Safe And Easy Trip

Trains, planes, and automobiles. Wasn't that a movie? It's what I did on Tuesday. Ken drove me to Tours where I got my TGV directly up to the airport in Paris. The train was perfectly on time and in one hour and forty minutes I was in Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle.

Our aircraft, an Airbus 340-300, ready to board.

Check-in was simple; I already had my boarding pass thanks to the internet. Security was ok, too. No taking off of shoes or belt. The only glitch there was that I had a metal carabeener attached to my carry-on that I was using to attach my camera bag. That way the two bags would be hooked together and I'd be less likely to lose the smaller one.  The security guy confiscated my carabeener. He said it might be usable as une poignée américaine. Brass knuckles.

My little snack: a pâté sandwich from home, and Just Rosé (it was Cinsault).

He even demonstrated how for me right before he tossed it into the plexiglass box with all the no-no items. Funny how the French call brass knuckles "an American fist." Our culture must look so violent to them.

Otherwise, everything went smoothly.  I had a little snack at the airport since I had some time to kill. I also bought a newspaper, but didn't read it because I was having too much fun people watching. The flight left precisely on time and landed in Boston a half-hour early. I got my rental car and was zipping along the Mass Pike in no time.

I was very tired, however. It was misty in Boston and getting dark by the time I got on the road. There was a little traffic in the 'burbs, but nothing horrible. It rained pretty well when I headed over the Berkshires, but cleared up by the time I descended into the Hudson Valley.

 Part of Terminal 2E, seen from near my gate.

And now I'm here!  I slept about five or six hours overnight. We'll see how day one goes. Right now there's a light rain falling outside, but it's not cold. I slept with my window open. The sun's not up yet, so I'm having some tea and messing around with the computer. I love wireless networking!

My friends' house is very comfortable and they're so welcoming and warm -- I guess that's why they're called "friends." :)

Stay tuned!