Any trip that involves an aeroplane flight nowadays is not an adventure, it is an endurance test. Just getting out of the house is a bit of a stress test. The 30 mile trip to the airport is another. Check in was fine, thanks to these tickets that cost the earth. Next is the airport security check. That reduces all of us to some sub-human species that faithfully obeys some immigrant visitor to this country that says, very nicely, 'spread your legs I am going to touch, OK?' On fear of death we say 'sure'
Once past that and 10 minutes dressing ourselves in front of 20 complete strangers we feel like we just passed some sort of super test, so we feel good. Then we wait. With hundreds of other souls that somehow feel that they are more important than anybody else in the airport. We line up like obedient trained seals to board the aircraft as it is important to get to that seat and make sure there is room for your generous sized carry on.
Finally, time to go get on this long cylindrical coffin-shaped object they call an aircraft.
Boarding: They usually ask family with children, disabled and elderly to board first. They also advise those in first and business class that they can board anytime. I have gotten used to delicately making my way through a phalanx of people who secretly hate those seated at the front of the aircraft or worse still in a separate cabin up front.
However, once seated in those lofty seats up front, a whole new world opens up. Your day's woes are soon forgotten as you discover your own private space that takes up at least 4 or 6 regular seats. It is a torrent of attention and service, drinks, jackets taken away, friendly smiles and warm hand towels. And heck, we are half an hour from take off yet!
The service was unreal. The food was too much to write about, but all was petite in size and so tasteful. How soon we forget the huddled masses mere feet behind us. Oh well, take it while it's there, in a few hours we will be those huddled masses again.
Sure enough, after a very good flight and a rather awkward sleep in spite of the Lay Flat bed, we were set free in the cavernous Paris Airport. (CDG)
Good friends Jim and Gail are in Paris for a few days more and it crossed my mind to get together and have a coffee but that lasted about a minute before I cam to my senses about the logistics of such a plan.
Oh boy, Paris, and thanks to the change in flights we now have 10 hours (choke) to explore. However, we arrived in steady rain which dampened any thoughts of a quick jaunt in. Just as well because by the looks of 3/4 of us we just wanted to stay put in a comfortable sofa seat and nibble on French food and wine while we waited. This we did.
There is no doubt that a long travel day does wear on your body. At the scheduled departure time of the connecting flight to Montpellier it was almost exactly 24 hours since we left home and we still had another four hours to go after that.
Not complaining, just reporting the facts Mam!
Great to be here safe and sound. We had a quick shower and hit the sack while our younger companions went for a walk.
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