There and Back Again
On a global scale I didn't go away that long (4 days) or travel that far (1800 miles), but I certainly feel as if I have returned from a decent adventure.
Things whose reputation has been enhanced in my eyes: the Eurostar, the TGV (in fact, just rail travel in general) the vast majority of Parisians and Toulousains, French cuisine (with special reference to the glory that is confit duck) and Munster rugby.
Also Radio 4 (especially given that Test Match Special was on the air), proper tea (actually more to do with proper milk), and the Times crossword, because I had access to none of them and realised how much I couldn't live without more or less daily access to such things. Hmmm. For a man who spent a good part of the weekend wearing a provocative red rugby shirt, that makes me sound rather too much like John Major.
Things which have not impressed me: French trade unions, the selfish bastards. And small French dogs who bite you when the bastard French unions have compelled you to spend an unscheduled night in Montparnasse. That's about it, actually. I seem to be channelling John Major again, which is not really me, oh no.
Last week I went to the wedding of a college friend (to take place in the vicinity of Toulouse, which is unusual for men from Bolton), and another friend agreed with me that for men unrestricted by wives, children or time constraints, first class overnight rail was the only civilised option; I think I'd been reading Jerome K Jerome, and couldn't help feeling that it was the option he would have chosen. In time I may write a little more about trains, or just start planning the next journey instead.
Things whose reputation has been enhanced in my eyes: the Eurostar, the TGV (in fact, just rail travel in general) the vast majority of Parisians and Toulousains, French cuisine (with special reference to the glory that is confit duck) and Munster rugby.
Also Radio 4 (especially given that Test Match Special was on the air), proper tea (actually more to do with proper milk), and the Times crossword, because I had access to none of them and realised how much I couldn't live without more or less daily access to such things. Hmmm. For a man who spent a good part of the weekend wearing a provocative red rugby shirt, that makes me sound rather too much like John Major.
Things which have not impressed me: French trade unions, the selfish bastards. And small French dogs who bite you when the bastard French unions have compelled you to spend an unscheduled night in Montparnasse. That's about it, actually. I seem to be channelling John Major again, which is not really me, oh no.
Last week I went to the wedding of a college friend (to take place in the vicinity of Toulouse, which is unusual for men from Bolton), and another friend agreed with me that for men unrestricted by wives, children or time constraints, first class overnight rail was the only civilised option; I think I'd been reading Jerome K Jerome, and couldn't help feeling that it was the option he would have chosen. In time I may write a little more about trains, or just start planning the next journey instead.