London

or: Three x First Eurostar Trip Learnings

I learnt a few things about traveling on the Eurostar as a result of my first trip:

1. Timing is everything. 
2. Seat selection requires research.
3. English Border Control happens in Paris straight after the French passport check.

1. Timing is everything

It is most cost effective to book a trip on the Eurostar as far in advance as possible. I did alright on this front for my return to London from Paris though would have saved even more had I known when I was going to travel a little earlier.

Savings can be huge!

2. Seat selection requires research

My Eurostar window seat

I chose a window seat so I could take photos as we sped by the French countryside before entering the tunnel to cross the English Channel. I also chose a seat in this particular area so I could keep an eye on my luggage which needs to be placed in a specific rack.

One part of my rationale held, the other did not.

What it meant was I could nap without being disappointed that I was missing seeing anything.

I had glimpses through other windows which reminded me of inspecting an apartment in Neutral Bay many years ago. The advertisement said “Harbour glimpses”. It did if you were a tall guy (or perhaps a tall woman with a she-pee) standing over the toilet in the bathroom. Anyone else and anywhere else would be unaware there Sydney Harbour was nearby.

I had been awake since stupid o’clock as I was concerned I would miss the train. After my hassles with one train trip in England already, one plane missed and a few near misses over my life, I lean toward being overly cautious with the amount of time I allow myself to get ready, time at the station / terminal and even between checking-in and boarding.

It results in me going to bed anxious when my trip is in the morning so my sleeps those nights are typically sub-par. This night / morning was no exception.

My adrenaline rush at passport control then saw a further slump in energy levels which made a nap more of a necessity than what it was already.

3. English Border Control happens in Paris straight after the French passport check

Checking in at Paris was a relatively straightforward process.

I went through the passport stamp area to leave Paris and the next section is the English Border Control. As you may remember, I had hassles entering England earlier this year so I was a little concerned what would happen this time.

I had all my paperwork prepared – three months of bank statements printed in colour, a letter from a friend that said I could stay with her and attested to my good character and my ability to financially support myself and the various flights I have booked in the coming months.

I was nervous.

The unsmiling woman fired questions at me like an automatic weapon. She asked about various dates I was going to be traveling, when I would end up back in Australia and if I worked there. I needed to explain I was based in HK, why I was traveling and why I wasn’t supported by a corporation in my travels.

She asked me to tell her why she was asking me so many questions. I was very tempted to be a smart-arse yet managed to use my mouth as a filter for my brain even in my state of tiredness. There are so many things I could have said instead and perhaps that I couldn’t make up my mind which comment was more humorous to me is what really saved me and had nothing to do with my mouth filter working.

I replied it was because I hadn’t brought the bank statements and the letter last time and my travel plans were still fluid at that stage so it looked like my final flight out of England was going to be almost six months away so they were concerned.

She then stamped my passport but the stamp smudged so she needed to do it again. She apologised and said that this wasn’t meant to happen and seemed to hesitate about drawing a line through this stamp and what that would mean.

I told her not to worry, these things happen and I’m sure it will all be fine.

I smiled.

She still didn’t.

I walked through to security.

* Thanks to The KLF. For those that have missed their music videos, click here. They have reformed after 23 years so who knows, they could be performing near you at some stage.