My flights from Alaska to Paris were quite amazing, especially since for a graduation present my parents used milleage to upgrade my seats to first class on Alaska Airlines and business class on British Airways (fitting for a graduation present!). My flight from London to Paris was slightly late, which at the time was great because I was meeting another student's flight (Kerri) at the airport an hour later than my scheduled arrival. Of course, as chance would have it, Kerri's flight was two hours late because of a "deranged passenger." Kerri arrived at the airport at 8:00 pm Paris time and the shuttle that we had reserved never arrived to pick us up.
What to do, what to do? We walked outside to ask a Parisian taxi driver how much it would cost to drive us to the hotel that the students were staying at the first night. He replied that it would cost 50 euros per person (over US$60). Or not! So then we tried to call our professor, but he was out with all the students at a late dinner. So we decided to take the public transportation system.
With my one rolling bag, a small Adidas duffel, carrier backpack, and print; and Kerri's large rolling suitcase, small suitcase with all her texbooks, and backpack; we mounted the RER B train from Charles de Gualle Airport. We took the B train to Chatelet, the A train to Nation, and the Metro to Porte de Montreuil (the Metro often doesn't have elevators or escalators for the convience of suitcases). Then we walked almost seven blocks with all our luggage to the ETAP hotel. We arrived at the hotel at midnight tres fatigue and with blisters. I'll have to add the picture later that Kerri took of me on the train.