More than once, we went to the station to check if our TGV from Paris Gare de l'Est to Luxembourg would run. We went first to Bouray, and were told to check at Paris. When we went to Montparnasse, we went to the station there. Our train, we were told, was 'sure to run', despite the strikes.Yet, just to be on the safe side, we decided to leave early and get to the station. Sure, options of buses existed, but we had tickets already. Most importantly, even if everything else got delayed or cancelled, we needed to reach Luxembourg in time to catch our flight back!On the day we were to leave, a huge protest was organised - from Gare du Nord to Republique. And Gare de l'Est is exactly in the middle. Nervously, we made our way to Paris, and reached, much to everyone's relief, well in time, and once more, with the guarantee that our train would run.So that was that. Goodbye to … [Read more...]
What is travel without adventure?
Would we travel at all if there were no stories to tell? The things that go wrong make stories - and things that almost go wrong make the best stories of all.A train journey to Varanasi did not promise to be exciting. First, our train was from Mumbai at an unearthly hour. The journey was about 27 hours long, and we would reach, again, at an unearthly hour. But then, we were in a group, so things were bound to get entertaining, in one way or another.Water dispensing machines have been installed at stations all over the country. These are supposed to be coin-operated, but usually, there is someone at the kiosk operating it for you. Many of the girls in the dance troupe were seeing these fancy water kiosks for the first time, so everyone was excited. Why spend on mineral water and plastic bottles when you can just refill your bottle at one-third the price? Of course, it's … [Read more...]
Chambery to Torino
From Lyon, I went to Chambéry to meet my correspondent from the French exchange programme and her family. It was a lovely stay, though short. My 'Maman' in Chambéry is a boat-driver, and, as I was there in summer, she had long hours of work, so I did not want to impose on them for too long.My sister came to Chambéry to meet me, and we stood in queue to reserve places on a train to Milan. The plan was that we would get to Milan, go from there to Bologna and finally, find our way to Greece. With Eurail passes, we did not need reservations for most trains, but for trains from one country to another, we did. The train to Milan was full, though, so we considered our options, and then booked tickets to Turin instead.With a few hours to spare, we wandered around Chambéry. Nostalgic about the exchange programme, we looked around happily, but made sure we got back to the station well in time … [Read more...]
Double Decker Train
I saw a double-decker train after so long today! I did not even know they still ran!I remember when I went on one as a child. The extreme excitement and anticipation. The dread that we would actually have to sit down. Blue train, blue seats, silver stairs. Running up and down those stairs, careful not to shriek with excitement and risk being yelled at.I can't remember whether we sat upstairs or downstairs. I just remember the thrill.Today, though, Adults came on that train, not Children. Children are delighted with thrill. Adults need luxuries like leg-room and space for luggage and other unimaginative things. The verdict passed on the train was that it is inconvenient and uncomfortable.I realise once again how much more delightful it is to be a child. … [Read more...]
Impure Veg
'Pure veg' is such a uniquely Indian concept. I used to mock it. My grandparents are pure veg. (Somehow that sounds odd. A pure veg restaurant is different from pure veg food, which is different from pure veg people. My grandparents are people, not food or restaurants. Just making things clear.) When they went to Greece, the vegetarian sandwiches had tuna butter, so both of them ate only peaches and oranges in their time there. They explained that they were "pure veg, you see". For me 'vegetarian' used to cover that idea.But then, I realised that I'm probably impure veg. I love vegetarian food. I prefer to eat vegetarian food to crocodile kebabs (which my father has eaten) and insect soup (which my uncle has had). I also prefer it to good old chicken. I choose to be vegetarian, does that not make me vegetarian? But then, I'm not pure veg! If it's inconvenient or socially inappropriate … [Read more...]
Travel Woes
I could write a whole book about things that went wrong while I was travelling. I have a very dear friend who says that my poor guardian angel is always overworked because I make him work overtime keeping me safe through everything.In some AC trains, there's a little metal box above the berth that you can open for light. 'LIFT FOR LIGHT', it says. As a child, I never needed it - I was not allowed to read in bed. When I became a little older (quite a bit older, actually), I excitedly lifted the cover. And the light bulb burst as soon as I opened it. It did not burst in my face, thankfully, but I had pieces of glass in my hair right through the long train journey. I was not able to comb all of them out of my hair - every time I ran the comb through my hair, more tiny pieces emerged. I finally managed to get them out only when I got home and had a shower.I don't use those things any … [Read more...]