Reflecting -recommendations, mistakes, frustrations and final reflections from a journey across 5 countries and two continents ..
The business of travel – the long haul flights .
When finalising my itinerary – (to be fair my masterful travel agent did the hard work) I had seven weeks to put to good use . My flights were booked and paid for. My third year in a row – entrusting Singapore Airlines with long haul flights – initial flight Brisbane Singapore – arrival Singapore very late at night and a decent time lag before the flight to Paris which leaves around midnight – 2 am Brisbane time. Yes I fly business – when I get to Singapore , I head to the lounge and a shower. Once we are back in the air , the flat bed is quickly sorted, I pray for a safe journey and it’s good night . The flight lands around 7 am Paris time .A good sleep on this sector really helps me adjust to the time changes . By mid afternoon , I am in Poitiers , then Azay with Rick and Sara. Albeit flagging by the end of that day – but a good night’s sleep and I am good to go. And it’s much the same on the return journey.
Trains/luggage
For this trip there was a lot of train travel . My travelling companion, a standard, not heavy for younger people, suitcase .
As my departure date loomed , my main concern was train changes and managing platforms. After Iceland , I traversed northern Italy and Germany along various services . Train from Brussels – to Liège and change , then to Cologne on Eurostar, then to Osnabruck. Similar itineraries from Aachen to Bolzano, then Bolzano to Verona, Como and back to Milan .
One can say what they like about AI but I found it to be very useful . For reassurance if nothing else . Posing a quick question( with a valid response ) about just about everything where trains were concerned. Confirming the platform changes , and the service numbers etc. It was reassuring and I would recommend to any solo traveller of advanced years to pack chat gpt or which ever platform works for them.
In times gone by , the language barrier would have posed problems. Now , there is a level of English everywhere so basic communication is always possible. For the most part your ticket will tell you what your coach number is . I did smile when tracking down my carriage on train one – Montparnasse to Poitiers (France ) A first class ticket means nothing really – except making you more of a target for thieves and entitling you to a bigger seat! On French trains first class carriages are at the very end of the train. So at a huge station like Montpanasse – you have to hoik the luggage about 500 metres along the platform much to the amusement of the French train officials .
I do not know how people who are wheelchair bound manage with trains where carriages require 2 steps to enter. Or deal with the very real likelihood that the lift may not be working on the platform. I started to deliberately look for the carriages providing disabled access towards the end of this trip . I was confident i could muscle the evil monster onto the train without assistance although I cannot recall a time when help was not offered .
There were a couple of sticky moments with the train connections. Coincidently these happened on both journeys involving Bolzano. Aachen to Bolzano involved 3 trains – Aachen Frankfurt, Frankfurt Munich and Munich Bolzano.The second service was late out of Frankfurt – with other little delays along the route . I was not the only one looking at my connection time as we crept into a huge Munich station . Some young hiking back packers were also anxious as we crowded the exit area . I was initially given platform 12 – which then morphed into platform 5. there was no way I was going to make it . After a couple of wtf moments , I sought out the ticket office and was able to rebook. However , this train then came to a halt somewhere about an hour from Bolzano , and where we were informed that it would not be resuming for two hours . If we wanted to get to Bolzano earlier we could disembark and take another train on another platform with no lift …… which is what I did but still did not get to Bolzano early enough to get the last bus to Santa Christina Van Gardena. What followed was a very expensive cab fare.
There was a bit of drama with the train from Bolzano to Verona . With Matteo’s help, I was ready for the bus ride down the mountain to the station . From there to Verona . Except that it was a Saturday and the mountain road thick with holiday traffic . Again the connection time was looking tight . The bus stop is about 200 metres from the station and manhandling suitcase wheels across cobblestones is not that easy. Somehow I made it and dived onto the train with no time to think about which carriage it was . I parked the suitcase, made my way through to my seat with the hand luggage . Second class was packed to the rafters. So much so that it was rugby scrum conditions to reunite with the suitcase as we neared Verona . So crowded were the corridors I could see there was no way I was going to find the luggage . Stress subsided when I found out that the train stopped for 10 minutes in Verona .
Another fact to take on board – many European countries have multiple train services . France has – SNCF and OUIGO. Italy too – one the very fast service – the other slower . Then there’s also Eurostar. So this may mean different companies operate services on a longer multi stop journey . At large transport hubs such as Milan, the ticket offices are two floors apart ! I was befriended at one Milan encounter by a lovely young English proficient gentleman . He first of all directed me to the platforms with airport services – and when my scheduled service gave me 5 minutes to get to the train – he materialised again and hauled the case up the stairs . I told him there was a place in heaven for him – and I like to think that he was actually a real guardian angel.
The suitcase
Despite my best efforts to keep the weight down, seven weeks is a while. I had to cater for a week in Iceland and the Sahara in Morocco. Next time, I am acquiring a super hiking back pack. I can carry a fair weight on my back and would rather lump that onto a train with steps , with a carry on size smaller suitcase. As it was, I had 2 backpacks – and I managed those with one on my back and one on my front quite well.
From the moment I saw the suitcase disappear onto the belt at Brisbane Airport, only to test my patience with its reappearance at CDG Paris, I hated it with a passion . So much so that I sent 4 kg of its contents home, However , the reality is – clothes do not contribute greatly to weight. Next time I strip all categories – including acquiring a lighter SLR camera , leaving home books of any kind , not taking my Super dry super warm jacket for the polar experiences, and stripping even further the toiletries.
Every kilo makes a difference . Especially when one is age challenged . My suitcase weighed in at about 26 kg on departure . Which isn’t much in international travel terms. If anyone at all was around I was usually able to enlist assistance. There is almost always a younger , stronger person ready to help – especially if the silly old lady is in the way of getting on or off the train.
Here I confess – I did resort to a crude measure on a few occasions – only used when station platform lifts have broken down, and very early starts involve suitcase manoeuvring down tricky sets of stairs . At my gorgeous apartment in Aachen the staircase is circular and marble. I controlled the first section – then politely told the suitcase that it was on its own. See you at the bottom . Which is exactly what happened . Noisy . But intact . This was needed a few times- at a couple of train stations . Fortunately no one was impacted but I did see people scatter when I was forced to take this drastic action with a non functioning lift at Platform 17, Milan .
The destinations and tour groups
I enjoyed week one in familiar surroundings with Rick and Sara , then flew to Reykjavik to meet my fellow travellers on this Intrepid Highlights of Iceland expedition . This has been well documented in my earlier posts . It seems that explorers who have had positive experiences with which every company they choose are just as likely to book their next holiday with the same company . Intrepid – Iceland and G Adventures – Morocco.
Obviously , the tour guide/ leader and your fellow travellers make or break a small tour . And equally obviously one does not have a choice with regard to destinations and time spent there . Both the above mentioned companies offer a product for a price and keeping costs down means accommodation that is mostly ***. Which is 100%fine . A bed , a window that opens and a functioning AC is all that is required .
Unfortunately , there were moments I could have done without on the Moroccan journey . A very small group (4) was always going to be tricky.
However, I would encourage any single reasonably fit and healthy person to chance their arm with any of the small group tour companies . Take the time to peruse the tour notes and check out reviews of accommodation / attractions on Trip Adviser.
It is also the wonderful opportunity to cross paths with other like minded adventurers. I really enjoyed the company of our crew in Iceland – with friendships made for the future .
Sour notes include the robbery in the train in Italy . A nasty taste in one’s mouth and extra care to be taken by everyone .
I have also owned my own stupidity when I did not realize my phone had died and I became quite simply lost in the vicinity of the hotel in Fez. Ultimately , my rescue strategy finding the Ramada Hotel, worked effectively , but that was not before much anxiety on my part , and no doubt anxt from the G Adventures crew. A lesson learned . I would never set out to walk distances without a battery pack. But , what was supposed to be a 10 minute what’s around the corner stroll turned into an alarming lesson . I do have apple air tags in everything as well as an apple watch . They both rely on the phone for connectivity.
Taking all the above into consideration,I am planning the next adventure ………….
Thanks for reading.
