The Grand Rail Trip of 2022 - PART 10
Updated: Jan 27, 2024
It was an epic adventure spanning four countries, two Theme Parks, one Grand Slam Tennis Tournament and over 1,000 miles of Train Track. This is the amazing story of what happened along the way!
Sacre Coeur, Lunch at Gare Du Nord & The Journey Home
The final day of this truly extraordinary trip, and still time to visit arguably one of the most magnificent buildings in Paris, the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur completed in 1914.
Situated at the summit of a hill in Montmartre, it is the highest point in the city and the second-most visited landmark in Paris, and of course offers more spectacular views, which I had almost become immune to at this stage!
The inside is just as stunning, adorned by stained-glass windows, statues and crypts. It was a pleasure to look around, even on a bustling Saturday.
A short walk through the upmarket district of Montmartre took me back to Gare Du Nord, where I would later depart back to London. On a Train Blogger's advice, I decided to have a final Lunch treat at a classy restaurant opposite the station, this time getting back to British conventions with a classic and delicious Fish and Chips with a trademark French Wine!
Entering Gare Du Nord, I collected my bags from the station locker and explored this massive 36-platform station (I had been to one bigger, Grand Central in New York with 44 platforms, but most of those are underground, so this seemed bigger). Time to grab a quick drink before going up the escalator for check-in with Eurostar.
Unlike the trip out, this was somewhat comical at the French end, with machines breaking down and other odd delays, but after longer than seemed necessary, I was through Passport Control. This seemed even more inexplicable when I boarded the Train. There were about 5 people in our carriage! A lovely, relaxing almost private Train on the way back, watching the sunset twice over - bliss!
After about 2 and a half hours in Real Time, I was back where this whole epic adventure started - London St. Pancras, next to Sir John Betjeman and the giant clock!
Time to reflect on everything I had experienced, it had truly been a life-enhancing time, and something I would never do in quite the same way again. Mind-boggling in scale and what a sense of achievement at the end of it!
I got myself a little celebratory wine to enjoy back home, and got my domestic train to the South Coast. It was certainly weird to be hearing English announcements again!
What a couple of weeks, definitely on a par with my New York trip, and memories that will last a lifetime!
Comments