33. Train ride to Paris - 8 hours

A day of traveling to Paris

Today was a long day on the train,

I didn’t have an reserved seat,  so I hopped from seat to seat in vain.

The conductor was really nice and assigned me a seat,

But when I got up to go to the bathroom a young man sat and  plopped his feet.

He didn’t apologize or try to move, but turned his head and pretend to sleep.

The conductor just shook his head and said how rude,

I agreed with him and thought he was also crude.

Never mind, I met a nice woman, man and son,

Who were in the seats between cars having fun.

I was standing and sitting in the luggage rack place

And, they asked me to join them and sit in their son’s place.

Xavier and Sandra were their names ,

Seven-year old Thomas wanted to be called Bob, just the same.

Xavier was a musician in the French Air Force and also a professional clown.

He showed my photos of his troupe and his family dressed up and messing around.

Sandra is a notary clerk,

Said she met Xavier at work.

They were heading towards the Belgium area to visit family at last,

Conversation and laughter made the three-hour trip go fast.

I wish them the best, with their hearts of golden

To ask me to sit with them when my seat was stolen.

I arrived in Paris Gare Montparrase

The train station in the south way.

Took a cab to my hotel which wasn’t too far.

Driver was put out when I got in his car.

I thought, this is my first impression of Paris, how great.

How on earth am I going to last for week , well it’s fate.

The Hotel Innova on  the Boulevard isn’t so bad,

The hotel clerk has been wonderful to me instead of mad.

He gave me a map, told me the bus and Metro routes,

Said call him if I get lost and he can help me out.

Went to Lourdes to find a Paris Pass, but they told me about another place.

I found the Paris Office of Tourism and the woman with the sweet face,

Gave me complete instructions how and where to go for this week.

I bought my passes and thank her for being so great.

Got back on Bus 95 and found my stop,

Back to the hotel, I did hop.

Hotel clerk laughed and said I didn’t have to call

I told him it was the best directions ever, after all.