Scarborough to Serris Via London and Paris

 Last Sunday morning we packed up the car and headed down to York. The chap had already been over on Saturday to pick up Jerry the Hamster, but we still needed to drop Thelma off and catch our train from York to London. The first leg of our journey. We were breaking the journey up with an overnight stay in London, and in hindsight, Eurostar isn't the best option when you're starting off as far North as we are. It's a bit of an epic train journey. 

The week before we were heading down I read some updated reviews on the hotel we had booked and discovered that the family rooms (me, little Miss and Mum travelling) tended to be in the basement. As someone with a touch of claustrophobia and a fear of being below ground, I changed our booking to a lovely looking hotel right near Kings Cross and St. Pancras stations. 

The California Hotel near King's Cross

You can imagine how I felt when we checked in at The California hotel, and were assigned a basement room. Given it was for one night only, I told myself it would be fine, especially as the room itself was clean and comfortable. We headed out to explore the area and find somewhere to eat. 

Reception and the Bar at the California Hotel

Wandering around Euston road, pointing out the British library to little Miss and marvelling at how full the pubs were on a Sunday early evening, we eventually settled on Pizza express. 

The British Library

None of us were really in the mood for a meal as such, so we ordered a pizza and a selection of side dishes to share, before taking a wander around the roads of London. It was so relaxed and felt a million miles away from the City of London that I'm so used to visiting for work. 

We wandered around crescents, and absorbed the atmosphere. It really was a nicer side of London than I'm used to. Then, it was back to the hotel for a drink in the bar before retiring for the night. The next day would be a busy one. 

Exploring the Crescents of London - Shoes - Adidas, Dress - River Island, Bag - Michael Kors, Hat - Max Mara Weekend

Cafes still bustling on a Sunday evening

Monday, we were up early and my experience of sleeping in a basement room had been exactly as I had expected. Unsettled. I was tired, and glad to get out into the air and head for St. Pancras, a short 5 minute stroll away. Even though I've seen the station many times, I've never really taken much notice of the beautiful hotel that sits above it. It's like something out of Harry Potter. 

St Pancras Hotel

We grabbed a coffee and a croissant and checked in for our train to Paris. The journey was comfortable and enjoyable and the further south we went the more the sun showed its face. Once we alighted at Paris Gare du Nord, it was blazing! This is my third time visiting Paris, and I have never felt it as hot as this before, but then again I've never been in August. 

Beautiful buildings in Paris

After grabbing a snack, and taking in the hustle and bustle of Paris, we dragged our cases a few blocks to the RER station, to get our train(s). I'd booked us an apartment in Serris, a town outside of Paris but close to Disneyland, since that was one of the main reasons for our holiday. Once inside the RER station I was puzzled. I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to buy a ticket from the machine, before admitting defeat and asking at the information kiosk. Thank heaven, the guy working there was incredibly helpful and was able to help me buy my tickets and direct me on the two trains I would need to get me out to Serris. 

I have often heard how Parisians stay thin because of the amount of walking they have to do. Once I had to find my way around these stations and trains with luggage and a child, I understood what they meant. Over an hour later, a group of hot sweaty messes got off the train in Serris, and started our walk to the apartment. My poor old luggage case decided it had enough, and the wheel started to disintegrate with each step. 

The view from the apartment

Place Du Toscane

We were so grateful to check in to our gorgeous apartment. We opened the large French windows overlooking the Place Du Toscane, grabbed some groceries from Auchan and enjoyed a cup of tea while we watched the hustle and bustle on the square below. 

Blurry photos in the Place Du Toscane before bed time

Luckily for little Miss, who's favourite thing to eat is pancakes, we were right above a French creperie. We popped down for crepes for supper, before retiring to our comfortable beds for a well earned sleep after our travel adventures.