Boats, Trains and Automobiles

Today has been all about getting home from France without our little car. It began with a taxi to Metz-Nancy airport (where today's blip was snapped) to collect a hire car. After some logistical complications, we were back on the autoroutes for a 490km drive to Calais. We reached the ferry port having made good time and managed to negotiate getting on an earlier ferry than we'd booked last night when engine troubles struck again and our ferry was delayed. Eventually we reached Dover, a taxi ride to the station and we're currently on one of several trains to get home.

Our trip has made us think about how absolutely fortunate we are. By an accident of birth we have passports that have allowed us to pass unhindered through 9 European countries - few questions asked. We live in a (generally) affluent country and are so, so lucky to have good jobs allowing us to play around in old cars. When things go wrong, and were stranded in France, we have an Insurance company smoothing our trip back to the UK.

Contrast this with the refugees / migrants so prominent in the news. They felt they had to leave their own country, and venture into the unknown for a safer life. They've not had help smoothing their passage.

We were supposed to stop for sleep in some Austrian services on our first night. When we got there we realised it was on the main migration route to Munich, and there were lots of people hanging around, checking lorries as they came in. We felt both intimidated and guilty in equal measures, and moved on.

Several countries later, and we drive in our emergency hire car past the camps at Calais. We have the right passports to allow us easily onto a boat or train - whatever is our convenience. While our biggest worry is getting our old car back to the UK, we are so painfully aware that it's very much a non-problem.

We hope all these displaced people spread throughout Europe now can find peace in these beautiful countries.