Sep 13 (Saturday) – Paris

We had breakfast in the hotel, hung around until checkout and then headed to the parking garage to pick up the car.  We parked right in front of the hotel and Paul headed in to get the luggage while Mary stayed with the car…guarding it from overzealous parking ticket staff.  We were loaded and on our way in no time. 

Some schoolgirls in colorful clothing that we saw on our way out of town.

It was a couple of hour drive back to Amsterdam and the Schiphol airport.  We tried to find a gas station to fill up the car before turning it in.  None of the stations were staffed and none would take our credit card.  (Later research found that the type of card we had won’t usually be accepted in unstaffed places, the card needs some override by station staff to be used.  Good to know for our planned long driving trip next year in France.)

We eventually gave up and just turned it in empty.  Finding the car return was easy…the set up is just like in the US.  Signs from the entrances to the airport.

After we got into the main terminal, we found a place to eat and waited around for a while.  Eventually it was time to head for the train station in the airport.  Easy to find the platform.  The train was right on time and we boarded quickly, found a place to store the luggage and then found our seats. 

It was about a two-hours train ride to Paris although the train was about 30 minutes late.  Caught a taxi and we were at the hotel by around 8:00pm.  After checking in and taking our luggage to the room we discovered that the room with a view that we had booked turned out to be a second story room in the back with a view of a brick wall.  Pretty upset.  We talked to the front desk but they couldn’t help us.  So, we called Tara, explained what was going on and she said she would take care of it. 

We then headed out to the Italian restaurant, Respiro, right across the street.  There was a raucous party going on but they took us next door to Little Respiro, much quieter. 

Soon it was time for bed in what feels like a cave.