On Sunday, August 30th, at 2h02, I took off from the airport in Charlotte. The plane was very small, and I fortunately had a window seat. The flight was uneventful, except for the landing, where I got to see New York city for the first time.
After two hours in Newark, I boarded the plane to France. I've never been on one so large! I has an aisle seat for the ~7 hour flight. The seats all had TVs behind the headrests with a wide selection of shows and movies to pass the time. Despite the melatonin and complementary glass of wine, I didn't sleep at all and instead played dozens of riveting games of solitaire and watched the flight trajectory on the screen slowly move across the Atlantic.
When we landed in Paris on schedule, at 7h45. After filing off the plane, the rush of people pulled me in what I assumed to be the right direction. Some signs were in English, but none of the signs seemed conveniently located for a first time international traveler. I wound up in the correct line for border control, where I waited for about 45 minutes with other impatient Americans. I got through without a problem and collected my bags. I regret overpacking, but I also like that I brought enough things to avoid buying (and having to carry) so much upon arrival.
I fought through the crowds at CDG to where I thought the train station was, so I could catch a high speed train (TGV) to Lille. I waited in line at a ticket machine for about 20 minutes only to discover that the machine only produced tickets for travel in the Paris area. Then I waited in the correct line, where I couldn't figure out the machine and needed two French people to help me because no one knew what was going on. I then had an hour wait, during which I paid to use the restroom for the first time. The best part was that it wasn't clean, I just paid €.70 to pee in a very dirty room (and be interrupted by someone).
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| Near where I waited for the train- you ride a bike to charge your phone |
I lugged my bags downstairs and onto the train platform. When I was boarding, I asked for help finding my seat. I was directed to a specific car and was told to go to the back, but the attendant left before I could ask him to clarify exactly where I should be. I asked the first person I saw to help and they just told me to sit next to them. I slept most of the way there. I did realize, though, that no one checked that I had a ticket to board. The system was based on people being honest (this is similar to my experience with metro tickets, as well).
I arrived in Lille and got lost twice after leaving the building from different exits. I found my way to a taxi and I was whisked away over the cobblestone streets to the hotel. I checked in, and found my way up to the room:
Though I didn't need the bunk bed, I appreciated the space-saving initiative!
Immediately after arrival here, I made plans with Raul, a friend from high school who is also studying abroad in Lille this year. I didn't stop the entire day, to avoid having the jet lag hit me too hard.
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