Trip underway!

It’s just before 7:30 in the morning here and I have  a few minutes before I make my way to the airport so dashing off a quick hello.  

The goodbyes were tough but mercifully short; the train pulled into the station as soon as we walking on to the platform.  Is there anything sadder than prolonged goodbyes??  We really had not much more time than it took for me to get to my car, a few minutes chatting in the open doorway and then I was off…..  I always have Emily book me a first class train ticket as it is only a few euro more than 2nd class.  It all sounds very la tee da maybe but in reality it is a nice seat in a modern car and very comfy with a foot rest, pull down tray, electronics plug in…… and I haven’t ever gone to the bar car for food or a drink, preferring just to tuck in and enjoy the ride.  I was lucky yesterday to have a single seat and facing forward so I put in my ear buds, put on a podcast and watched the French countryside pass me by.

When I got off the train at the airport I had to do some jigs and reels to get to the airport shuttle train.  No issue, jumped into a packed car before it pulled out, moved aside at the first two stops as most people made their way off.  At the 3rd stop the car was quite empty, I alighted and turned to walk left down the platform when I heard and saw a commotion a few yards ahead of me and to my right.  A woman and a man, I’d say in their 40s, had a younger (early 20s?) woman pinned to the ground who was screaming and yelling in French.  Seriously my first thought was that it was a medical emergency and the young woman was having an attack of some sort.  It even in a nano second came to me that maybe she was birthing a baby; she was screaming in such distress and I couldn’t see the shape of her form and my mind was working quickly trying to process….  The older of the two women looked up at me, by then I had taken a few steps towards them, and with her cell phone held up in her right hand implored me, in English to call the police.  I had to tell her I didn’t even know how to do that (I know, I know, I should know how to do this in a foreign country, guess best I would do on my own is to press the emergency button on my keypad!) and turned away.  And then I heard what was happening as others stopped to assist – and the older woman started shouting “She’s stolen our money!  She’s stolen out money!  Call the police!  Someone call the police!”.  Gheesh.  They would have been on the train just before me and although I don’t think my money is easily accessed off my person I don’t know if it would stand up against a professional pickpocket in a packed train car!  And obviously the young woman did not want to give over the money or had and didn’t want the police to come and take her away so she was begging to be let go while struggling to do so.

This event rattled me because immediately after I had to walk into the dark night, pass by a parking area and down a sidewalk to the hotel area.  I can tell you I was on high alert the whole time; what if the young woman had accomplices who were now outside looking for a potential victim??  And at my, ahem, age and diminutive stature I always think I must look like an easy mark.  (I would be in reality, take it all but please leave my passport……)

Nothing happened, I safely tucked into my room, did a quick trip to the gym to do my arm exercises, ate my sandwich for dinner that I bought at the train station……. et voila, here I am, showered and ready for the massive trip ahead.  Hope this finds everyone not too cold as I hear some parts of Canada are in a deep freeze.  Brrrrrrrr.

Photo of Daredevil Nina and her not so Daredevil Naja, Thursday afternoon.

Stay safe.  And warm.  A bientot.  xo

PS: Thanks for the positive feedback on the Fireman Story.  Will release the next segment soon I promise! :)p