Some of the long distant train journeys i have made .
Northampton via London Paris Menton[ South of France]
Northampton via London Calais, Paris, by the French Alps, Torino Alassio[ Italy]
Northampton via London Paris Nice Alassio Italian Food Forever.deborahmele.com
Northampton via Milton Keynes , Holyhead. http:www.anglesey-today.com/day-trip-to-holyhead.html
Northampton Tenby , South Wales www.anglesey-today.com
Northampton Torquay via Dawlish
Northampton Edinburgh
Rugby Glasgow , St Helens
Rugby Penzance[ Cornwall]
April 4th 2014. The railway line from Exeter to Torquay is now open again after being destroyed by storms and high tides on February 5th 2014. The cost has been £35m.
My first visit to the South of France was a very amazing experience.
A journey by train to London and then to the underground station and onwards by underground train to Waterloo station to catch the train to Dover. over the channel sea to Calais . walking through customs .A few of us was stopped and searched.nothing was found. Onwards by train to Paris. One night in a hotel. it was a tall building with many floors. there was no lift and we had to walk up the staircase to the top floor. From the small balcony we was able see views over Paris. The toilet was on a lower floor and was the custom made design of the time in France, just a hole in the tiled floor. For breakfast we had our first continental breakfast of coffee and warm croissants and jam. A day out sightseeing in Paris before catching the overnight train to the south of France. As we approached the south of France we woke up in our couchettes[ single bunk beds on a train] to see that it was brighter and much warmer than when we had left Paris. It felt like we had travelled to another country far far away.we was served a drink of coffee and a small biscuit.The train stopped at Nice where we all got off. After a short walk along the promenade , the coach was waiting to take us to Menton. We passed through Monaco , by the palace and the casino and round the harbour. up into the mountains on a road that was built on the edge of the cliff. by the place where many years later Princess Grace was to die in a car crash, her daughter Stephanie was to survive the accident.
Holiday in Alassio Italy.
the first time we visited Alassio Italy was in 1965. the weather was very hot and sunny all week. at the end of the holiday there was a very bad storm and noone could get near to the sea front.
we had travelled from Paris down through the country stopping at some stations on the way. as we had couchettes again , each time the train stopped we all woke up, thinking we might be there. we was woken up by the attendant who told us we would be there very soon. before we could enter into Italy we had our passports checked and stamped at the boarder with france and italy.our holday lasted for 10days which included travel. the journey lasted from paris in the evening until early morning when we reached french/ italian boarder.
in 1966 i had booked a holiday to return to Alassio with my school friend. at the last minute she decided to get engaged to be married and backed out of the holiday.
All money had been paid and i was able to find someone from the italian lessons class i was taking at evening classed at the college to come with me . the holiday was free and all she needed was spending money. we was both vetted by our families to see if we was responsible enough to make the 500 mile journey across france. this time the route was different from Paris to Alassio . we would travel to Turin and change trains to get to Alassio. our route was through the mountains on the edge of Switzerland. snow capped pecks of the mountains looked down on us as we travelled by train. this time we didnt have couchettes to sleep in . but a seat that could be changed for us to be able lie back in and rest on the long journey.
Edward Elgar wrote concert overture while staying in Alassio 1903-4.
Muretto di Alassio. wall of signatures. photo .Davide Papalini 2008
The wall was an idea by Ernest Hemmingway in 1953to put famous signatures on ceramic tiles of famous people who had visited the Caffe Roma owned by Mario Berrino who had kept famous peoples autographs in his book.
As a family we too visited the Caffe Roma in 1965 .It was full of people enjoying the music and having a drink .
VIGIN TRAIN passing through ANGLESEY
Enjoying a meal on the train. A write up about my day on the train Northampton via Milton Keynes to Holyhead and back. a blog has been sent to www.anglesey-today.com day trip train to Holyhead.
The day before my journey on the train. I phoned Virgin train disabled assistance office.
I have arthritis and sometimes need help with steps. They was very helpful and i was able to book assistance at the station and help getting on and off the train.
My journey started with a local train to Milton Keynes then a through train to Holyhead.
The scenery along this route is very special to me, full of childhood memories.
My return journey would be in the First Class dining coach with a tea time meal.The table was set. a china mug, tea plate and a table mat. After half and hour of travelling.
The staff came round and served us a hot drink. then a selection of sandwiches, a cake and a piece of fruit. cold drinks were also available. The staff were very good. We had problems with the doors of the coaches they wouldnt open . The toilet doors wouldnt shut. At Crewe Station we all got off and transferred to another train waiting in the bay. We arrived at our destination a few minutes late.
too be continued.........
Thank you.
This is for the kind gentleman that took a photo of me on Holyhead Celtic Gateway Bridge, while he was waiting to go back to Ireland on a ship.We talked about Jonathan Swift travelling to Ireland and that i had written in my book GULLIVER TRAVELS AGAIN describing his journey from England to Holyhead to Ireland.
HOLYHEAD. CELTIC GATEWAY BRIDGE
A tea time snack on Virgin First Class dining coach.
Breakfast on Virgin First Class dining coach
