Note to self...

...NEVER travel on a regional train on a Friday afternoon!  Oh my, what a trip that was!  Arriving in Brussels late, due to the delays of the high speed train from Amsterdam, I missed the earlier train to Bruges.  As I was looking for the train I started talking to a lovely older couple from Australia.  They were nice enough to stick with me so we could figure out where to go.  We got to the train and a lady would not let us board, so we searched for the next one and the platform was too far away for us to make, so I sat with all our luggage while they went 2 different directions to get info on the next train.  When we boarded we were met with the Friday afternoon crowd and there were no seats.  Standing all the way to Ghent was not a pleasant way to travel.  In Ghent, many people got off and all of us standing got seats for the remaining trip.  In front of me was a family of 4.  After a while the man came in to check tickets, a very handsome young man.  Well, he got to the family right in front and they started yelling at him in French.  Of course I had no idea what was going on.  The conductor remained calm and quiet and gentle, which just seemed to fuel them.  Finally a lady across the aisle from me shouted something and smiled and they started yelling at each other.  She looked at me quite proud of what was going on and I said in English I had no idea what was going on.  She proudly told me in English that she had told them To go back to France!  I was still puzzled and she explained further, they were complaining over and over that no one ever has to stand up in France in 1st class!  Well the yelling continued and I was hoping I would not be in the middle of a physical altercation.  Then a man behind the lady across the aisle shouted "shut up!!". And everyone did shut up!  When the young man got to me to check my ticket, he very sweetly asked if that had been going on the whole trip.  I said I had no idea what had been going on because I didn't understand a word!  At least I made him laugh and he moved on.  Whew, disaster averted!

So today, Sunday, I boarded the train at Bruges, headed to Brussels where I will catch the train to Paris.  Well, I came bumbling on, tripping over my 2 small suitcases and tote.  What a sight I was!  Sure could use some help, but I can make it on my own, although sometimes others do offer to help.  Getting on the train is a challenge for me without the luggage, so with luggage...oh my!  I get the last suitcase to my seat and plop down into the seat, piles of luggage next to me, and the lady across from me starts very disgustedly talking to me.  Of course I had no idea what she was saying so I just pretended to listen.   Then I heard a word I understood, premier and she was pointing to the 1 on the door.  I realized that she was telling me I was in the wrong car, class two was up ahead.  I very sweetly smiled and said, oh I do have a first class ticket.  Apparently she understood, she looked shocked and then started rambling to a lady behind me.  Oh my!  That reaction of shock was alone worth the 10 euro cost to upgrade.  Not to mention it means I get free drinks and food on the high speed part of the journey.  A well spent 10 euros!  I never experienced anything like this in all the train travel I did with Cesar!

Leaving Bruges was a bit sad this morning, but at least I have more adventures to look forward to!  Bruges is charming, and I am quite sure I will always find it so!