Au Revoir, Carcassonne

Blissfully unaware of the strike.

We have had a bit of anxiety here.   Yesterday, Jerry and Diane vacated their apartment at about 9:45 in the morning, and we all traipsed off to Place Carnot to meet Bob and Chris for a hot chocolate/coffee.  We had a lovely visit--I am going to miss my new friends and my old friends.  Bob and Chris set off to do some last minute Christmas gift-shopping and we three headed back to my apartment for a snooze in the sun (Jerry), some knitting (Diane) and working (that leaves only me).  We put together a soup and bread lunch and then did the dishes.  I realized at about 3:00 that I hadn't had a chance to read the paper.  I was sitting here at the dining room table and got to the section that deals with more regional news.....uh oh!!!  The trains were on strike. I didn't want to alarm the Moffits unnecessarily, but I said that I thought it might be prudent to go down to the station and see what was up.  Fortunately the station is only a 10 minute walk.  

We made our way to the station, which was rather full, but not with staff.  All of those windows were closed.  There was a reader board bearing news about the strike--which would be over by 8 on Friday morning.  However, Diane and Jerry's train was supposed to leave Carcassonne at 10:30 Thursday evening. The board gave a website to use to get more information.  Diane wasn't able to access it there at the train station using her iPhone, so we came back to the apartment to sort out what was what.  I went on line and sure enough, their train had been canceled.  This meant that they were going to miss the Eurostar from Paris to London.

After much trial and error, (which country codes to dial? do you need the extra zero? is it a French phone number or a UK phone number?) they were able to talk to a Eurostarcustomer service representative  who assured them that they would not have to purchase new tickets; Eurostar would accommodate them as soon as they could get out of the south of France.  I could see that the TGV was running if I could get them to Narbonne, but short of driving them there in a car, which I do not have, there didn't seem to be any way to get out of Carcassonne.

I was able to find a train leaving early this morning, so we decided to enjoy one more evening in Carcassonne.  I mean, we saw people sitting in the train station with young children.  There was a man sleeping in the entryway to a bank.  Things could have been much, much worse.  They were able to stay warm and sleep in my apartment, after we went to the Ble Noir--a crepe restaurant I have been dying to try.  

Jerry's meal

I have been wanting to patronize this place for several reasons.  First, I love crepes, and this place uses Bretagne recipes.  Secondly, I want to learn to make them and am looking for any and all ideas.  But most importantly, I heard from someone who witnessed it firsthand that this owner took the homeless guy who hangs out at the Carrefour front door, brought him into the restaurant and fed him a hot meal. That counts for a lot with me.  If anyone is going to get my business, it's going to be someone with those values.

Diane's dinner

So, after I did several hours worth of district work, we went to supper.  The meal was superb; Diane wanted to tell the owner that it was the best meal of her life.  He asked if we spoke French--I told him I did a little, so he handed me the French menu, and when I thanked him because I like to practice, he voiced his approval.  But there was no sense of scolding Diane and Jerry because they used English menus.  He was gracious, and had a wonderful  sense of humor.  

My crepe

The salad came in a crepe that had been cooked and then shaped, like a tuille into a little basket.  So clever, and so delicious!  Diane had a ratatouille crepe, Jerry had one with mushrooms and cheese, and I had one with smoked duck breast and potatoes...all scrumptious.   I had a dessert crepe--a swoosh of melted dark chocolate and roasted sliced almonds.  Divine. It was a wonderful meal in my wonderful city.  

Alas, it was up and off early this morning to the station. I presented their tickets to the man in the information booth this morning and he told them to get on the TGV headed for Lyon at 8:30.  Once there, they will need to find a train to get them the rest of the way to Paris, but I don't think that will be a problem.  Everyone is aware of the strike and are used to coping with the disruption caused by such things. However, I will feel much more at ease when I hear that they are safely arrived in Paris and then London.  

It's part of travel, and it's part of life.  We cope, we adapt, we make the best of the situation and try to find the humor and adventure in the situation.  Granted, it's not always easy, but people will help and who knows what new discoveries there are to be made when off the prescribed path. What's the alternative? To never travel? We are in France, not the wilds of the Amazon.  

And today, the article said that the postal carriers are on strike!

Off on the next leg of the Moffit adventure