Well where to start. This is going to be a long story kiddies. It all started when your dad tried to take a train from Amsterdam to Paris. That failed miserably.
After two awesome days in Amsterdam I was ready to finally go back to Paris to catch my flight. I had checked the train schedules and saw there was a high speed train going direct at 5pm. The only problem was you needed a reservation. In the past it has worked pretty well for me to leave things to the last minute and just get the reservation 1 hour before. So going by the same logic I arrived at the train station with my last slot of my Eurorail pass filled out with 01/12 the day I was traveling. The ticket counter lady checked but there were no more spaces for today's direct trains. So I said no problem how about tomorrow. To which she started a tirade about how I would be committing fraud since I had already filled in my pass with today's date and that was my last slot. But I didn't even use the ticket!
Anyways, traveling alone has taught me not to argue with these types. So I tried to be sneaky and erased my date with my trusty eraser pen and tried to check in with another ticketing agent. But the trains stations here work on a ticket queing system. And after two tries I keep getting the same lady as before or someone close to her. So I gave up and went to my plan B.
Plan B of course is always acting ignorant in case you didn't know. I figured I could get on the train then pretend I didn't know I needed a reservation. And be home free. So with that solid plan in mind I waited by the platform. There was a really helpful station manager who saw I was looking around and guessed I needed help. Since she was so helpful I thought maybe instead of plan B I should go this time instead with plan C.
Plan C in this case is insurance. I could jumped on the train pretending to be ignorant and if they caught me then they might decided to make me pay full price or kick me off the train or let me ride on. But I thought why not get some insurance that is double check with the station manager and try to get a free pass on the no reservation thing. She was so helpful and even talked to the train manager when the train pulled in. But a las it was not meant to be. The train manager was a dick and a half. Totally the type to abuse his power and wouldn't listen to reason at all. So I just said thanks anyways.
At this point the station manager suggested that I catch the train to Brussels and try to see if they have any more reserve seats to Paris from Brussels.
And so my journey took me to Brussels. I quickly dashed up the mountainous stairs and explained the situation to the ticketing agent. He was sympathetic and arranged for me to go to Lillie and then catch the TGV there. But I had to leave now as the train was in 5 minutes and it was the only one if I wanted to catch my connection.
So I dashed back downstairs again to platform 2 where the troubles began. I ran to the first person I saw which is a Flemish girl called Sarah and she said I was at the right platform and it would be the second train that came. Ok phew I was so happy I didn't even bother double checking the counter. And so the first train passed then when the second train came it didn't say Lillie but had said some other place I had never heard of. I jumped on anyways cause it was this or nothing. The train manager this time again was sympathetic and helped me check he explained I could take this train but it is not the one I am suppose to take. And I would miss my connection as a result and there were no more trains.....
So here I am shit out of luck on a train going to a place I have never heard of with no more trains for tonight. So trying to make the best of the situation I went and found my friend Sarah and proceeded to Chris Brown her verbally. "You dun fucked up Belgium!" Anyways it wasn't really a fight or anything we were kind of just kidding around when the train conductor came by. So it turned out it wasn't her fault or mine but the ticketing office. They gave me an itenary with the wrong track number. I should have been standing on track 6 instead of 2........
Well fast forward 1 hour later Sarah helped me get a refund for the train i missed and got me a new ticket for tomorrow. She also let me stay at her apartment because according to her there is "fuck all" in Kortrijk.
In the morning we said our goodbyes and now I have a new friend in Kortrijk. Yay trains I guess? Lols
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| Sarah the crazy awesome Belgian girl haha |
Peace from Lillie onwards to Paris.
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