Mondo Post about Dec 21

Finally. I am in France. It was not easy. Here is the story, beginning to end. Don’t worry! It’s not all bad! :) And I’ll put it behind the cut, so click on “Full Post” to read it all.
1. We got to the airport in plenty of time. Got checked in, my bag was just the right weight, and the plane was on time. What could go wrong you ask? As I was checking in at the gate, they pulled me aside and told me I couldn’t get on the plane until I made arrangements to actually leave France. O.o Whuh? Huh? Wha’chusay? So they call the front desk, I book a flight from Paris to Exeter on January 11 and am allowed to board.
a. I do understand. France wants to make sure that people entering will leave at some point and won’t become homeless bums. I just wish I had known beforehand!
b. Upside: I now have my final plans cemented! No more wondering how I’ll get back. Plus it was only £95.
2. At the airport in France we waited in the Customs line for awhile (there were only 2 windows open and they appeared to be having a little trouble with a group) until the officers at the EU Passport window waved us over. That was cool. And then we got to go in these glass tube things. And instead of escalators, the moving walkways just sloped up and down. It was pretty awesome.
3. Got on the train and made my way to Gare du Nord where I had to switch trains to get to Gare de l’Est. Got to the station, found the ticket windows, got in line, and waited. The train for Reims was leaving in about 20 minutes and I wanted on it! I get to the window, the guy validates my pass…and gives me the bad news. The train requires reservations (I knew that, but I couldn’t do it online so I decided to wait until I got to the station) two days beforehand and the earliest train he could get me on was the 8:57pm in 5 ½ hours. @@
a. Because of this I realized that while I was waiting I could book a few more tickets that might require reservations. So I now have my tix for Reims to Offenburg and from Frankfurt to Paris.
4. So I waited the 5 ½ hours in the cold station only to find that the train was delayed 15 minutes…30 minutes…40 minutes. We finally boarded nearly an hour late.
a. I’m actually glad that we boarded at all. At this point I was getting grumpy because I just wanted to be in my hotel.
b. My prof again came through for me by calling my hotel to let them know I would be late.
5. We get to Reims at about 10:40. I get outside only to see that there are no taxis in sight. None. I wait. Still none to be found. So I went back into the station to see exactly how to get to my hotel. I write down street names (my map was in my suitcase because the France guidebook is a big sucker) and leave the station (this is around 11)…and promptly get lost. I did find my way back to where my directions told me but got lost again. Since I knew the general direction of the hotel I just kept walking. I finally broke down and got out my guidebook. I was in an area not really on the map when a woman came out of a bar and saved me! I was actually pretty close to the hotel I just needed to go down one more street. Check-in time: 11:45pm.
a. Yay! I got there! I got a room and a bed and tea!
b. Bad: Have to pay for internet. Got three hours, a little over 2 of which I used yesterday. I kind of wish I could get 5 hours but the payment plan jumps from 3 to 10.
6. Went to bed a little after 2 and got up today at about 9.