World Coins

Train Travel: I Love You and I Hate You

Some people are clumsy-they spill their drinks and trip over carpets, others have a knack for stepping in dog poo, but I have bad luck taking trains while in Europe.

It started on my first vacation to France at the Gare de Lyon. I bought a TGV ticket to a city in the South of France. Listening carefully to the ticket agent, I took the stairs to the top level and found the large schedule board. My French at the time was borderline novice and I was by myself. I asked the center information booth if I was in the right area. I was, but somehow managed to get on the slow train instead of the TGV. What should have taken 3.5 hours took me 8 or 9.

While in the Netherlands, I wanted to take the train from Amsterdam to Maastrict. Unfortunately, I had to transfer. Yup, missed my connection - I forget why.

The train from major airports to nearest cities have been a catastrophe. I was tired, they were in a different language. I got on, went to a wrong area, got off, found my way back and did it right. Seems like I would pay attention the first time.

I don't know how this has befallen upon me. Did I wrong a train steward when I was 16? Does transporting make me crazy? Do I suffer from a fear of trains? Am I directionally challenged? Frankly, I can navigate a map like there is no tomorrow and my keen spacial ability can get me out of a directional snafu but train travel thwarted me for a long time.

That is until recently...

Knowing I have this deficiency with train travel, I plan this aspect of my travels thoroughly. The last trip to France I didn't have time to...

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