The Avignon TGV train station is ultra modern and comfortable. We arrived for our trip to Paris and were whisked away in a sleek and comfortable cabin. The two and a half hour trip was uneventful except for the beautiful countryside that we passed by at speeds approaching 180mph. We arrived in Paris Gare de Lyon and successfully navigated the change to the regional trains that would take us to our hotel close to the Paris center. That’s when we met the older lady who gave us wrong directions to the hotel–down the hill she said and to the left. It didn’t seem right to me, but not wanting to appear impolite, I told Kathy to follow me and down the hill we went. Down, down, down, we went–no hotel. Back up the hill, up, up, up we went to where we started in order to start over. On this lane we are directed–walk, walk, walk on this lane–dead end, no hotel. Back, back, back we walked to where we started in order to start over. Smarter now, I asked a pharmacist in a pharmacy for directions. On the computer he went in order to show me where the hotel was located. He followed me out the door to make sure I walked in the right direction. Yes, only steps away from where we started was the hotel, but we had easily walked with luggage well over a mile in wrong directions. Our hotel is wonderful and surprise, we are upgraded to the best rooms on the top floor–worth the walk.

Across from the hotel is a big mall–just like our malls, but with stores we do not have, and including a grocery store and cleaners. Famished and tired and not wanting to sit for a long meal, we found the food court–our first time to eat in this way for over two months. No fast foods we know, different names and mostly different foods. Kathy got a panini and I found the pastry shop and picked out a rhubarb cream, bread flan with chocolate and a strawberry tart. Guess who had the better meal?

Tomorrow is Easter and our plan is to attend service in Notre Dame Cathedral just a short train stop away. The Lord is Risen. He is Risen indeed! WEG