The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train

ALL ABOOOOOARD. Or as Will and Nat would say, “Ahhh abuuuuud!” (you guys, toddlers don’t speak that well.)

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

First of all, name that movie. ^^^ I mean yes, it’s the Eurostar train station, in all its hustle and bustle fabulousness. But what movie was filmed here? I don’t want to be obnoxious, but it rhymes with Schalémie.

The whole purpose of my trip to London and Paris was to experience the Eurostar train journey, and what that ride looks and feels like. I’m telling you, because of this trip, I’ve decided to only travel by train from now on. Even at home. Only by train. Even in my neighborhood. Only train. Don’t try and tell me it’s impossible because I won’t listen!

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

I love a good train station. It feels much more posh than any airport, can you agree? There’s something about walking the length of the train with your luggage that feels straight out of, well, ALL THE MOVIES. And you know how I feel about movies. Movies = trains. Movies = happy me. Trains = happy me. Wine on the train = very very happy me.

I’m getting confused.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

This photo ^^ is actually in the London station. My photos are slightly out of order, but I’m still a good person. After an intense cab ride to the station, telling the driver to pull over, hopping out and literally running the last quarter mile with 9237523 pounds of luggage, we made it to the London station juuuust in time to rest a bit in the executive lounge and chat with the staff about the changes they’ve made, and plan to make. Everyone was extremely friendly, and had such lovely accents. (it’s funny, after you’ve been around British accents for more than a day, you find yourself speaking in one! do you? …no, really? only me? oh.)

After a quick gin and tonic and handful of spicy nuts, we boarded the train and got settled into our seats (that face each other!) and began our trip to Paris. PAH-REE, you guys.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Hello, they feed you (good food!) on the train. They give you (endless!) wine (even rosé!) on the train. The seats all face each other like little cafes and you chat and bond and grow as a person and life is good on the train.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

See that rosé up there? ^^ Told ya.

On my way to Paris I had a delicious smoked salmon dish with a dill cream sauce, bread and butter, and a little bowl of mousse. (and wine) (times three) On the way home I had a cold chicken curry salad with bread and butter and a little brownie thingy. (and rosé) (times six) (I keed!) (maybe)

The ride there and back is only like, 2.5 hours. And some of it is UNDA DA SEA. (<–name that movie)

It’s FAST, and smooth, and so freaking lovely I can’t even take it. I’m telling you, my new life is all train.

Now, let’s look at more photos of London and Paris.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Telephone booths! I squealed like a tool when I saw the first one. They are everywhere. Ashlae took a photo of me on my cell phone standing next to it. Ha hhahahahah!  ha hah a.

ha.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Did I mention the Gastro tour we took our first day in London? OMG – we started at this adorable little, uh, meatery? Is that a word? Lots of cured meats and bread and oils and stuff. We had our first round of cappuccinos and an INSANE zucchini frittata. And tiny little white trays of cubed pancetta wading in a fancy oil. It was ridiculous and I wept like a baby sloth.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

This building ^^ is riiiight down the street from Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster, and riiiight across from the National Museum. Not cute at all, right? So gross. I know.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Speaking of gross, look at this flat front. I know I showed you one already a couple of posts back, but I can’t rightly help it. LOOK AT THAT. Almost makes me legit angry.

(My mom’s like, “I don’t understand, I think it’s cute!)

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Back in Paris! Name that movie where the lady jumps off the top of the Notre Dame, landing on top of a little girl’s mother, leaving the little girl to retreat into her own wild imagination, later turning her into an avid do-gooder with a cute French bob and tiny waist.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Oh! Here’s the French man we (apparently not so secretly) gawked. I know in this photo he looks like an America’s Most Wanted suspect, but you GUYS. When he stood up in his dark fitted jeans and expensive shoes and helped his aging mama up from her chair, we all melted down to the concrete like frickin’ taffy.

. . . He is a little scary, isn’t he? Never mind, I change my mind.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Oh, Paris and your stunning architecture at every.single.dang.corner.ever.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Oh, Paris and your cute flower stands at every.single.dang.corner.ever.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Don’t you ever wonder what everyone’s lives are like? Ashley and I definitely have that in common. We continually obsessed over the mystery of what everyone’s homes were like, jobs were like, lovers were like, WHAT THEY WERE HAVING FOR DINNER. And why they didn’t invite us.

The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train / Bev Cooks

Back at the station for our trip back to London!

This trip. THIS TRIP. I’ll hold it dear as long as I live. (along with my copper pot, hollaaa)

Thank you deeply, Eurostar for hosting a bunch of loud American bloggers last week as we fumbled through our French accents and drank all of your booze. I’ll be back. (name that mov- okay I’ll chill.)

Now, you’ll forgive me if I slip more Euro photos into my Friday Flotsam posts for the next, um, 96 weeks, right? Coo, cool.

*this post and all my travel was sponsored by Eurostar. THE TRAIN. I seriously went on a train.

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17 Responses to The Girl on the (Eurostar) Train

  1. Brittany | Words Like Honeycomb March 31, 2016 at 7:58 am #
    Looks like you had an amazing time! and now I am mad that there isn't a train in my neighborhood.
  2. Julie @ Table for Two March 31, 2016 at 8:12 am #
    Omg, I have an embarrassing story about speaking in a British accent. But to answer your question, yes, totally end up doing it after you've been around people who have the accent. I love everything about London. Your photos take me baaaack.
  3. nicole @ I am a Honey Bee March 31, 2016 at 9:37 am #
    This is all so dreamy. I want to go on a train. But not be Girl on the Train...
  4. Dee @ The Kitchen Snob March 31, 2016 at 11:45 am #
    I am completely jealous and more angry at you and Paris than I am at that flat front. Dangnabbit, Paris!
  5. Rachel March 31, 2016 at 12:06 pm #
    Umm, is Amelie on of the movies you referenced? Such a beautiful trip.
    • Bev Weidner March 31, 2016 at 12:27 pm #
      Pretty much all of the movies I referenced. :)
  6. Ashley Rodriguez March 31, 2016 at 1:16 pm #
    The Little Mermaid! Also, how dare you call our French gentleman friend creepy. Don't you remember his EYES!! You're forgiven. Now hop on a train and come visit me in Seattle.
  7. Laurie March 31, 2016 at 1:58 pm #
    I'm glad you enjoyed your trip! Were the Parisians nice or naughty towards you? Sadly, all trains, especially on the East coast, are nothing like the Eurostar. A few years back, I took the train from Vermont to Baltimore. The route basically goes through every slum and industrial area on the very slowwwwwwwwwwwwww trek down the coast, stopping about every fifteen minutes. I was waiting outside the lavatory door for eons, when a very elderly man emerged. When I went in, there were wet paper towels plastered on all the walls. Seriously. I'm not kidding. I won't be holding my breath until the U.S. gets a version of the Eurostar!
  8. Emily @ Life on Food March 31, 2016 at 2:46 pm #
    Trains are so much better than airplanes.
  9. Donna Shearer March 31, 2016 at 4:06 pm #
    Texas has a pretty fast train. the train would have been so much better than the quick plane ride we took in '81. but we did take a train north to York. I fell asleep and they put all their beer cans in front of me for a lovely photo! lol memories.
  10. Nix April 1, 2016 at 4:05 am #
    It looked like an amazzzzing trip! You made me miss Europe, the grey skies, and even those trains!
  11. Leah April 1, 2016 at 9:08 am #
    I love this post. Beautiful photos, and, girl, you are so funny.
  12. Brandy @ The Prudent Homemaker April 1, 2016 at 11:33 am #
    What a wonderful opportunity they gave you! I would love to take this trip! I loved taking the train in France. I never did get to take the Eurostar; I went from Genève to Lyon, to Clermont-Férrand and then back to Genève. It was so incredibly beautiful. It's been almost 2 decades now since I've seen France. I thoroughly enjoyed your photos of this trip.
  13. Kristen April 3, 2016 at 5:31 pm #
    Saw this on buzzfeed and immediately thought of you! http://www.buzzfeed.com/crystalro/times-are-hard-for-dreamers#.woLMBYPgpJ Your trip looked fabulous!
  14. Anonymous April 29, 2016 at 9:38 pm #
    Try 1st c lass next time!
  15. m May 5, 2016 at 10:10 am #
    where did u learn how to write ? on Twitter ?
  16. Richard H May 10, 2016 at 7:25 am #
    Why are all the comments, so far! from girls. I don't like France - don't know what all the fuss is about Paris!! rather be on Prague. The only train for me is the Venice-Simplon- yes

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