Spring

We arrived in the Pyrénées Orientales and I was immediately struck how much more advanced the vegetation and flowers are. This is to be expected but the difference is marked given that spring in the UK has been so delayed. So it had to be a blip with some flowers in plus a view of Canigou to celebrate our return.

The journey was not without incident. Our bags were far to bulky and heavy for manhandling on and off trains and walking between stations (note to self - travel much lighter next time.) Also I had it in my head that we had to transfer from the Gare de Lyon to the Gare d'Austerlitz. This was a previously researched train but not the one I had actually booked. So after a 15 minute struggle across the Seine between stations, we had to retrace our steps hurriedly to catch the train. Mrs TT was none too pleased!

I posed the question the other day whether it is easier to drive or take the train to get to the south. The train is certainly very pleasant when you are on it but the seven train journeys required over the two days and the logistics involved in planning train times, making connections etc takes the edge off it. Another time I might bypass Paris. It is possible to do London to Perpignan on two TGVs just changing platform at Lille. But then I could not attend a Paris blip meet....