Lille

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St Pancras to Lille

I was reading a newspaper article this week and it referenced St Pancras Station in London.  It made me think about the last time I was there in 2008.  Here is an impromptu picture Amanda took on that occasion.  Here you can see a shot of the famed Barlow trainshed.

St Pancras Station's Barlow Trainshed.

St Pancras Station’s Barlow Trainshed.

I believe I had just enjoyed a steak and potato pasty and we were were on our way to find one of the draws of St Pancras besides just catching a train.  Amanda just had to find this location before we boarded our next train.

Amanda pushing her cart onto platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter fame

Amanda pushing her cart onto platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter fame

This was just an extra.  We were really there to hop on the Eurostar to go to the Continent.  We caught the train and I slept all the way to Lille, France due to a little jet lag.

This picture we snapped on the walk between Gare de Lille-Europe to Gare de Lille-Flandres on Av. le Corbusier.  I looked it up on Google Maps and boy, the route has changed since this photo was taken.  As you can tell, it was a dismal day we were there with plenty of green.  Not so much anymore, much more urban now!

Av. le Corbusier looking at Gare de Lille-Flandres.

Av. le Corbusier looking at Gare de Lille-Flandres.

We did not take any pictures in Gare de Lille-Flandres, I remember it being quite impressive.  Look it up online.  Or, I guess we will have to go back.

We did take one more picture at Gare de Lille-Flandres.  You can see it here and our funny take of it at the time.

 

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Danger, Beware of People Missing a Foot

I thought I would make this picture available for some comedy.  We had just climbed off the Eurorail at Gare de Lille-Europe in Lille, France  and hauled our luggage down to board a train to take us to Kortrijk, Belgium at Gare de Lille-Flandres.  We were off to stay with friends in Oostrozebeke, Belgium.  We looked out the window and saw this sign and snapped a picture.

DANGER! Avoid Disabled People.

Of course you always look at the picture before you try to decipher the words.  Amanda made a comment about, “Danger, beware of people missing a foot.”  We laughed for a few moments.  We could decipher the “For your Security” portion and knew traverser and voies were cross the way.  Kinda like a black cat crossing your path, don’t let disabled people cross your way?  This was on 5 June 2008.

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Europe Trip – June 4-5

We have arrived in Belgium!  What a relief.  I cannot tell you.

We flew out from Boise airport.  We were fortunate to catch a non-stop flight, from LA!!  Boy, if there is anything near torture, try flying through the night in a very cramped space.  After 9.5 hours on the plane, we landed at London Heathrow.  We found our way through the Underground to Kings Cross Station.  Amanda went and found Platform 9 & 3/4 of Harry Potter fame and took a few pictures.  We waited, checked in for Eurorail at St. Pancras Station, and enjoyed a Cornish Pasty.  A first for Amanda, a beloved memory for me.

We climbed aboard the Eurorail which treated us to a trip through the Chunnel.  France proved to have beautiful scenery.  We got off at Lille, France and switched trains.  We rode to Kortrijk, Belgium.  James met us at the station and now we are in our digs at Oostrozebeke, Belgium.

Funny thing, we knew we needed to get to Kortrijk but we forgot to bring James & Catherine’s phone number and address.  Meaning, when we arrived, we were totally at their mercy.  We couldn’t catch a taxi to their home, and we could not call them.  It is sure a good thing James showed up with his little Toyota.

We find ourselves babysitting while J & C are off to branch council.  We put the kids to bed in 15 minutes, take a shower, and crash ourselves!  We are exhausted

Be sure to check our joint Blog.  Amanda will include some pictures there with some commentary.  I will also upload to a new European Album all our photos we deem of sufficient quality to share with the world.