Amsterdam to Paris

Monday morning we had our usual great breakfast at the Posthoorn Guestroom and after saying good bye to Jasper we headed off to Amsterdam Central Station to catch the Thalys Train to Paris. The train station was packed as Schipool Airport had just been closed due to volcanic ash, so people were scrambling for other connections. We didn’t think the train was that busy at the start but by the time we were into Belgium it was jam packed and people were standing in the luggage compartment areas. We have never seen so many train tracks in one location as at Brussels Main Train Station (pictures are attached). Train ride was enjoyable however once we arrived at Gare Nord in Paris it was utter confusion for us. We had to get from Gare Nord over to Gare L’Est and the information kiosk was kind of helpful…… maybe….! Directions to Gare L’Est were sketchy at the best and after we stepped into the mayhem of the streets of Paris we knew we weren’t prepared for this ( “this isn’t Kansas anymore Dorothy”). Anyway using a little sense of direction from the sun (thank goodness it was shining) and lots of luck we finally found Gare L’Est Bus Stop. Yikes that took a long time! As luck would have it, sitting there is Bus #47, the one we were to take to our hotel. We sort of figured out (thanks to Rick Steeves book) that you needed to validate your bus ticket and once the driver arrived we were off to Paris Latin Quarter. Now, we thought the Brussels Train Station was huge…… well Gare L’Est is bigger with more platforms and train tracks and Gare Nord is even larger and more confusing. After crossing the Seine we knew we were close to our destination and got off right after Notre Dame Basillica. We walked to the Hotel Diana and it was time for a drink!!!! Hard to tell we are from a small Canadian town!