Planes, trains, and automobiles. And bus…

My voyage began yesterday as I got an Uber at 10:45 to take me to the Amtrak station in Wilmington, De. I got there early because I thought I would need to check one of my bags. I did not, so I had time to kill. The nice women in the Hudson concessions store tried to help me find the right audio cable for my Beats headphones. One pulled out an empty suitcase and said she was ready to go to France with me!

I went up to the platform early even though it was kind of chilly. It was a clear blue sky day and I knew I was going to be cooped up indoors for the many hours until I get to Lyon. A woman asked me if it was the right train to Newark Penn station and I said I thought so because it’s a regional. She had accidentally gotten on the Acela and was told to get off at the next station. We had a nice chat about electric cars. She was very dissatisfied with her all electric Volkswagen. She was taking the train the Newark because the last time she drove, she had to stop four times to charge. She helped me get one of my bags on the train and then that was the end of that interaction.

I impressed the man behind me when I got my large suitcase up into the overhead rack. I was

kind of impressed too. I found out when I checked in, it weighed 37 pounds.

The train ride to Newark Liberty airport stop was quite. I managed to get the suitcases off the train and on the elevator to the team platform only to find out the tram was down for the day, so they were putting us all on buses to the terminals. This is why I leave plenty of time in my travel connections!!

After I found the check in, the signage was not clear, I cleared security fairly quickly and made my way to the SAS lounge to hang out while I waited for my flight. Boarding went quickly, but then we had a delay getting a vehicle to push us back from the gate. The later departure however, made for a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline at night.

I tried to work my French but the Air France people could tell I didn’t have it, but they appreciated the effort. After a nice meal and part of a Korean movie called “Cat Kiss,” it was lights out for me.

I woke up about an hour and a half from Paris so I decided to finish the movie and have a hot breakfast. We landed on time and after a LONG walk, I am through customs and chilling in the Air France lounge for a few hours before my flight to Lyon.