Best of Burgundy Day 18
Best of Burgundy
DAY 18 - 10-06-05 - Thursday - Paris/Lyon/Frankfurt/Denver/Home
When the alarm sounded at 5 AM and the wake up call came through, we were out of bed in a shot and were ready for breakfast at 5:40. Once again, the breakfast coffee and breads were served to us and we served ourselves fresh fruit, cheese and ham. We went upstairs (2nd floor) to our room, picked up our two travel bags and backpacks and returned to the lobby to pay our bill and bid the Terminus Lyon goodbye.
We walked across to the Gare de Lyon railroad station and waited for our train to appear on the board. When it did, our train would depart from Track 15 for Miramar. I could only see A-K, no numbers. I checked with Information where we would find #15 and as they could not understand English nor I French, they sent us downstairs. Once there we saw that it was only the Metro. French troops were patrolling the area and one black gentleman who spoke English stepped up and told us that the only TVG trains were all upstairs. I went back to Information and the guys told me again to go downstairs. By this time I was getting very nervous as our departure was for 6:54 and it was already 6:35. When I arrived the military guys were there to help us again, but now others joined in. The black gentleman carrying his automatic weapon told us to follow him and in a very fast pace, took us back upstairs and in the southeast portion of the terminal was another whole section with bullet trains. He point out Track 15 and helped us find our car (#5). By this time we were perspiring heavily but glad to be on the train. We stowed our luggage and then found our seats.
The trip to the Lyon Airport was very uneventful but rapid. Less than two hours. People were once again very subdued, talking quietly, sleeping, playing video games or listening to music. Once we arrived we followed the people and entered the terminal. It is very modern and with help from Information we quickly found Lufthansa, checked in, went through security, and were in the waiting area in less than 20 minutes. I had been concerned about the connections but the reception people at the Hotel Boscolo in Lyon had done a superb job getting us reservations from Paris to Lyon Airport and examining all possibilities for connections.
We took off from Lyon on time, flew over the French and Swiss Alps seeing the mountain range in white. What spectacular scenery from this altitude. We arrived at Frankfurt Main and disembarked on the tarmac and were bussed in. We had a very short time between the two flights so we made our way to the international wing. At the first checkpoint the German security man checked my ticket and passport and asked if my name was Spanish. I said no, but Brasilian, raising my hand and extending all five fingers. He burst out laughing, knowing that I meant five World Cups, the most of any nation. Second security was much more cumbersome as everyone was wanded. We arrived at Gate B-25 and went through the Lufthansa check-in with the attendant saying "ah, business, nice way to travel!" I replied that there was one better and we both chuckled.
With a 15 minute wait to board, Gennie and I entered the aircraft and were greeted by the flight attendants. We sat in seats 2 A & C this time and enjoyed the amenities of more leg room, foot and leg rests, and an exceptional menu. Considering what we paid to upgrade to Business Class we calculated that the Mozart chocolates they served after "lunch" to be over $300 each! As we passed over Greenland, a Danish possession, we had clear skies, bright sun and everyone on the plane was looking out the windows. What a sight to see the towering mountains, glaciers, ice fields and all that snow. I had never seen Greenland cloud free in all the times I have flown over it. As we flew west we got into turbulence and more clouds. Two hours before landing we were again served a "snack" meal. We arrived in Denver about 10 minutes late as we had to approach from the south. It was warm, sunny and very dry. Immigration was quick, our luggage came rapidly, and we were through customs and on to get the Pikes Peak Shuttle Bus. After a quick stop at Safeway for some groceries we made it home by 6 PM, 2 AM in Paris. A long day but exciting.
I have been reluctant to editorialize about the people of France and how we have been received for fear of jinxing ourselves. Now that we are on our way home we can say that all the horror stories we had heard about the French people and country were so erroneous. In 18 days we never had an incident, a rude person, or any nasty comments. The French were fantastic - hospitable, welcoming, and generally warm. The few times we had any difficulty was because I could not understand the language, certainly not their fault. Of the 300+ pictures I took of French people, I only had three that said no when I asked. This is far better than any other country we have visited with the possible exception of Costa Rica. The countryside of France is a photographer's dream with all the old chateaus, houses, streets and alleys. Paris is a big city but it has charm. The transportation system in the city and country is exceptional and once one learns the how it works, it is easy to use. As to the food, everyone knows the answer to this wonderful part of French culture. Lastly, thanks to our OAT guide Michel, who was very accommodating, educated us, and brought our group together as we traveled through the Burgundy region of France.
If you wish to travel with OAT Click Here.
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A CD OF EACH TRIP IS AVAILABLE.
These CDs are compilations of slide presentations of each day (pictures of the events during the day) accompanied by music reflective of the nation and day.
On most CDs there are presentations on the people of the country, people traveling with the group, flowers, and panoramas.
On more recent trips, short videos have been included on the web pages and these videos are also available in the CD.
The CD is available for $20 US. Shipping and handling is included for US addresses. Slightly higher for overseas shipping.
To view an example of the presentations Click Here
As it is an 8:13 presentation, give yourself time to see it in its entirety.
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