17 August – In Transit to Dieppe

The plan is to fly to Paris on Aug 16, arrive around 10 a.m. on Aug 17, take the train from the Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris Gare de Nord, then either another train or metro to the Paris St Lazare train station (where the trains to Normandy leave from). This is supposed to be faster than a taxi from the airport to the St. Lazare station which could take over an hour depending on traffic. From the St Lazare station catch the 12:20 RER (intercity) train to Rouen and take the 16:15 commuter train to Dieppe. Arrive at 17:00 at the Dieppe train station, pick up our rental car and drive the 5 min. to our hotel. Piece of cake!
The flight was uneventful, if you call a continuously screaming child uneventful. Needless to say, we didn’t get much sleep and were delighted when we finally were able to get off the plane. We taxied to a remote part of the airport and descended into buses that took us to Terminal 3. The flood of passengers swamped the two or three Passport Control officers. When our turn came, it was 11:30. We got through without any problems but found out the airport train station is in terminal 2, an easy 3 minute walk, according to a cheerful cab driver. The 3 minutes seemed longer, especially since it was over 30C and we were not dressed for a steam bath. At terminal 2, we find the station but now have to buy tickets. A weaving Disney-type line of people was snaking its way to the counter where two clerks were trying their best. There were probably 20 people ahead of me. I rush over to the less congested do-it-yourself machines and wait my turn. I managed to request 2 tickets to Paris but the machine refuses to accept my Visa. The machine will take money but only coins and all I’ve got are paper Euros. Desperate I try again and then realise I’ve been inserting my card in the wrong slot (who knew there would be two). Tickets bought, we rush off to catch the next train. We thought we might get off at Chatelet-des-Halles and then take the metro to St. Lazare because the metro probably runs more frequently than the train. The only problem was this train stops at Gare du Nord, one stop before Chatelet-des-Halles. Ok so we go to plan B and decide to take the RER train from Gare du Nord to St Lazare. We get off in Paris Gare de Nord and ask directions to get to the RER train to St. Lazare. “Désolé, that line is closed for construction, but you can take the train over there and get off at Chatelet-des-Halles and then take the metro to the station.” We run for the waiting train, Johanne jumps on and then I pull her off. With what little time we have left, we won’t make our 12:20 train to Rouen by taking a train to a metro to a train station. We run up the stairs, go outside, and get a cab. Twenty minutes later, we are at the St Lazare station running down to platform 25 at the furthest end of the station where our train should be. Johanne is laughing – this is just like the Amazing Race! Good thing we only have carry-bags! “Désolé, the 12:20 left at 12:20,” said the ticket agent. “Merde!!!!” But the agent said not to despair. Your 1st class tickets are still good. Another train to Rouen will be leaving at 12:50. Things now get better. We catch the 12:50, arrive in Rouen with time to spare, enjoy a light lunch at a nice restaurant across the street from the station, and catch the 16:15 train to Dieppe (no air conditioning in any train and it’s still sweltering hot). We get our rental car even though for some odd reason my on-line file said, “No vehicle allowed.” The rental car agent couldn’t read English and didn’t know what it meant so asked us to translate. Johanne without hesitating told him it was nothing, just insurance coverage! Whew. He then apologized because the car hadn’t been cleaned (numerous seagull poop all over the windshield). He went and got a jug of water for us so we could fill the windshield washer in order to wash the poop off. After the 5 min drive to our hotel, we found a parking spot and got our room. No air conditioning and no shampoo! But who cares, its 6:00 p.m. – we’re done for the day!