08.15 to Paris Est

It was an early start this morning. Brian woke me around 5.30am with a gentle tap and a cup of tea. A slow wake up, and then we set off at 6.45am. I’m heading to the UK to visit my dad and Hilda, Brian’s mum. It’s never easy leaving Brian at home in France, and it seems to get harder, but it’s so wonderful to see dad, and catch up with Hilda.

I caught the 08.15 from Troyes to Paris Est, and made the short 5 minute walk to Gare du Nord. Check-in was really quite busy, not what I’d expected, but they were very efficient getting people through passport control. British passport holders now have to have their passports stamped on entry and exit into an EU country as there is a restriction on length of time to stay in the EU. However, as I have my Carte de Sejour for France, I have to show that as well, so the passport does not get stamped. Just one more thing to remember to do when traveling.

Once I was through border control I felt relaxed enough to buy myself a coffee and a pain aux raisins for the journey. It was good to get settled in my seat and on my way to St Pancras.