11.28.05
The Eurostar … Grrrrrrr
Yesterday we traveled back to Perugia after spending the Thanksgiving holiday in Ancona with our teammates. We were in a bit of a hurry to get back right after Life Group since the kids had homework and school the next morning. So we decided to break with tradition and take the Eurostar train.
In Italy there are two main types of trains. The regular trains, which are slower and cheaper, and the Eurostar trains, which are faster, but more expensive. And they have assigned seating, which is nothing but a thorn in my side. Every time I buy Eurostar tickets for my family of five, they give us seats spread out throughout the whole train! Yesterday we had two seats in car 5, one seat in car 7, and one seat in car 9! How exactly is that supposed to work? “Trey, sit here for two hours and don’t bother anyone. Mom and Dad are just four cars away. Don’t forget to get off the train in Foligno!” Please!
What they’ve told us to do in the past is to sit together and as people come on board, explain the situation and ask if they wouldn’t mind trading. It usually works well, but is kind of a hastle for them and us. Yesterday a young woman got on and told me I was in her seat. I apologized and said the ticket agent gave my family seats all over the place, and asked her if she wouldn’t mind trading. She explained that she was also traveling with a friend she wanted to sit by.
So I grab Trey, put his coat, gloves, hat, and scarf on. I grab our luggage (which was between my legs since there wasn’t room in the overhead compartment). I tell Heidi I have to move and I’ll see her in Foligno. And I huff down two cars to find my empty seat.
In the long run, not a big deal. I told my sister the story last night and she wisely said, “But you made it home, didn’t you?” But for the life of me I can’t figure out why they insist on splitting up my 6, 5 and 3-year old.
Back to the cheap train for us! We’ll ride with the cattle as long as we get to sit together! ☺
Randy said,
12.01.05 at 12:07 am
really those people must not have kids……i dont have kids but i have been around enough to know…..you need to keep both eyes on them…