Incredible Journey

It is such a pleasure to see your children increase in confidence and competence. Florence's commute to her summer swim camp is a case in point!

This morning at 2:30, Florence set off with Leonardo for Rome's Ciampino airport, about 2 hours from us. She had to lug one large suitcase and a fairly substantial carry-on bag (she was required to take all the swimming gear...kickboard, pullbuoy, etc., as well as sheets and linens).

Florence navigated the airport, no problem (it's fortunately rather small), and flew to Paris Beauvais on her own. Again, a small airport, but she nonetheless had to clear passport control and customs on her own...she was changing countries, after all! Beauvais has the common snag of low-cost airports in that it's a peripheral airport and therefore not very easy to access. 

We had previously looked up strategies for her to get from Beauvais to Paris Gare du Nord (one of the main train stations) but did not know exactly how it would be best. She had the options of a shuttle to a peripheral train station, an hour-plus bus shuttle to Paris center (which would then require her to take the metro), or (worst case scenario) a very expensive taxi ride.

She managed to get the bus shuttle which dumped her out at the metro. She found the correct metro line, got off at the Paris Nord station, and found out about actual train schedules.

The French train tickets cannot be bought online directly from the French trains authority, but rather have to be purchased through a travel agent. Each agent has completely different search engines and different ideas about which trains are available when. Before Florence left, she and I had tried to look up possible train times to have an idea of the trip...but of course, she knew to be flexible and to ask the booking agent at the station.

The clever young woman managed to find a direct train (the online schedules had all indicated a change in Amiens), and arrived at 3:30 this afternoon after 13 hours of travel with baggage.

I think she'll sleep well tonight. And then tomorrow? Three and a half hours in the pool, poor thing....

Love,

Alexandra