Trains, tracks and tantrums (part 3)

Interailing in Europe - Paris and the Ferry home

While the majority of the holiday lay behind us, our longest journey was yet to come: an overnight train from Munich to Paris. We shared our middle bunks in the six-bedded compartment with two mothers, three daughters and a cat. The cat, travelling in his own cage, was probably the most comfortable passenger. Sleeping with all your bags at the end of a narrow bed is no fun at all, but an experience nevertheless (euphemisms to the rescue).

Paris didn't disappoint, though be prepared for crowds everywhere. The palace of Versailles was predictably sumptuous, with luxuriant gardens. Notre Dame was a tin of sardines, though worth the view from the tower. The Eiffel Tower is, naturally enough, expensive, and those afraid of heights may shy away from the oblique angle of the lifts. Where Paris shines is as an art-lover's paradise. The Louvre is far too large to be appreciated in one visit; even the most passionate among us would get satiated after the first few hours. The Mus? d'Orsay and Rodin Museum both provided as much satisfaction on a more negotiable scale. Ask in tourist information offices about the Museum Pass, which may be better value than individual tickets.

While one would imagine eating out to be exorbitant, we were fortunate to have a nearby caf?that served large platters of salad for around ?6. In general, we ate for ?12-?14 a day.

Breakfast was included in our accommodation, but varied from a hunk of baguette and machine tea in Paris to a glorious buffet in Regensburg, complete with two different types of yogurt. The hostels themselves also varied in room sizes and facilities (kudos to Regensburg for its great pool room), but all were comfortable with decent bathroom facilities and bed  linen provided.

Our Grand Tour ended with overpriced food, cringe-inducing cabaret and an hour and a half delay on the ferry from Cherbourg. Tempers were thankfully confined to brief episodes of barking, and despite hours spent travelling, we never did use the deck of cards.

Inter-railing? Yes please.

Sheila Robinson