All aboard...

This weekend just past saw the Man Of The House and I take off to Paris (with our close ex-Sydney friend) on the Eurostar. I am amazed at how simple it is to travel by train around Europe - passport control, immigration and security is a breeze and you simply carry your luggage on with you. This in itself is nothing new to me, as we mostly used trains to get around Europe on our honeymoon. But there is something so wonderfully simple about jumping on a two and a half hour train that transports you from central London to Paris.  


This is definitely a key highlight of living in London. Since we have been here, we have been to Berlin and now Paris for long weekends (and the Lake District here in the UK too). While we had to fly to Berlin, it was all relatively easy and simple compared to getting oneself around Australia. 


Australian travelling is not what I would call very "user friendly". The distances are so great that quite often flying is the only viable option, unless you are cool with being cooped up in a car for 10 or so hours. I am not. And we all know what a total pain flying can be - you have to arrive one hour before your flight time these days, clear security that is tighter than fort knox and then make it through immigration. Such a hassle! Then you have the horror of actually flying somewhere, with all that take off and landing fuss (I admit to not being completely cool with the aeroplane thing at all times). 


So I am a convert to the train method of travel now that I am becoming more European. I even opted for the much longer train journey from Innsbruck to Budapest between the upcoming Christmas and New Year, just because it is so much more pleasant and enjoyable. And here in Europe, people who work on trains just seem so much more friendly and the whole thing is just so down-right comfortable (please note that what I have written does not in any way apply to Amtrack trains - especially between Boston and New York - as discovered earlier this year). Plus these trains are amazingly quick compared to what passes for a train in Australia. They cover great distances in super fast time - what's not to love?!


So train away with confidence readers - it will most certainly be my preferred method of travel in the upcoming years.


Adios....