Arrival in Paris - mistakes and adventures

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Paris

Luck? I suppose so. We had planned to stay in Paris two nights en route to Spain. But trains were either full or not traveling on Christmas Eve and Day so we got 'stuck' in Paris for 5 nights. That sounded bad BEFORE we arrived. We had been told that Parisians were rude and unfriendly. Also we imagined a city difficult to get around in and bad weather as a side dish. Our eyes were on warmer weather in Spain and being able to get around more easily on my little Spanish rather than my now almost non-existent high school French from 1956. If we had wished for two more days in Nurnberg, Germany, I can now imagine how much we would have regretted being in Paris for only two nights instead of five. We had watched YouTube & knew how to operate the subway ticket machines and had some small hopes of seeing some of the 'top sights' of Paris. But I must admit we were not very enthusiastic about our chances of enjoying the city. There are at least three large main train stations in Paris. We arrived at the Gare de l’Est train station and were to leave for Spain from Gare Montparnasse. Bill had booked a hotel VERY near the second station so our departure morning would go smoothly. Subway line #4 connects the two stations.

Nancy Does In the Ticket Machine

Upon arriving at Gare de l’Est we made our way to the subway entrance. The video we had watched on You Tube suggested that if a traveler is going to stay in Paris several days and use the subway it is more economical to buy packs of ten tickets at a time. The price is reduced about 25%! (MISSING)



We found the ticket machine. It was not hard to find as there was a line of people waiting to buy tickets. As the line moved forward I watched to see how people used the machine to ensure the process was not different from that we had seen on the video. The ticker purchaser can select from a list of to get instructions in a language they understand. The machine will accept cash or a credit card. When it was my turn I selected to pay by credit card … but the machine would not accept our card. We stepped out of line. We pooled the Euro coins we had and found we had enough to buy a book of ten tickets. I left Nancy in line to buy the tickets while I went to an information window to inquire about directions. There was a long line that moved quite slowly.



I inched forward. Suddenly Nancy was beside me looking like a very defeated little girl. “I am useless,” she said. I selected the option to buy a book of ten tickets and then instead of putting the first coin in the coin slot I put it in the credit card slot … and we could not get the coin out. No one can use a credit card on the machine now. A man tried to get the coin out with a key, but the key was too large. I decided to disappear!” Note from Nancy - I had watched Bill and had sen where he stuck his credit card. I guess my brain just thought 'money hole' and didn't even stop to think 'coins one hole' 'credit cards another hole'. What a dunce I felt like!



No, I did not get mad. In fact it struck me as funny, but I did feel a few pangs of sorrow for anyone approaching the machine and attempting to use a credit card. We are sure that the repairman had a few choice words while he/she tried to repair the machine and found a Euro coin stuck in the opening. I wonder if he pocketed the coin. He should have. I also wondered if there is a place on his repair report to check, “Coin in credit card slot”.



When I finally arrived at the information window the young woman answered my questions. I then ask if she could sell me tickets. She said, “Yes.”



I asked for a book of ten and gave her my credit card. Again it was refused. Nancy was carrying a different credit card and hurray no problem. To this day we have no idea why the machines at all the train stations in France would not accept the card I was carrying. In Spain and Germany I had no problem. Lesson learned, it is always good to carry credit cards or debit cards from two different financial institutions.



We made our way to the subway platform. It was rush hour. The subways run about every three minutes, so our wait was short. The subway arrived and lots of people got off and lots of people got on, including the two of us. The cars were stuffed to the gills. It was like being on a bus in China … back to back – belly to belly – and people pressed against us on both sides. But everyone was in a good mood it seemed and we just all laughed when we almost got squashed when even more people piled in at each station.



Gare Montparnasse was the 13th stop and it took about thirty minutes or so to make the trip. By now darkness had fallen. There are numerous exits at this stop. The hotel advertised they were located right beside an exit. They are, but not the one we used. I realized quickly that I had goofed somehow. I really cannot give any of the blame to Nancy. I had marched along and she had followed. Just as quickly I realized I had no idea in which direction to walk to get to the hotel from the exit we used.



What to do?



Stop in a shop or hotel and ask seemed the best plan. Fortunately it was not raining. I had the address written down. Right? That did not help much. Several times people scratched their heads and said they had no idea. Perhaps saying we were in a hotel VERY near the tallest new building in Paris helped and we gradually made our way and finally, after about twenty minutes, found the hotel … and it was right beside a subway exit which perhaps we might have found from underground but hadn't.

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Photos

Paris subway station
One of the subway stations at a quieter time than upon our arrival.

Tour Montparnasse Tower
Our hotel was across the street from the Tour Montparnasse Tower and the train station.

Comments

[laura olsen]

Paris!
Nice to hear from you again. I am sooo proud of you two--mistakes and all. What wonderful experiences. You have lots more courage than I do. Keep it up. Laura

[Bob Harrison]

Paris
Glad you were able to visit the City of Light for five days. I trust that generally you found the French to be more friendly than you anticipated. Going back to my backpacking days in 1971 and more recently in 2005, 2007, 2010, I found them to be agreeable and helpf

[Jeremy]

Ha! Nancy, Destroyer of Ticket Machines! What a great story. I especially like the bit where Nancy disappears and ninjas into the shadows once she realized the problem. I'm glad it worked out in the end.

[Barb Williams]

paris subways do not like US credit cards
Hi Bill and Nancy! Always fun to read about your travel adventures. When Paul and I went to Paris a few years ago, we had a similar problem. The subway machine did not accept any of our credit cards and would only accept Euro coins. We were short the coins and had quite an adventure trying to get change after 6 pm. Glad things worked out for you.