Hello from somewhere b/w Paris and Cologne

Hi family. Farhan and I just left Paris and on our way to Cologne via Brussels. We're on the train now. That means today we would've been in 4 diff countries!! England, France, Belgium and Germany. We had our plan mapped out in Paris including directions of where to leave our luggage in the storage lockers at gare du nord. It was like an amazing race leg. I think we won. We were pretty efficient with locking our bags, getting to the metro and knowing here to go. It took us 30 mins to go from gare du nord to ecole militaire metro stop and that included goig thru baggage security, figuring out how to lock the lockers and 2 metro transfers. Ecole militaire is close to the Eiffel tower but also near places that sell sandwiches and picnic items. Unfortunately today is a bank holiday, in the UK and France, so most of the stores were closed. We picked up some cheeses and then at the Eiffel tower park we found an overpriced baguette vendor. It's ok. We needed water and food ASAP. It's very hot in Paris, about 25 and sunny but w/ a breeze. We ate under the shade on a bench and then it was time for picture taking!!!! I did my usual jumping shot and then I made Farhan look like an Eiffel tower, by putting his hands in air together. So he looked like a triangle. Where we stopped to admire the view was on this late rectangular lawn. It wasn't very busy which was nice and there was a breeze so it didn't feel as hot as it should've been. We sat and relaxed a little bit and then we walked to underneath the tower b/c we were already so close. They're doing construction, adding another lower level for observation. I don't know when that'll be done. After that we walked back towards our metro stop, stopping along the way to look for macarons... We were in Paris, the original home of macarons so we had to at least try to find some. I find my basic French comes right back especially since I need to use it. Nobody volunteeringly speaks English even though it's quite obvious Farhan and I don't look French. I managed ok and nobody defaulted to English so I really had to remember my high school French. Like "I would like..." "how much is it..."
We got back to Back to gare du nord fine, picked up our bags and then waited for 10 mins before our train had a platform. We were in coach 23!!! That is a loonnggg walk. The platform felt like it would never end and i was sweating so much. I'm glad i have my hello kitty towel and hand fan! We bought "1st comfort" seats which is sort of like first class. We get meal service and comfy seats, I think it was only 10 euros more for it so Farhan thought we should do it since it's a 3 hr train ride to Cologne, Germany. On the train, I am drinking tea and eating a fruit that's similar to a plum, but is small like a grape and a golden color. And there is a lemon tart, but I think it's too sweet. Farhan is drinking a beer and eating some of the tart. I'm bored, my kindle is locked up in my suitcase and I still have 2 hrs to go. Oh my gosh, my suitcase is SOOOOO heavy and i dont even know why b/c i left some things at Alex ad Clare's house. Ok I'm going to try to take a nap. I find i get kind of car sick on trains which is why I'm drinking the tea. 
Oh, Dad!! I got you a box of some type of Sardines and a box of something else i don't know what it is b/c it's in French, BUT the packaging is nice so I hope it tastes nice too :) actually I hope the box that says sardines IS sardines b/c you just never know... :)

Ok nap time. We get into St Goar around 9pm. Tomorrow we ride bicycles along the Rhine valley. I hope to see castles ad vineyards. 

Love you all, Helen 

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PS: Oh to add... Getting to the 23 train coach did NOT feel like "1st comfort" should've had a porter service haul my luggage for me!! Humph. 

AND we had at least 2 hrs in the city of Paris so if we were really ambitious we could've done more than just visit the Eiffel tower. A lot of ppl were doubting our 4 hr stop in Paris would be too rushed, but b/c I was able to spot where the locker room was and the metro line and the metros are very fast I think that helped us w/ our time. So in order words, 4 hrs is sufficient time of you want to see 1 thing and you've done good research and planning! 

Helen

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