Day 1: September 15, 2024 (Basel - Edinburgh: A journey - which probably won't make it into the history books)

(by Katharina & Marie)

At 6 o’clock in the morning, when not even the sun had yet dared to rise, we all gathered at the French part of the railway station in Basel. Some of us had just woken up, while others hadn’t bothered to go to sleep at all. 

Now, all more or less awake, we started the first stage of our long journey – the train to Strasbourg. A train ride not worth mentioning, as we all either slept, ate or stared silently out of the window. 

The switch to our train to Paris Nord went smoothly as well. Everyone had their interrail passes ready, nothing got lost and no one was forgotten. 

The mood was just slightly dimmed by a rather sulky monsieur, who wasn’t quite pleased with our speed when arranging the luggage. 

Except for the bumpy start, the ride went without further incidents, and we spend the time by reading, knitting or the most favored activity of all: sleeping. 

 Arriving in Paris punctually, we had some time to kill. The more ambitious group of us went on the hunt for a real French croissant experience while the rest contented themselves with a baguette and some cream cheese from the supermarket which we ate in the sun in front of the train station. 

Luckily no one opted for a longer stay in Paris and we all met at 12:45 to check in for the Eurostar train. During the whole procedure with all the checkings of passports and luggage, you felt more like being at an airport than on going on a train. 

All went smoothly here too. In fact, the whole transactions and train rides were so unspectacular you almost feel sorry, as there is nothing interesting to say about it.  We all were allowed to enter the Eurostar, found our seat and left on time. In the tunnel you couldn’t see any fish and water as some of us had hoped, but only dark blackness and we arrived safely in London. 

Our train ride from London to Lancaster continued smoothly without any delays which really surprised us because “Avanti Railways” isn’t known for its outrageous punctuality. At the railway station in Lancaster, Rea threw herself into the train doors so that the rest of our class could get off the train - even as the train officer aggressively whistled and shouted at her. As a reward for this truly heroic action, Katharina gifted her a caramel waffle. And after 15 minutes, the group (again really sleepy) stumbled into our last train which brought us to Edinburgh. Tired and really worn out we arrived at around 11 ‘o clock in our apartments. Thrilled by the plasterwork, the high ceiling and the big rooms in our apartments we fell finally, after a long travel day, into our soft king-sized beds. Truly no one had trouble sleeping that night.