I know some of you really enjoy my tales of disaster and woe. So here's a good one... (and it can't even be converted into a funny story like my 500 pound roommate!!!)
The logistics were a bit difficult, since I tried to insert a Coldplay concert in Lyon in between a trip to Krakow and my flight to Mauritius... but it all went as planned... flight on EasyJet (a.k.a. SleazyJet) from Krakow to Paris, and a 2-hour train ride from Paris to Lyon. (to put it in perspective, it used to take me 75-90 minutes to get to my flat in central London from Heathrow!!) Anyhow, although I cut it a bit close for catching my train, all went well.... until arriving in Lyon.
I'd chosen a decent hotel, not far from the main train station. I arrived to find a building site... well, I did find a "reception desk" in between a bunch of painters and other workmen busily renovating the reception area and restaurant, all while maintaining the illusion (at least on the website) that the hotel is operating normally.
After managing to get my room, I went off to find out the situation regarding the transit strike. I'd chosen the hotel because it was not only close to the train station, but it was also next to the one metro line that would take me down to south Lyon for the concert. Ah... but "essential services" (if there's such a thing in France) includes all metro lines except the one I required - it also doesn't include the tram line that would have gotten me close. OK... plan B... there's a bus that should take me there... an hour and a bit of waiting later, I concluded that I wasn't going to make it on the bus either... Plan C...well, just try to find a taxi in any major city in the midst of a transit strike... yeah, you get the idea...
So, back to the hotel... probably for the best, since I doubt I would have found a taxi back, along with 5000 other people... and even more, right about the time the concert would have ended, there was a massive rainstorm, so I'm quite happy I didn't try to walk.
But, yeah.... 2 hours on a plane, 2 hours on a train... 7 hours including all of the waiting and connections... and all that just to watch a DVD on my laptop in a sterile hotel room in a hotel undergoing renovations. What a special day!!!
And yes... when I took the bus to the airport this morning, there were lots of buses on the road and the metro was open! I wonder if the head of the transit union hates Coldplay!!! But I definitely won't be rushing back to France any time soon!
What they think about me...
11 years ago
1 comment:
Oh, the French! I lived in France for 2 years, and all I can say is that striking is a part of their culture. It is unbelievable how disruptive they are (I know that is the point, but in contrast, German workers strike in a non-disruptive way: they strike for a certain amount of time, which is painful but not unbearable, they make sure that they keep public support on their side by not directly penalizing them too much for their woes).
I went to highschool in France, and I was flying home for Xmas and the whole week leading up to my flight either Air France was striking (yeah, I'm smart, booking a ticket on a French partly goverment owned airline...never again!) Or the air controllers. I was living in Dijon, and the train was striking, so I couldn't get up to Paris that way, so the mother of a friend drove me to the airport: luckily on Saturday, although the train union was still stiking, Air France and the air controllers were back at work...but would you believe? My flight was delayed, because baggage handlers had a last minute strike, that was luckily resolved just before our flight took off. Un-freaking-believable!
I have been lurking on your site for weeks (I came thru Stacy's blog). I can relate to many of your stories as I have often traveled with Intrepid (China, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam). Starting a new group tour is like going on a blind date, you hope for the best, accept what you get, and grin and bear it until it's over. However, I must say, I have been unusally lucky and have kept in touch with many travelling companions over the years.
I look forward to reading more of your adventures and perhaps living vicariously!
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