Valérie Jardin’s January Paris workshop started on Saturday 24th January and I planned to be there early so that I could have some time exploring Paris.
Day 1: Thursday 22nd January 2026: Travelling to Paris
An early start at Farnborough catching 7:14 am. Lots of room for me and my suitcase. From Waterloo to Leicester Square and the hauling my case to catch the Piccadilly line to St Pancras International. On the way to Eurostar I picked up lunch from Pret. We were allowed through at 8:50 am. French immigration started off great but then the computers crashed. After about 10 minutes they were back and I had my picture taken and fingerprints recorded for the new EU system.
The waiting hall was empty and gradually filled as the times of the my train to Paris neared. When the platform was called there was more of a crush than usual as only one side of the travelators was working.
As I walked down the travelator I slipped on the wet metal surface. Then the fun started I floundered about unable to get up as the surface was so slick. Luckily all I had was a bruised ego. My carriage was on the opposite end of the platform.
As usual I boarded the carriage as I came to the first the door and again as usual it was the wrong end for my seat and for the luggage racks near my seat! I do wish Eurostar would give some indication on the doors which end of a carriage each one is.
Day 1: Thursday 22nd January 2026: Gare du Nord, Paris
My seat was on the corridor side and I settled down for the uneventful journey to Paris.
At the Gare du Nord I headed for the escalators down to the RER platforms below.
The same ticket machines were there before the RER barriers. No at least there were options for English. Rather than buying a ticket I had to buy a card and then load my (cheap) train ticket onto it.
As I reached Platform 42 a train was just pulling in. It was packed until Les Halles. I am always surprised at the platform for Luxumbourg when I left the train.
Day 1: Thursday 22nd January 2026: Design Hotel in the 5th
Once at Hotel Design I checked in and paid the tourist tax and confirmed that I this trip I didn’t need breakfast in the hotel.
I was at the front of the hotel in room 44 but not as high as I would have wanted.
The room was laid out just the same as the others except instead of a shower cubicle I had a bath/shower.
Day 1: Thursday 22nd January 2026: Afternoon in the 5th
As I left the hotel I was greeted by a gentle rain! Opposite the Pantheon students were busy creating content. Further down I past this art on street furniture.
My first destination was to confirm where the workshop would be meeting on the Rue de l’école Polytechnique.
My last destination was the remainder shop on Bd. Saint-Michel. The price of their wine had increased from previous years to 6/7 Euros. Hopefully the wine has similarly improved!
By the Pret, I watched a man walk into the middle of the road ignoring the traffic. He was taking pictures of the rainbow spanning Paris.
After dropping off the bottles I walked past the back of the Sorbonne buildings, the Pantheon and headed to the Rue Mouffetard. The road works that had blocked the street were now all gone.
Now that I reset my “mental map” I went back to the hotel to unpack.
Day 1: Thursday 22nd January 2026: Evening in the 5th
For dinner I decided to go the Bombardier pub on the Place du Panthéon. The Christmas lights were still lit on the trees.
There was a crowd watching a student brass (or marching band?) in the square and they were very good!
The Bombardier was not too busy before 7 pm.
As I ordered I discovered it was still “Happy Hour”. Definitely time for an IPA.
Manchester United were playing on one screen and a cricket match somewhere in the World on an other. I was joined on my table by a young Frenchman (Tom) who was there for the music quiz. Tom had persuaded a couple on the next table to join him in a team as I left for an early night (unlike last year!)
For my first full day I planned to walked from Montmartre back to the 5th.