October 27, 2013, France
According to Edmund’s computation, the high speed Eurostar reached Paris in just 2.5 hours. My calculation naman was 3.5 hours.
A———- Tart, does this run on electricity or fuel?
E———- I don’t know.
A——— Yung choochoo, maingay. Eto smooth na smooth.
After an hour,
E——— Nuclear yata ito.
A——– Ano ito missile?
E——– Ang tuling kasi (laughs).
A——– Ginawa mong ballistic missile. Zuung! Ikaw talaga. (laughs)
There was no drink or snacks whatsoever. Unlike the trains in UK, maya’t-maya nagse-serve ng snacks and drinks.
Edmund went to the Eurostar’s bar and bought me something to eat and drink.
After another hour, we’re here at Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris.
We took a cab to the hotel.
Buti na lang our driver was young and knew how to speak English.
Nung maliit ako pag tinanong mo ang isang tao na “san ka galing?”, pag may pagka pilosopo, ang isasagot ay “galing sa Paris, bumili ng patis”. Nung college naman ako, pag meron kang isang magandang gamit at gustong ipagmalaki, kunwari sasabihin, “galing pa yan sa Paris”. O kaya pag merong nagregalo sa’yo na kahit kung anu-ano lang, kahit posporo, sasabihin ng maybigay, “espesyal yan, inorder ko pa yan sa Paris walang kaparis”.
Tingnan mo nga naman ang buhay, tapos eto ako nasa Paris na walang kaparis, tila pang labing dalawang punta ko na yata. Ayaw na nga ni Edmund dito kasi wala na daw mapuntahang bago, pareho din daw ang hitsura.
Pangatlo or pang-apat nyang punta ngayon. Last time was 10 years ago. His first was with my brother, 22 years ago. They visited a truck assembly in the north of France. I followed suit after a few days. His 3rd was a few months after President Fidel V. Ramos’s term had ended. I was a member of the business delegation and I brought Edmund along. Tila first week of November yun, kaginaw-ginaw. Sec. Cesar Purisima was our delegation leader, being the president of the Philippine-France Business Council.
Okay, we’re here, this is our street, Rue de Pierre Charron
I used to stay at the 3-star Hotel d Sevigne near Etats Unis, but this time, I booked a different hotel para maiba naman. I found this 4 star hotel online.
I hope it’s nice.
Chateau Frontenac
Bienvenue a Paris Monsieur Edmund et Madame Annie.
