Day 2: A Rough Landing

Arrive CDG airport around 1:30 pm local time.  Airport seems normal to me. Immigration takes a few minutes in line.  No customs inspection.  Takes me awhile to find the box containing my luggage, which has been opened by US TSA.  I find a place that will take my beaten-up box and go in search of my train.

After 2 miles I figure out the train is not working andI have to take a bus halfway to Paris to catch the train. I see a few soldiers patrolling the airport, but this is normal in Paris.

I start to get motion sickness on the bus.  I am sleep deprived and probably dehydrated.  All I can think about going bed.

It's short walk from the RER train station to my apartment, but long enough for the shoulder strap on my bag to break.  The handles on the bag work fine.

I arrive at the apartment building at 4 pm.  It's chilly and damp while I wait for the first hour.  Around 5 pm I beg for help from two women speaking English.  We call the apartment's owner and she gives me the rental agency's" "emergency phone number."  At 7:30 pm somone shows up with the apartment keys and a four minute tour.  I don't care about anything but sleep.  Atfter that I remember absolutey nothing at all.

It has taken me about 50 hours to get here, a rough journey that concluded with a rough landing. The first leg of it, anyway.

Day 1: Is Paris Burning?

On Day 1 I arrived at O Hare airport around 3 pm.  Lots of people were watching CNN on various television.  First reports from the Paris troubes were coming in. I knew the stadium attack was outside the city limits, but I was concerned about the theatre.  My rentaapartment is near the Odieum metro stop.  I think the attacks will be over soon, so I am not worried.

I had a pass for the United lounge.  Not that great, except for the free wifi.

The flight to Paris is delayed four hours beause AA gave the crew the option of dropping out, so a new crew had to be recruited.  The plane is only 30% full, and I don't see many passengers from yesterday.  Plenty of space to stretch out. The second picture hows the full fight from ABQ to ORD.

This last picture shows the most popular place in the airport. 100% full 100% of the time!

So, is Paris burning? I have no idea yet.  I'm still in Chicago!

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