This is a special tale of the fun I had getting to the airport on Sunday. Actually my departure is not until 6:30am on Monday, but I decided to devote all of Sunday for the train trip from Colmar to Strasbourg (30 min when I came down) and then out to a hotel near the airport. I thought I was being very generous with time.
So I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and then I was ready to check out. In packing i decided to wear my coat instead of packing it (weather is very mild for this area) so that I had room in my big checked bag for some wine. Priorities. At the desk, when I asked about getting a taxi to the train station, she politely pointed to a sign on the desk telling guests (even in English) know that we should request a taxi 24 hours in advance. OOPS…. totally missed that one. She was able to help me out and locate one from someone she knew. And so the day began.
I arrived at the train station plenty early for the next train to Strasbourg. On Thursday when I came down is was a pleasant 30 minute ride with few passengers. So I confirmed the track number and settled-in to wait for the train. Hmm, the platform began filling up so it looked like it would be a full train. Five minutes before it was due to arrive, there was an announcement that it was running 20 minutes late. No problem, I have all day. More people arrived.
When the train finally arrived, there was a mad rush to board. Me and my massive suitcase plus my carryon and coat scrunched in. Somewhere a nice young (tall) gentleman appeared and helped me with my BIG bag. Before long, he had stowed it in the overhead bin (the one I could barely touch on my tippy toes) and left to find his seat. So I sat there and said a little prayer that one of these other young men would retrieve it for me. We sat… and we sat… Finally more announcements in French and people started scurrying. Found out we had to change trains. Yep, one of the young men did drag that big thing down before he darted off.
So me and all my luggage start following the crowd. YIKES !!! stairs down and then stairs back up the other side. So here I go, slow but sure, stepping my bags down the stairs. I must have looked like a total mess. It was not long before a family came up behind me. Dad took my big bag, teenager grabbed my carryon, and Mama grabbed me my the arm and gently escorted me down the stairs. At the bottom they were off in a flash before I could say thank you. The Alsatians are so kind. On the other side, another kind lady pointed me to the lift. So I joined the gaggle squeezing on the train.
This time I think the momentum alone lifted me and my bags onto the train. Oops, it is now standing room only. I had firm grip on my big bag, and someone placed my carryon on the bike rack. Did I mention my big bag has wheels that roll really well? Well, it does. Since there was no way to secure it I was afraid it would escape and try to be a bowling ball for all the folks standing, including me. So I placed my foot as a brake on the wheels and hung onto the pole. More kind Alcasians offered me their seat. I politely declined (at least I hope it came out as polite) and settled in for the ride with me, my big bag and my pole.
We finally began our packed journey with three stops along the way instead of the one coming down. At the first stop only a few got off and more got on. So we waited… and waited…. and waited to begin again. That is when I noticed that someone on the platform had fainted and was being attended, including by some of the train personnel. That took some time to resolve, but then we were on our way.
From then on things were less eventful. Oh, remember the coat that I said I wore even though I didn’t need it so I didn’t have to pack it? Well, I REALLY did not need it on a standing-room-only train. The good news is that I am now at an airport hotel and immediately requested a taxi at 4:30am for my 6:40 flight.
Should be smooth sailing from here and I can return to writing a few more posts to describe my few days in Colmar. I just had to share this one first.