sign that pictures the train you are about to take. The sign shows you the train cars and where exactly on the platform each car will stop. For example, I was in car 6 which was stopped in between C and D. The signs that say A, B, C, D, etc... are huge and hanging from above, so it is hard to miss. For the TGV you have an assigned seat and it is important that you sit in your assigned seat because a ticket handler comes through and checks all of the tickets. If you do not have a ticket, they will give you one at an upcharge. If your flight comes in late and you miss your original train and hop on another train that you do not have a ticket for, find a staff member who works on the train once you get on-board and explain the circumstances. You still be charged for the new ticket (and at a slight upcharge) but it is less than if they catch you hitching a ride.
Whew! This is a VERY serious blog so far ... but hopefully the rest will have a lighter tone! Just trying to give you some initial travel info! Alright, I caught my breath. Back to the dry facts.
So! You are on the train* yay * now where do you put your luggage? Well, if you are lucky and get there early, there is a place for you to put your luggage in next to the train entrance.If you are an unfortunate soul such as myself, all of those spaces will be gone once you enter the train. You can not have your luggage in the isle, so people just leave their luggage in the little the entrance/walking area on the train in front of the doors. If you do this, I highly suggest that you check your luggage at every one stop because it is not unheard of that someone walks out with a strangers luggage (whether it be by accident or not).
So for me, I got off the TGV at Poitiers and transferred onto the TER for Limoges. The Poitiers train station makes you pay .50 euros to use the restroom, but if you wait for the TER the bathrooms on the train are free. Also, on the TER the seating is open so you can sit where ever your heart desires! Or where ever there is room... Limoges is the final stop on the TER train that you would take, so you do not have to worry about missing your stop which is nice. Once you arrive in Limoges, there are taxi's outside, but I suggest booking a hotel close to the station and staying there for the night or for your entire trip. The hotel I stayed in was 2 blocks away from the station, clean, safe and the ladies working downstairs were very nice and helped me with my French annunciation. Also, if you stay close to the station there are parks, restaurants, museums, cathedrals, pharmacies, supermarkets, bakeries and more, all within a 5-7 minute walk of Place Jourdan which is kind of like an town intersection.
If you plan to stay in a hotel, know that some rooms have shared showers on the floor. There is a private shower option but these are usually more expensive. So if you don't mind getting to know your neighbors, try out the good ol fashion dormitory style bathrooms! You still have your own toilet and sink in your bedroom. And the toilet area in your room is separated by a screen instead of a door. Fun fact.
There are a lot of other little things that I will comment on later but as for now, this will do!
Au revoir,
Candice
So for me, I got off the TGV at Poitiers and transferred onto the TER for Limoges. The Poitiers train station makes you pay .50 euros to use the restroom, but if you wait for the TER the bathrooms on the train are free. Also, on the TER the seating is open so you can sit where ever your heart desires! Or where ever there is room... Limoges is the final stop on the TER train that you would take, so you do not have to worry about missing your stop which is nice. Once you arrive in Limoges, there are taxi's outside, but I suggest booking a hotel close to the station and staying there for the night or for your entire trip. The hotel I stayed in was 2 blocks away from the station, clean, safe and the ladies working downstairs were very nice and helped me with my French annunciation. Also, if you stay close to the station there are parks, restaurants, museums, cathedrals, pharmacies, supermarkets, bakeries and more, all within a 5-7 minute walk of Place Jourdan which is kind of like an town intersection.
If you plan to stay in a hotel, know that some rooms have shared showers on the floor. There is a private shower option but these are usually more expensive. So if you don't mind getting to know your neighbors, try out the good ol fashion dormitory style bathrooms! You still have your own toilet and sink in your bedroom. And the toilet area in your room is separated by a screen instead of a door. Fun fact.
There are a lot of other little things that I will comment on later but as for now, this will do!
Au revoir,
Candice
No comments:
Post a Comment