Eighteen years in France, and I'll never get used to it: the amazing, efficient, fun, relaxing, and climate-friendly train travel that is so pervasive in France (and in Europe), yet so utterly rare in the United States.
Living in Beaune, the ease of train travel is nothing short of astonishing. Take a ride with me and see.
Dijon is a 45 minute car trip from Beaune. It's a good sized city (150,000), and parking is not easy or cheap. At an hour and a half round trip, we wouldn't go often.
So a friend and I decided to go by train, for a shopping day in Dijon. We left my house at 9, and walked down the tree-lined street to the train station. By exactly 9:19, we had bought tickets and we were comfortably situated in the cushy seats of a new modern train car. We marveled at the views, checked email and barely had time to peruse the morning headlines; 17 minutes later we were walking the two blocks to the central shopping district of Dijon. No parking, no traffic, no fuss, just a pleasant journey.
Paris is a four and a half hour drive from Beaune (though no reasonable person would drive in Paris). But we can stroll to our train station and be there in time to do some shopping before we déjeuner.
We can zip down to Lyon, or up to Strasbourg. Or we can just hop a train and go to lunch in nearby Nuits St. George or Gevry-Chambertin--it's a 10 or 15 minute trip. And did I mention it's all cheaper than driving and parking?
Why oh why has the states lagged behind on this? With the trains (and the rapid round-abouts instead of traffic lights), France has traffic under control. I think if all Americans could experience the delight of abandoning their cars for train trips like this, they'd be fussing with the powers that be to get the ball train rolling!
Have you enjoyed the European rail system? Do share. And a very happy new year to all. Bonne santé et bonne année!!
In the COMMENTS:Monique, great story about the papillotes, and Sandy how lucky you are to have an annual supply arriving at your door. Natalia, my neighbor said she also printed out the quotes—like Debbie, my favorite one is “I decided to be happy, it’s better for my health”. Peggy, I love the idea of southern sayings for your delicious handmade chocolates. Hmm, we may have to get suggestions from our southern readers. Suzanne (of Living with Loulou), I had forgotten you were in Collioure —what a beautiful place.
Favorite READS: No books to recommmend today, but a new TV show for fellow travelers: A remake of Around the World in 80 Days, on Masterpiece Theater, now showing Sunday evenings, and streaming.
