Traveling by Eurostar is a little like being a VIP for awhile.  A VIP in the midst of a large number 0f other VIPs. 

We’ve taken this train to Paris in the past, from the old terminal at Waterloo station.  And we’ve taken it by car to Calais from Ashford in Kent.  This is our first time taking it from the new and improved St. Pancras station.

We arrived at the station with a good hour and a half to spare on purpose.  After we got our tickets we went up to the Booking Room, the restaurant in the new hotel built in the old station.  It has been fabulousluy renovated, with soaring gothic arched beams of painted iron implanted on red brick gothic arches.  Marble floors and Corinthian columns abound.  The restaurant itself is built inside a vault, dark and formal, with lighting that highlighted the arches. 

We just wanted a drink so were directed to the lobby, which was also build inside a grand Victorian hall bordered with brick arches and covered by a glass ceiling.  Not the cheapest Americano with hot milk and hot chocolate, but surprisingly and satisfyingly excellent.

Refreshed and happy to have included a new Lodnon site en route, we went down to check in at the Eurostar terminal. Extremely fast and easy.  I affixed my earbuds into my amazing coat (more on that later) and waited for our train departure while listening to a Haydn cello concerto.

A short hour and a half later and we were in Lille, a town that has become a shopping mecca for Brits who can get here for a day, explore the old town, have a nice lunch, and then stock up on French food, wine and other treasures before retuning home.  We could see both the town and the large shopping centre , with easy access for pedestrians.  The station also had a metro station and on a main street.  That’s another thing I love about Europe, it's so easy to get around.

On our TGV train to Lyon (3 more hours) we ate our Marks & Spencers sandwiches and drank our tiny bottle of Cava and read our french novels and guide books.  Phase two of our summer trip has begun.