On the Princesse de Provence. (A “Great Rail Journeys” Vacation in September 2009)
Forget the car, forget the plane, this vacation’s by Boat and Train.
Friday 11th September
National Express from York to London Kings Cross.
Two hours travel time.
It was a 10 minute walk from Kings Cross to the Novotel in
Euston Road where we were booked in for the night so we could
conveniently make the check-in time for the 09.50 Eurostar train
next morning.
We were on the 7th floor and so had good views of London by
night.
Restaurant prices were ridiculous for what was on offer so we
decided to dine out in a little Italian restaurant in a back street off
Euston Road behind the hotel.
Saturday 12th September
5-minute walk from hotel to the beautiful new St Pancras
International train station for the Eurostar. What a great job they
did with this place. It’s on two levels: trains come in on the upper
level, and the lower level is a
shopping mall, meeting point,
public facilities, and check-
in/passport control (staffed by
British and French Police).
We met up with our Tour
Manager, Keith, and other
Great Rail Journey clients on
this trip (about 40 of us).
Check-in, security scans and passport controls took about 15 mins
and then we were ready to wait to be called for our train. This package included First Class
travel on all trains, and on Eurostar this included a hot breakfast. I can only describe the
breakfast as different but OK. We had never encountered Chicken Sausage but this is what
was served, with a small omelette, tomato, mushroom and mashed potato containing small
pieces of cabbage. There was also a bread roll, a small croissant, butter, and jam. Coffee or tea
was also on offer, with refills. We started breakfast in England, continued it through the
Channel Tunnel, and finished it in France.