RasaLibree wrote:The train ride from Paris to Amsterdam is very pleasant, you leave from Gare Du Nord and its bout a 4 hour train ride I believe, wonderful sight seeing and you stop in a lot of the prominent Dutch cities. I do remember when I was in Gare Du Nord before I left for Amsterdam there was a security guy with a huge Rotteweiler with a muzzle which I assume was for drug searches, but if your a girl and its in your "wazoo" youll be fine.
-Rasa
Hi Rasa!
Thank you for that information. I love train rides. Last summer we rode to Chartre from Paris and it was fabulous. Of course as we went here and there and ended up in Gare Du Nord more than once!
When I think of the last time there..I just shake my head...we were returning the rental vehicle...
We were in France and we had our kids with us...5 of them, 13, 14, 17, 20 and 21..and we had just gotten back in Paris from Normandy and I had purchased a bottle of hard cider you know. We were having a splendid time on this trip of a lifetime for our family that we had saved for a long time to take,
Now I must tell you some things.. my family and myself are very peace loving people..easy going..but not naive..and the area we live in is quite nice and safe, but when you travel around our city..its not so safe. Muggings and robberies are increasing..abduction/muders are shamefully common. Gang activity is really, really bad. You don't go to the malls or movies at night w/o a man. We all ('cept dad) carry mace and dad and I have licenses to carry a concealed weapon, and we do. We have taken extensive tactical training etc. So..we are very alert to our surroundings and have taught our kids how not to be victims of crime. Now I know this is very controversial..and thats cool...we just believe that criminals should not be the only ones bearing arms. I could quote stats from different states who do not permit citizens to "carry" ..and the pattern is easy to see...but anyway..
So we are in Gare Du Nord and this homeless man who was so damned wasted I do not know how the man was standin..he was just absolutely fried...nevertheless he approached us asking for money..we just continued on our way..watching our 3 youngest in particular..girls etc. We stopped (mistake) because the 13 yo just Quote: had to have
a beverage from a vending maching. So..she is looking at the euros in her hand picking out correct coins for purchase and this man went from being pitiful to being threatening in a nano second and he was in my 13 daughter's face and before I knew what I had done..I had the hard cider by the neck of the bottle and I was going to clock the f'er. ::sorry:: THANK GOD my husband was quicker than I was..as he grabbed the bottle as I was swinging my arm! I s'pose it was instinct to protect my child...but when I think about what couldve happened to that man had I hit him with an unopened bottle..it makes me feel thankful hubby was close by. The homeless man ran off yelling something! (sad)
So..I have no idea why I told that story..other than that rambling thing that happens when one blazes up!
This trip is just for hubby and I to get wild WITHOUT the kids..its gonna be great to come chill!!
Thanks Rasa..and yes I am a girl..so ya think the wazoo is a safe haven do ya?!
Be safe,
Lexi
They sicken of the calm, who knew the storm..