Martin Breen (he/him)Arrivederci Ortigia
13:29 Siracusa - Bologna Centrale +1 08:38
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
And, arrivederci Sicily.
This evening’s meal will be an arancino and a panini purchased on the ferry. It was the same guy serving as on the outward journey and also on both crossings last year. He communicates to non-Italian speakers by effective use of Italian and gestures.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Second ticket check and fortuitously the conductor pointed out Stromboli to me.
Follow the telegraph pole to find it on the horizon.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
And with blooms
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
-5 arrival at Bologna Centrale.
Plenty of time to stretch my legs with a walk to Piazza Maggiore before my next train.
The covered arcades are very welcome on this warm sunny morning.
Bologna is a beautiful city. I’ve been once before. Must spend more than an hour here on my next visit.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
09:51 Bologna Centrale - Torino Porta Susa 12:08
+9 departure from Bologna which isn’t a concern as I have a 90min connection in Turin. I did however get an email from Trenitalia this morning about a technical problem on the high speed line leading to 60min delays. All moving smoothly so far…
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
+25 Torino Porta Susa
Picked up 20mins delay between Bologna and Turin on top of a +5 departure.
The Frecciarossas are very comfortable trains especially in Business Class. The AC was too strong for my liking though. How are you supposed to dress on a 30c plus day which includes a train carriage at 20c maximum? I guess you’re supposed to arrive at the train by air conditioned vehicle.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Arrivederci Italia, Bonjour Modane!
Fifth time passing through Modane and third time getting out to take some photos (13min scheduled stop). This was the first time northbound as there is no sign of the usual passport control teams.
Maybe it’s too hot for them? A wall of heat hit me when I descended from the train. 31c at 1000m.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Apple’s weather app says it’s only 28c in Modane but it also notes that that is a whopping +17c above the average daily high.
Edit: the Wikipedia article on Modane includes a table of climate data. This contradicts the Apple data by giving a mean daily maximum for June of 19.8c. So only running at ~10C above average.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Milan/Turin - Paris Gare de Lyon: turning into one of my least favourite routes.
Third time, third long delay of 30min plus. Previously border controls were the problem. This time a late running TER at Chambéry - Challes-les-Eaux
The only consolation today is that it’s a scheduled mid-evening arrival to Paris rather than a late night one. The journey tracker estimates a 30min delay but we left the penultimate stop 42mins late
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
+33 arrival to Paris Gare de Lyon. Now the fun of the Metro awaits!
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
12:12 Paris Gare du Nord - 13:35 London St Pancras
A short travel day today.
I’m at Gare du Nord too early. Ticket says to arrive at 10:55. There’s a queue on the stairs to the Eurostar terminal. I’ll wait to see if it’s any better at 10:55.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
10:55-11:17: 23 minute passage through ticket contol, French Border, UK Border, and security scan.
Pretty well organised in a cramped space.
So here in the UK part of Gare du Nord it’s quite a bit nicer than Schengen in St Pancras. A bright cramped space above the platforms rather than a super cramped space beneath the platforms.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
11:47 and I’m in my seat. This E320 is much nicer than the E300 I took to Brussels 12 days ago.
Lots of families in the Business carriage on this lunchtime service.
Time to apply some cream to my newly acquired mosquito bites. First insect bites of my entire journey. They only cost me €1.20 in the station toilettes.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Free food on trains
Quinoa and abricot salad looks good. Roast beef salad was the other option. Very friendly service today.
I have to comment on our departure at precisely 12:12:00. It brought me joy for some bizarre reason.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Summer Solstice, a day to celebrate the light.
Though, for me, it tends to pressage the oncoming darkness.
The flatness of the northern French plain passing my large Eurostar window (coach 16, seat 21), is pierced by church spires, relics of the past.
Change is the only constant.
My solstice resolution: to celebrate the present.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
+1 into London
Not allowed to take a photo of the train from the very end of the platform in the nice light.
Train manager: “you cannot go past the sign. You can take one at the other end”
I bid him a curt farewell.
Photo cancelled due to poor light 😂
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
08:00 London Euston - Holyhead 11:52
Missed this train last time through as the station baggage storage facility opened about 70mins late. That was probably due to the tube strike that day. Had to quickly check it out this morning and yes, wide open at 07:30.
That miss was followed by a cancellation of the next train so very happy to board at 07:42 today.
Interrail QR code didn’t work at the gate but plenty of staff on hand.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Free food on trains
Breakfast grill. It doesn’t look as good as the one I had last year on a Manchester service and maybe that’s to do with the Evero catering facilities. I overheard a staff discussion where it was said that the pendolino trains were the only ones left with full kitchens.
In any case this is piping hot and tasty. Lots of toast and coffee refills.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
On time arrival at Holyhead after a relaxing trip through the English midlands and along the North Wales coast.
Train to ferry connection at Holyhead is seamless with railway station and ferry terminal effectively the one building. This is how it must be if lower carbon travel options are to be encouraged.
Now waiting to check-in for the Ulysses which seems to be running to schedule.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Good to see a long queue for foot passengers including this guy. I suspect his paperwork may not be in order
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
The bus transfer to the ferry is less ideal but the modern layout of #HolyheadPort with very remote berths means self loading of foot passengers is never going to happen.
Prioritisation of the foot passenger shuttles on arrival is something that could and should be done however.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
-9 departure with a loud sounding of the ships horn.
Forecast sea condition: slight.
The ferry is quite busy with the club lounge about 60% full and it’s very warm.
All the seating with prime views in the club lounge has been taken but I’ve managed to nab a share of a banquette which unlike most seating here provides head support and its own power socket.
Irish Ferries could do with modernising this space.
#IrishFerries #StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Free food on ferries
Even though it’s busy, the food buffet is being regularly replenished. It’s my last day of holiday so I’m splurging.
Good to see some vegan offerings.
#IrishFerries #StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
On time arrival at Dublin Port at 16:45 with gangway disembarkation for foot passengers at 17:00. ID check and baggage collected from belt by 17:08.
Nolan Coaches Ferry Link service waiting outside terminal. €3 to Connolly, payment by card on the bus, 17:15 departure.
When upper deck “driver’s seat” is available on a double decker you must drive. Sorry I don’t make the rules.
#IrishFerries #StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
A sweet older couple struck up a conversation with me on the ferry.
Together 60 years and still doting on each other.
Big GB News fans. We shared zero ground in our political views but I still enjoyed their company and tales from their lives spanning 84 and 80 years
#IrishFerries #StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
20min journey time via the quays and Sheriff St to the bus stops at the Luas at Connolly.
My train is not until 18:28.
It would be nice to say that it’s good to be back in an old familiar haunt. It’s still reliably gritty, but it’s remarkably diverse and busy, a huge positive when compared to the city of my college days in the late 80s.
The weather is warm and sunny. It’s not such a bad dirty old town really.
#Dublin #StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
18:28 Dublin Connolly - Gorey 20:30
+9 departure, surprising absolutely no frequent users of this service.
I had hoped to test my Interrail QR code at the gate in Connolly but it was set to open and didn’t seem to register anything when I tried. I’ve never had a ticket check on this service despite weekly use so I guess I’ll have to wait till my next Interrail journey.
#Dublin #StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
12 trains covering 6445km according to viaduct.world plus 4 ferries, 2 metro trains, 3 buses and 1 taxi on a memorable trip from Gorey to Ortigia and back.
Can’t wait for my next trip.
#StayGrounded #SlowTravel #Interrail #GoreyToOrtigia #MastoDaoine
Patrick O'Beirne@MartinJBreen how do you put up with it?
@PatrickOBeirne for some reason the only train that drags is the one back to Paris from Italy. Mostly, I’m disappointed that a train is nearing its destination.
@MartinJBreen welcome home!
@PatrickOBeirne thanks - nice to arrive back to fine weather
IanMoore3000@MartinJBreen I think that is the weird thing about meeting people with repellent political views - they can sometimes be really nice.
@IanMoore3000 that’s very true.
I think there’s a natural tendency to seek fault in those we disagree with and merit in those with whom we agree.
We’re all susceptible to being influenced by the media we consume even if we think we’ve independent minds.
Till-o-mat@MartinJBreen Nolan Coaches Ferry Link charging for the trip is relatively new? A few years ago (on my last visit) it was free.
@swoonie I’ve only used it once previously, a year ago, and they were charging then. Free sounds like a better deal. I wonder how that was funded.
Ciara"Train to ferry connection at Holyhead is seamless with railway station and ferry terminal effectively the one building. This is how it must be if lower carbon travel options are to be encouraged."
Yes! (Also: I hope you have a good journey)
@CiaraNi thank you! All going smoothly.
mark 🇮🇪 🇪🇺@MartinJBreen I’m yearning for a proper train journey. Too much of my life is just living to put out the latest pop up fire. Sitting and watching countryside pass by while sipping tea or coffee sounds so enticing. Even with glitches, a nice journey is a thing I enjoy so much.
@europe it can be magical alright.
A first class Interrail pass is very good value for that extra bit of comfort. I’m biased but I think everyone should try it out.
Sam@MartinJBreen @europe Agree on first class internal , especially this time of year when trains can get quite busy, hot and sweaty.
@samcage @MartinJBreen yes, I’ve been the hot and sweaty guy in the past (remembering a Eurailpass trip in the 90s- I’d like to formally apologise to the people of France and Spain)