Well, today was one of those days. When Vic originally planned this trip, the idea was a leisurely trip to the airport, a nice flight to Toulouse, see Toulouse, stay overnight, and a nice train trip to Carcassonne, see Carcassonne, stay overnight, and pick up our boat. So she made all those reservations. THEN the French railway workers decided to go on strike – on the day we wanted to use the train. So…. she thought we could just get to Carcassonne after our flight, and pre-dated our booking there. It might be tight, but it could be done. It was too late to cancel the Toulouse hotel, so it remained.
So this morning we got a shuttle for 1, which was a bit tight for the 3 o’clock flight, but there was no problem. Our shuttle driver is part of the “optional stop at stop signs” program, which speeds things up.
The plane was late arriving, and lost its place in the queue, so it was an hour late leaving. Things were getting tight for timing now.
Then our luggage took close to an hour to arrive “due to a blockage”. Things were now really tight, but we got a taxi into the train station anyway. The ticket man there said with typical aplomb “Zer err no trains to Carcassonne”. He did allow that there would be one tomorrow, but it would be crowded. He suggested a bus. Apparently in light of the train strike the bus companies were taking advantage and putting on extra busses.
Thus it was time to take up that Toulouse hotel reservation that we were not going to use. The clerk there suggested that we should use a bus as well. We went over to the bus station (Vic had conveniently arranged the train station, the bus station and the hotel to be on the same corner) to make a bus reservation, but could find no agent or ticket wicket, only machines.
The current plan is to go early tomorrow and book that one train that may be available.
We found a dive for supper and called it a day.
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On the Move – Photos From Here and There
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time. -Steven Wright