ARRIVED IN PARIS

AMSTERDAM
THE THALYS TRAIN TO PARIS, READY TOP BOARD. KIWI MICHAEL SHAW AND WINNIE
IN THE THALYS TRAIN
PARIS. A SIDE STREET FROM MY HOTEL.
THE STAIRSS IN THE FINLAND TRAIN
IN THE TRAIN TO HELSINKI
THE PLANE TO AMSTERDAM
TERSCHELLING VISIBLE.

I have safely arrived in Paris. The whole trip from Sirrka down to Helsinki should be included, so I will start with that.

I got up at 6.am that Friday. We left at 6.40 in Helena's car to catch the 7 am bus. It leaves from Sirkka at that time.

So I got on time for the bus which took 2 1/2 hours. It is a comfortalble coach with toilet inside.

We got to the train station at 9.30 am, the train left at 10.05 am.

I had to change trains at Oulu, and it wasn't that easy. I had to go down the steps and up again to the other track.

Anyway, I found the train without hassles.

This train is a new double decker train ( snel trein for the dutchies amougst us) and I had a seat reserved down stairs as the windows are bigger there.

The train got to Helsinki at 8.30 pm. I then had to find the bus, Helena told me bus 615. I got out of the train station the wrong way, so I couldn't find any of the busses with that number on it.

So I then decided to go the other exit, and there were the right busses, at leastthe bus 615 was there. When I got there, I asked him if he stopped at the airport Bonus inn hotel, He said " no" but bus 650 does, which was 2 stands behind. I found it and the bus was there. I asked the driver to tell me when to get off.

All went well and the bus stopped in front of the hotel.

I stayed the night there for a good sleep and the next day the hotel shuttle ook me to the airport at 11.40 am.

I had already checked in onlibne and got myself a seat behind business class, so really good seat, window and in front of the wing, not on the wing.

The plane was delayed by half an hour, they told us once we were already onboard. The airconditioning was on so no problems.

The flight weas perfect with beautiful weather, clear skies. The flew lower than normal to catch up on their delay, and can fly faster. We arrived 5 min before schedule so they did catch up. I took photos of the Dutch islands, of Terschelling, Ameland and Schierminnikoog.

Also of the Afsluit dijk and de Bijlmermeer.

We landed into a Thunderstorm, it was black and rain ing and flashing all around us. When landed the people clapped.

I was able to buy a ticket for the train to Centraal station Amsterdam, and it was about 20 min.

There arrived I bought a couple of crockets from Febo and sat down on my new orange bag with extra clothes and towel in, so like a seat, I sat in the hall eating my crockets and watching the people....very interesting. Also quite tired so sitting down was good. I sat next to an other tourist girl dong the same thing. When eaten I went outside amoungst the thunder and lighting and rain, trying to find tram 24, was in the wrong tram place, asked someone nd sent me to the right place.

Then I went into tram 24, that took me to Keiderss gracht. I got out there and walked to Winnie's house. By this time I was wet and tired, dragging my suitcase and orange bag plus backpack.

I met my first kiwi ( new zealander) since doing this trip) he is the new neighbour of Winnie( downstairs on the ground floor) together with his friend, who is from Aussie. He is from Auckland( Michael) and they came over that evening and we chatted.

I also met Charlotte, ( earlier, the chaps came over later) , she was Yolandaa's best friend in the time she had Maarten. Maarten and her son Dicky are best friends and still are.

Charlotte and I had a good talk about yolanda''s life and death.

I had a goopd sleep and the next day Michael came with us to the train station and he helped me with the carring of the suitcase into the tram and then the train. Winnie came too.

The nice new Thalys train was there and it went 300 km an hour between Brussels and Paris. It goes very smooth and fast, I loved it.

OK I am going to stop now.