I was in Geneva on manoeuvres with ADRg Ambassadors and poised to return to the UK when we heard about the volcano dust problem.

So we took a train from Geneva to Paris, stayed overnight in a modest but very helpful Paris hotel, then went by train to Caen and by ferry to Portsmouth.

I staggered home at 0100 hours last night after a 17-hour journey. Exhausted but unbowed.

Points to note:

  • it is difficult if not impossible through Avis or the other major car rental people to hire a car eg in Paris and drop it off in London. Annoying
  • the Eurostar website is a pain in the neck, when it tells you repeatedly that there are seats available, only to tell you that there are not seats available after you have wasted time making attempted specific bookings
  • French trains are very good, when they are not on strike
  • French train websites are impenetrable
  • Brittany Ferries are good – efficient website
  • Arrangements for getting off Brittany ferries in Portsmouth are not so good. Too long waiting for buses to get us to the terminal, then too few immigration control officials to get stressed passengers through quickly
  • French food is terrific but costs a bomb if you are converting sterling into Euros

Luckily I had my trusty copy of Atlas Shrugged to re-read. At 1000 pages it was just the thing for this gruesome experience. Buy it now if you have never read it: