Bonjour! Paris anyone? (From News Shopper)

Bonjour! Paris anyone?

3:09pm Tuesday 20th November 2007

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Bonjour to you all.

On Monday November 19 I was given the opportunity to take a trip to Paris via the first Eurostar train from Ebbsfleet International Station...here is my tale of trains, rubbish and the Eiffel Tower!.

Ebbsfleet International Station opened its doors to passengers for the very first time on November 19 and myself and my colleague, Dan, were lucky enough to be invited on the historic journey.

We arrived at the station at the not so desirable time of 4am and we were the very first passengers and press to enter the terminal.

People soon started arriving but not before we took lots of photographs and video footage.

There were lots of refreshments and French style treats to get everyone in the mood for the trip.

Two coffees', an orange juice, and croissant later, I greatly appreciated the early morning snacks!

Despite the early hour, everyone was smiling and there was even a traditional brass band playing.

The ribbon was cut and the clean and spacious station was officially opened.

We boarded the train at 5.38am but not before an automatic announcement telling everyone that "We may have to evacuate due to an alarm situation" being played over and over again.

It was met with laughter by the excited passengers and was later revealed to be a test which is carried out every morning.

The journey itself was supposed to last two hours and five minutes, but after getting 'stuck in traffic' we arrived in Paris 15 minutes behind schedule.

When I left the station I was greeted by lots of rubbish on the streets and not to mention dog pooh everywhere!

Apart from the gorgeous buildings, of which they really did live up to the hype, I was not greatly impressed with the city.

Myself and Dan spent over an hour trying to locate an open Internet cafe and when we did find one, we contacted work and sent all the info and pics over.

It was all needed in time for the paper's deadline.

We then took off our 'journalistic' hats and replaced them with 'tourist' ones (although being a journalist never really ends!).

I was conscious all day to take more pics and video so these could be used for the web.

If the weather had not been so typically English, then the pics would have been stunning because of the architecture.

The underground station was on strike and for obvious reasons this made travelling from place to place very difficult.

The system reminded me of London's, but far worse, although I think the strike may have given me a bad impression!

I was really impressed with the Eiffel Tower and the Arc D'Triumph and I became very 'trigger happy'.

I really did enjoy my day but in my opinion Paris is not what it is cracked up to be.

The architecture and the historic aspects of the buildings are marvellous and I was awe-struck at certain times, this part of my trip I enjoyed a lot.

On the negative side, there were a lot of beggars and what I can only describe as possible illegal immigrants/asylum seekers.

A lady approached myself and Dan when we were visiting the Eiffel Tower.

She was asking for money and explained to us her that husband had died and she had five children to feed.

She was part of a large group of women who were all doing the same.

Surprisingly, they all had the same black and white photocopy of a coffin, in which they claimed was their husband.

It was a difficult situation and one which really plays on a person's emotions.

Thoughts enter your head, is she telling the truth or is it a scam? should I give her money or shouldn't I?

In the end we had to walk away with her and other people following, I felt really bad.

Don't get me wrong, I really did enjoy the opportunity to go and I would do it again in a heartbeat, but I guess I was expecting a more classy to the city.

Although, I guess it was naive of me to think this.

I should have expected that, in any big city it will have its good and bad parts and Paris is no exception.

At around 5.30pm I boarded the Eurostar to Ebbsfleet train.

After having around two hours sleep the night before, I feel asleep dreaming of croissants.

It was back to work this morning (Tuesday November 20) and to Gravesend County Court to challenge reporting restrictions on a youth who was in court to be given an ASBO.

The restrictions were lifted and so the morning was successful.

If you are still reading thankyou, and I would like to add, go to Paris and see what you think.

Everyone's opinion is different.

I guess for now it would be appropriate for me to say Au revoir!

:-)