Lyon to London - high dramas, the Eurostar and my first glimpse of London

Today has been another long train journey - this time from Lyon to Lille to London. But what a stark contrast to the journey to Lyon from Lucerne. 

When I arrived back at the main train station in Lyon, again there were quite a number of soldiers walking about, guns at the ready. But I figured this is their normal precautionary measure, since this time they were dispersed through the very large station. As usual, I arrived very early so I could see how the place worked, where the lifts were, and so forth. I was very pleasantly surprised to find my train to the international station of Lille was very comfortable and clean. However, the train was delayed by about 20 minutes, so I was worried that we might arrive too late for the Eurostar. (You have to report at least 30 minutes before its departure time.) 

The scenery, viewed out of much cleaner windows, was mainly undulating hills devoted to agriculture, though I did see some farms that had wind turbines silently standing there like sentinels watching over their crops. Occasionally there were some charming villages and farmhouses and rivers. Once I saw what looked like an ancient Roman viaduct in the distance.  

At Lille I bolted for the Eurostar, and found myself in long queues to go through their security checks. It was just like boarding a ship at the start of its cruise. When we came to the X-ray machines, they insisted that anyone with an iPad or laptop take it out and have it X-rayed separately. I had not anticipated this, of course, so I had to retrieve my keys from my security pouch, unlock the compartment in my big, heavy backpack where I store it, and take it out, all the while putting everything else through the X-ray machine as well, knowing how many people were waiting patiently behind me. Once I was through, of course, I had to repack my laptop and walk as briskly as I could with all my luggage towards the lift down to the train.

That was when everything went pear-shaped!

Somebody had left a bag unattended at the station so a big security alert went into action. There were police everywhere, security doors went down on all the shops, and we were bustled off as far away as possible, and not allowed to go down to the train. That meant that when the alert was over, we had to go through all the security checks again, and I had to take out my laptop again . . . I barely made it to the train! 

But what luxury awaited me on this very sleek high-speed train. I was in business class, where we were treated like airline passengers, with very well groomed, very polite hostesses serving a light meal, pouring coffee and so on. As I had breakfast at 8 am and it was now about 4 pm, I was really hungry, so that little meal was very welcome. 

Our average speed was about 250 - 300 kph. You hardly noticed the time you spent in the tunnel under the English channel. From start to finish, including the entry and exit tunnels in each country, the tunnel we went through is just over 54 km long. I am going on the Eurostar twice more on my travels, though this time via the Paris Nord station, and I must say I am looking forward to that after today.

Anyhow, I finally arrived at my hotel after chatting with a delightful taxi driver on the way - my first experience of the famous London cabbies. As he pointed out where famous streets and landmarks were, I could swear I was playing Monopoly. In fact the driver said “You must find this like you are playing Monopoly, but then I suppose you have a different Monopoly board in Australia”. I assured him that playing that game all those years ago made me very familiar with many of the famous streets and stations of London. It was intriguing to see how crowded the streets were, too. Everyone was out Friday night shopping, it seemed. And I loved seeing all the red double-decker buses.

I am now settled in my room, having had a delicious light meal of soup and fruit and a pot of tea delivered to my room, and now am revelling in the fact my email is working properly again. That tells me one thing - it depends on where I am whether it works or not!  

I am sorry but I will not be able to write any posts for a few days. I will be too caught up with other things. But I am boarding the ship to take me to Norway, Denmark, the USSR, etc., on Monday morning, so I will try to write the next entry that night, if their WiFi works well. Here's hoping! 

The train from Lyon to Lille.

Inside the Eurostar.