Pilgrimage to Paris

Months ago when we were finishing the itinerary we were looking at ways to get to Paris from Salzburg, we both aren't the biggest fans of Paris but there was a burlesque show that I really wanted to see, so Doug was along for the ride.

Issue is, even back then there really wasn’t any flight options between the 2 cities despite only being 790kms apart. 

In the meantime we were also offed, tickets to the Arsenal match on Boxing Day which of course we say yes to.

There was a flight on Christmas Day at 3.25pm which meant we would get Christmas Day in Salzburg, Christmas night in London then Soccer on Boxing Day perfect, we lock it in, then book the 7.30 Eurostar to Paris that night.

Fast forward 3 months to September and the airline changed the departure time to 9.50pm, bit of a nightmare but at least we get there in time for the soccer, whatever, is what it is.

Then in November they completely cancel the flight and offer us the initial 3.25pm flight but on Boxing Day, blowing the soccer out of the water and the whole point of the pre-paris London trip.

After an hour on the phone they finally offered us a flight to London first thing on Boxing Day but departing from Munich at 7.50am arriving 9am London. We booked a Christmas arvo train to Munich and an airport hotel. Phew, sorted. 

Then the EPL, sell their broadcast rights in part to Amazon who then insist on moving the Boxing Day clash to the 28th…

But we are now flying to London at 9am only to get a 7.30pm Eurostar to Paris for no reason!!

Is what it is, better a day in London then Paris anyway...

Anyway we get on the plane and the pilot informs us of a delay, had a minor engine issue, engineers had fixed it - just signing it off wouldn’t be long. Sure enough, 20 mins later the tug for the pushback arrives and we start rolling.

To the crews credit they had been amazing at communicating, captain and FO both came into the cabin to give updates- told us it was engine 2 with the issue which we were sat right over.

As we rolled back they spooled it up and Doug could immediately hear it was no good. Sure enough they shut it straight down.

2 more hours on the tarmac later they finally pull the pin back to the gate.

Doug & I weren't too fussed, there’s plenty of planes in Munich headed to London, plus we really only need to be in Paris so surely they could just route us there.

We head back in through passport control, get our bags go the to British Air counter….

Who couldn't do anything and gave us a number to call.

Sure enough the number is a call centre in Bangalore and the fun begins...

For some unknown bureaucratic reason they can’t route us direct to Paris, and there’s no flights at all to London until the next day.

Doug ... well... wasn't impressed and miraculously after asking to speak to the manager they find 1 option:

LH0111 from Munich to Frankfurt

50 minute layover 

LH916

Frankfurt to Heathrow…

Issue is this plane gets in at 5.45pm and the Eurostar to Paris closes it’s gates at 7.15

To add to the fun the Heathrow express is down meaning the only option is the stopping all stations tube which takes exactly an hour!

With literally no options, our relaxed day had gotten incredibly tight.

Sure enough first leg delayed by 30 mins, we sprint across 2 terminals but somehow make the connection by a minute.

But that’s just out of the coalface into the fire,

To get away with it we’d have to land at LHR, Taxi, disembark, clear passport, collect baggage, clear customs and get to the tube in 28 minutes.

Incredibly though we made it, by 1 minute at both ends.

So in summary our journey to Paris was:

Salzburg -> Munich -> Frankfurt -> London -> Paris. To travel what is 790kms as the crow flies.

In 14hrs ALONE we passed passport control & international customs 6 times:

-Leaving Munich

-Re-entering Munich when plane broke

- Leaving Frankfurt 

- Entering London

- Exiting London

- Entering France

The guy at the Eurostar genuinely thought we must have been pranking him couldn’t understand all the stamps on the 26th!!

All to exit in a city that neither of us love, and only wanted to be in for a 2hr show!

After a sleep and a reset we walked the streets of Paris, passing the Louvre and the Seine before settling into a restaurant and a few bars in Le Marais. In typical French fashion there was a strike on so many attractions such as the Eiffel Tower were closed - thankfully we have been before and had already done all the touristy stuff we wanted to. Our Burlesque show was well worth the trip to Paris and we both loved it. 

Next stop -London!

Distance travelled: 41,297km (around 1,800 of them completely unnecessary!!)

K x