On the rails a- no, hang on. I’ve missed my train. #Interrail #CrossBorderRail
Due to a bit of a snafu, I have failed to make it to Gare du Nord on time to catch my 09:24 Eurostar to Rotterdam.
So, um, let’s see what Eurostar can offer me when I get to the station…
Well, having found the Eurostar ticket office, the first surprise is that there are only two agents here on the customer service team. So they are definitely running slowly.
I’m not making the 09:46 to Brussels either.
So apparently I didn’t need to talk to customer service. Protocol is to go find the next train, talk to one of the chefs du bord, and ask to be let on. As long as you have an existing reservation, and there is space, it should be fine
It would have been nice to know that in time for the 09:46. Let’s see how well that works on the 10:48
...and what customer service failed to tell me is that I'd need to be able to justify my delay or I'll get charged the full price difference for the ticket by the conductor.
Which is calculated, of course, based on the price of my reservation. So that's 128€.
I could have spent the hour in Gare du Nord trying to get a piece of paper from IDF Mobilités to justify the lateness of my first tram of the day. Though I'm unsure if they’d have accepted it.
As it is, and having seen the alternative options for travel, I decided that I wasn’t going to get a better offer that didn't make me miss my three (very flexible) appointments today altogether. So that's annoying as hell.
Now I need to see if I can deactivate my #Interrail travel day.
Anyway, today's somewhat loose itinerary, subject to further change: https://moof.space/trip/2026-04-09
Despite the setbacks, a lovely lunch was had in Rotterdam, and @quixoticgeek has handed over some card boxes for the custom #JetLagTheGame cards that I exchanged for them. I shall deliver one of them to @darkphoenix later on tonight.
Now onwards to Den Haag, where I’ll be meeting an acquaintance in person for the first time.
Over the past couple of days or so I have seen a number of videos on social media sites that are pointing out the general feeling that someone should do something.
They’re quick to point out that there is nothing specific that should be done, and no-one specific that needs to do it. Just that, you know, someone should do something. Because if no-one does anything then nothing changes, right?
I can generally get behind the notion that someone should do something.
There is a wonderful Spanish neologism: “Desvirtualizar” - the act of turning an online relationship (in the broadest sense of the word) into a real life relationship.
Today I had an afternoon (bubble) tea with someone that I’ve been talking to, on and off, for about a decade. Up to now, we had only ever talked online, and it was great to finally put a face to the nickname.
I know for a fact that they follow me on fedi, so: thank you for a lovely afternoon, and it was great to finally desvirtualizarte! 
And now it’s time to pop onto a DDZ to Amersfoort Central and supper with my partner.
Travel the world, they said. It’s full of amazing places and plenty to see.
Take the train, they said. You’ll be nice and relaxed, and have amazing views.
@partim Unit 7527?
I keep hoping that one of my various train logging things will eventually do the thing that flighty does of “you last took this plane two years ago to fly to Las Palmas”. It’d be nice to know if I’ve taken a particular unit before.
Moof! 🔜 #JetLagTheGame NL
Dubious Blur
Martin Hoffmann
Reinout van Schouwen
Sebastian Crane 🏳️‍⚧️
Sharpe!
Rob Landley