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#slowtravel

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Et voilà une autre occasion pour acheter un billet de #train sur @12train: au lieu de prendre un des horribles bus privés pour faire #Grenoble-#Turin (le but est de prendre le train de nuit pour #LameziaTerme demain depuis Turin), j'ai décidé de prendre deux #TER (Grenoble-Montmelian-Modane) achetés sur #12train et puis navette #Modane-Bardonecchia... et à nouveau le train jusqu'à Turin... avec une halte une nuit chez une amie à #Oulx

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It’s just a 10min walk on well paved footpaths - plenty of time to get wet if the weather is against you.

The 07:15 train pulled up to the platform at 06:45 and we were able to board straight away 😊

The station itself is just a grim siding with a single open platform, a small shelter, a ticket machine and more metal fencing than a high security prison.

Major redevelopment works at the port are well progressed but AFAIK nothing for foot passengers.

By whatever stroke of luck we managed to get access to the Club Lounge on our Brittany Ferries sailing by upgrading our cabin for an additional €70. To buy access on the ship it would have been €98 each.

Only the Club Lounge and the expensive restaurant on the deck below have forward facing views.

While enjoying the privilege I don’t think this is an appropriate allocation of the ship’s amenities. Everyone should have access to these views.

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First minor problem of the journey.

We waited at the bus stop at the station from 12:50 to 13:20 awaiting the shuttle bus which is advertised as departing 2 hours before each ferry departure.

When it failed to appear we took a taxi instead. On check-in we were told the shuttle bus regularly fails to run due to a lack of drivers. Apparently, it will be replaced by a new regular bus service at the end of June!

Meanwhile, don’t rely on it!

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Easy cross platform connection in Caen. It’s only a 10 min connection but surely they would hold the Cherbourg train if necessary.

No reservations necessary on this Caen - Cherbourg service and no 1st class either. Train is older but comfortable and, like the Paris train, close to full on departure. Plentiful bicycle places and clean toilets.

On time arrival into Cherbourg and the weather makes it feel like we’re close to home 😂

A baleine train? 🐋

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When you get upset about paying €2…

Using our final Interrail Day of a 4 day pass today. It’s not the most efficient usage but I had held it in reserve in case our long journey from Sicily hit the buffers somewhere.

This TER Normandie train is compulsory seat reservation. I tried using Rail Europe but it couldn’t offer reservations for this specific train. So I reverted to Interrail and paid more for the booking fee than the actual seat €1.70 + €2 😡

Return Day 3 - 08:29 Paris St Lazare - Caen 10:40

We’ve previously taken a direct train to Cherbourg from Paris but at this time of day a change in Caen is required.

No problems reading the QR code at the platform gates in St Lazare. The NFC chip didn’t seem to be triggered as it was in Gare De Lyon. Probably because the QR code reader was placed separately to the chip reader.

#GoreyToSyracuse
#SlowTravel
#Interrail

🌿✨ Venice Isn’t Just Stone and Water…

Tucked behind palazzi and hidden beyond cloisters, Venice reveals another face — one of calm, greenery, and quiet refuge.

From the shady pines of Sant’Elena to the elegant geometry of Scarpa’s garden, I’ve gathered some of the most beautiful gardens and green spaces in Venice that are open to the public (yes, they exist!).

Whether you're looking to escape the crowds, find a breath of fresh air, or capture something truly unexpected with your camera — these are the places to go.

🪴 Not a guidebook list. A collection of moments.

📖 Read the full post →
🔗 [Insert your blog URL: msecchi.com/journal/venice-sec

Marco SecchiVenice’s Secret Gardens: Peaceful Green Spaces to Escape the Crowds
More from Marco Secchi
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The high speed Frecciarossa does go all the way to Reggio Calabria but the high speed line only as far as Salerno.

Once in Villa San Giovanni, the strait needs to be crossed either on an Intercity train on the ferry or as a foot passenger. Worth investigating for the next trip to Ortigia.

line#GoreyToSyracuse #SlowTravel #Interrail

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While passing the paddy fields of the Po river basin west of Milan we discussed whether we would take the Intercity Notte night train to Syracuse again.

My initial thought was Yes but my wife is not so sure.

On the plus side, it’s very convenient to load your luggage onto the train in Milan and not have to touch it again until you reach your destination in Sicily.

Conversely, it’s quite basic accommodation and the toilets not for the faint-hearted.

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We decided to walk (~20 mins) from Milano Centrale to Milano Porta Garibaldi despite the excellent @seatsixtyone advising that there is little of interest on the walking route. The weather was very pleasant and dry and as it turned out there is a lovely new(?) park along the way. A detour due to renovation works at the front of station was the only hiccup we encountered.

We took the metro on our outward journey and that was easy apart from some stairs