Tokyo to Amsterdam

The trip back to Tokyo on Monday was a little long but uneventful. We had breakfast at a local chain called Wee Willie for the 4th time this trip. It is a bakery with set breakfast menus. For 514 yen (A$6) we got coffee, a small salad, half a banana and a panini or egg on toast or sandwiches. Great value. We caught the train from Matsuyama to Okayama and then the Shinkansen to Tokyo and a local train to Haneda airport where we stayed the night. The flight to Paris the next morning was on time and quite smooth. We were on a train within about 45 minutes of landing. We stayed at the Hotel Jardin du Luxembourg which is a short walk from a station on the line from the airport and back to Gare du Nord on the same line. We had time after breakfast for a walk through the gardens on a cool but clear morning.

The highlight of the last few days has to be the trip from Paris to Amsterdam on the Thalys train. We had joined their club (for free) which gave us access to their lounge prior to the trip - free coffee and internet in nice surroundings. As this was the train which had a foiled terrorism scare recently, they now have security screening before boarding. It was reasonably quick. There were also armed police patrolling the train. The trip itself was a revelation. We paid for first class (not much more than 2nd) and got free Wi-Fi, morning tea with a snack and a drink including wine, and a good lunch, again with wine. The seats are very comfortable and the trip only took 3 1/2 hours at speeds up to 300 km/h.

We caught a tram to our hotel in Amsterdam this afternoon (Wednesday) and are being picked up for our 7 day cruise after lunch tomorrow. Not sure about Wi-Fi on the boat so we will see how we go with the next report.