Tickets for the journey can be purchased on line and if you are not picky of the departure time good bargain can be found which is sometimes half the normal fare. Eurostar train service is seamless way by land across the English Channels. It used to be that land travel had to stop on the shores for the second leg by water vessels and depending on the weather, the crossing could be unpleasant to the land lubbers. I once took a bus from Victoria Street Station, departing at 7.00 am and arriving 12 hours later in Paris in the evening. By the Eurostar way the travel time is only 3 hours although insulated in the coach you have to miss the magnificent view of the white cliffs of Southern England when arriving or leaving by sea.
London was drizzling and cold on the day we left. Arriving early at King's Cross I scouted around to change to Euros. The rate inside the terminal was a bit stiff so I had a look outside the station and sure enough at Barclays bank the rate offered was much much better. It is worth looking outside if you have ample time on your side.
Checking in for departure was a breeze. We had with us our pre printed tickets from the web and they were read by scanners at the turnstiles which allowed us in on confirmation of the genuineness of the tickets. After the turnstiles we had our luggage checked by scanning machine like in the airports and then there was passport checks before we were allowed inside the waiting lounge. There were similarities with security procedures with the airports but there were no long queues and short tempers in sight, our presence as travelers were a lot more respected and appreciated. Train travel is definitely the proper way to travel while preserving your dignity.
When the train was announced, there was no mad rush to the coaches, everything moved in unhurried pace. We found our seats easily and with us was an elderly French ( or Belgian?) who could not speak or understand English, so for the whole journey our companion was absorbed in her reading though we suspected that it was her pretending so that we would not disturb her quiet moment in the train. Well that was an effective way to shut the noisy stranger who may be intruding into your space.
We passed through the English country side and was not at all aware when the train moved into the most crucial part under the Channel, a short announcement would let us share the moment in awe and wonder. On the French side it was sunny and continued so until Brussels. The train ended at Brussels South and we took a connection to the North Station where we disembarked and walked to our Bed and Breakfast. The next day the sun took cover behind the rain cloud and we had a very long and wet time in Brussels.
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| This is King's Cross where the train departs from London. The look and facilities are very new and modern. Before, the terminal was at Waterloo |
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| We have time for coffee and scones at Costa's. |
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| Information and signage are precise and very helpful |
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| This is the 12.57 Eurostar service to Brussels. We have our tickets printed on line and tickets are checked by the scanning of the bar code |
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| Inside the economy coach |
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| Our view of Europe are mainly rural farmings in outlook |
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| Arriving Brussels, graffitis are just like anywhere found in all railway stations elsewhere in the world |
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| All hands aboard, including teeth at Brussels South Station |
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| What we eat in Brussels |
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| Our transports in the city |
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| What we have for lunch in a popular restaurant, mussels cooked the Belgian way |
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| Inside the restaurant where we meet Malaysians among a busload of tourists |
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| Public transport is mostly by trams |
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| This is Raz, the Jewish proprietor of our hotel who freak out at the way we handle his door, this door is a lady and hence must be treated with gentleness and care. Unfortunately we only see a wooden door and this increase the level of decibel we hear coming from his distressed voice box. We are saying good bye and he looks very much relieved to see us off. |
