Day 27 - Sunday 8th October - Paris to Dijon

Relaxing morning. Packed,  tidied up and then with suitcases in tow we made our way to Republique Metro station one more time. I managed to take my case down one set of steps and then John took one handle in each hand and manhandled them up and down the rest of all the sets of steps. We took one line to Bastille then had to walk miles to get to the next line that would get us to Gare de Lyon to catch our train to Dijon, but at least we didn't get lost in there this time. We got there in plenty of time and John left me with the cases so that he could go and find an ATM machine. He was away for forever and I was hoping he remembered what time the train was leaving. Turns out there weren't any in the station (he didn't ask though so we don't really know) and he had to go out into the streets to find one. We got on the train, found room to stow our cases, settled into our assigned 1st class seats. Then there was a bit of commotion, an announcement was made, which John couldn't understand and people started to get up and collect their things.  I asked someone what was happening and he said we had to change trains! So, get the suitcases out, lug them off the train, walk towards the end of the platform where a new train had pulled in behind ours, find our carriage, lug the cases onto this train, find our seats and collapse into them. After such a smooth easy start to our trip i was now really feeling hot and bothered. It was a double decker train and we were so glad we'd chosen seats down on the lower level. The trip took about 2.5 hours and then we were in Dijon. We went to the taxi rank where there was an Aussie couple but there were no taxis. We noticed a sign that seemed to suggest calling the number listed to get a taxi to come. So John did that in his very best French and not long after one arrived. It was clear that the other couple had no idea what to do and we made sure they didn't get our taxi. They saw us ringing the number, surely you'd ask or work it out. The lady tried to get our taxi driver to call one for them by making hand gestures and talking to him as if he were an idiot. He asked them what nationality they were and she just shrugged her shoulders so we drove off.  Our driver wasn't very impressed. Got to the hotel in about 10 mins. It was once a nunnery. So, very pretty with the cloisters looking into the central garden. The sign said it was a 4 star hotel but there wasn't any soap or shampoos etc. A comfortable enough room but nothing special except a ridiculous modern tap where the water comes out the top instead of the usual hole at the bottom. By this time it was afternoon so we walked the few minutes into town to find somewhere to have a bite of lunch. Now it was a Sunday but there was absolutely noone around. The shops were mostly closed and the place was deserted. What a very pretty town this is also. Beautiful coloured tile rooves, buildings that were made of wooden beams and plaster and very clean streets which were closed to traffic. We started to see some people and then came to a small square with a few cafes, a fountain and a tiny carousel. We picked a cafe and both had delicious quiche, salad and fries. We then walked around and more people were appearing - families, couples, groups of teenagers. Gorgeous little streets with pretty buildings. We came to another square, a very big one this time in front of the old  and very elegant Duke's Palace. It's very hard to get used to so few people in the streets and squares after the hectic peace of Paris. It makes you slow down, relax and enjoy the serenity. We stopped in the big square for a spritz and a rest. Then walked down many more pretty deserted streets and headed back to the hotel to rest my foot before heading back out for dinner. By the time we got back to the small square for dinner there was only one place open. So we picked a table outside but soon moved inside because of the number of smokers around us. We had a burger each,  mine was a classique and John's was with camembert. Yum. After dinner we walked around a little and then headed back to the hotel to pack.