Budapest Was Easier to Navigate

Yesterday I arrived in Paris, after a layover in Frankfurt.

First, I want to note, that on my 45 minute Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Paris we were served free beverages (including free wine) and a free half of a camembert cheese sandwich. Nice. Take note US airlines.

I landed in Paris in light but very large-flaked snow. Cody was planning to meet me at the airport, but due to his own transit snafu, was running late. The text messages were reasonably calm at first and went something like this:

Cody: Running late due to french transit madness.

Jay: Flight was late. Waiting for baggage now. I'll wait here.

Cody: Just transferring in a moment to the RER train to the airport. Which terminal are you in?

Jay (after asking a woman who refused to look up from her computer): Terminal 1. I'm heading toward the RER station. I'll update with my location shortly.

Cody: Ok. Try getting a ticket for yourself if you can. I'm ten stops away

Jay: Ok. Or should we get a cab? I'll be at the RER station in Terminal 2.

...This is where things begin to go wrong...

Cody: Cabs are expensive and can be slow in traffic. But if we have lots of luggage [I did] it could be a better option. We can figure it out when I arrive.

Jay: Crap. RER stations at the airport are closed. There's a connecting bus service. Should I take the bus to Aulnay-sous-Bois or wait here?

Cody: Yes, if you can make it and I'll meet you there. I'm two stops away but we're holding at this station.

Jay: I'll try to figure it out.

Cody: Okay, I'm at Aulney-sous-Bois.

Jay: I'm waiting for a bus at what I think is the correct place. Budapest was easier to navigate!

...Here I seemed to have lost text messaging connection with the outside world..

Then after about 20 minutes of standing in the snow with 70 lbs of luggage, watching buses go by, and getting confusing looks when asking about the RER shuttle bus...

Jay: Can you tell what the bus is? There's 350 and 351 here. I'm going to go back and ask.

Jay: I'm in the wrong place... Stay tuned :)

... I now head to the Terminal 3 RER station, realizing that the shuttle buses are probably there. On my way, a few airport workers feel the need to squeeze through the 2 inches of room on the escalator by my luggage. They're thankful, but I walk onto the train about 5 seconds behind them. Somehow it didn't seem worth it.

... At this RER station, surprisingly, trains are running! I get on one...

Jay: Ugh. Misread signs. Now on RER train. Leaving shortly. Will get off at Aunlay-sous-Bois and meet on the platform?

Still no responses.

After arriving at the station, which was outdoors, I didn't see Cody. I hauled my luggage down the stairs, back up onto a different platform, then back down and up to the previous one. Finally, after collapsing on a bench in the snow, up walks Cody, frozen, not noticing me until I call his name.

He had been standing outside in the snow for an hour. There was, apparently, a huge fleet of shuttle buses at the station heading (maybe) toward the airport. He expected me to be arriving on one of those. I even expected me to be arriving on one of those.

We finally get on an RER train, the queued up text messages begin to arrive, we transfer to the Metro, walk a few blocks, and enter the warmth of our tiny little apartment. It's then that I receive this message:

Cody: This situation is fracked.


Indeed.

Welcome to Paris!