Destination : London to Grenoble!

Destination : London to Grenoble!
Tuesday 8th April and our final morning in London! After a little bit of a sleep in, Steve and I packed up our life in two smallish suitcases and headed to London Gatwick to embark on our European Vacation! First destination - Grenoble, France.

During the planning of our European Tour, Steve and I wanted to incoporate some skiing into our holiday. The idea of Grenoble, France came after a friend of mine lived in Grenoble for several years while studying at the University in town. The postcards she so lovingly sent to me back home in Australia were just so breathtaking and beautiful - I always had it in the back of my mind that I would visit there oneday. So when the opportunity came in considering skiing in the French Alps, I immediately suggested to Steve that we book somewhere in Grenoble.

Anyway, after checking out of our hotel Steve and I jumped onto our blessed Jubilee Line one more time before leaving London in order to get ourselves to London Gatwick Airport. We jumped off at London Bridge and got onto a First Capital Connect Train for the final leg of our train ride to Gatwick. The last time we flew out of Gatwick it was to Rome, that was from the Northern Terminal. Today, our flight to Grenoble was from the Southern Terminal. The check in point was relatively quiet actually. Steve and I arrived in plenty of time before we were required to check in our luggage and actually had to camp out on the terminal floor four about an hour before they opened the luggage check in.

At security, Steve and I had to practically get undressed in order to pass through. As usual, like precision clock work I beeped as I went through the metal detector even though I had taken off every know metal object I had on me at the time. After I had been felt up and the security folk were satisfied I wasn't a threat, Steve and I got reacquainted with our belongings again and headed through to the terminal and to the duty free shopping. We learnt our lesson from our flight back from Naples and decided not to indulge in any terminal shopping. Our backpacks were so full we couldn't even stick our fingers in there let alone any extra objects anyway!

Actually, when called for our flight we found that our flight was relatively empty. We had heard stories that there would be a mad rush for seats as they work on a best in best dressed system. When booking a flight you don't get allocated seating. Since Steve and I were in boarding Group A anyway, we leisurely found our seats and settled in for the short flight to Grenoble.

The flight was pretty trouble free. I felt a bit off during take off and it took a few minutes for the pressure in my ears to rebalance but we touched down in Grenoble without any issues and hour and 10 mins later. The airport there reminded me of the regional airport in Traralgon back home actually. It was so small and when we landed the plane just kind of randomly taxied to the small building that served as the arrival terminal and then kind of just randomly parked itself along side it. Steve and I hopped off the plane via the stairs provided and went through customs and picked up our luggage within 10 mins of touching down!

At the point of luggage pick up, I realised that London security had cut off my padlock from my suitcase probably with bolt cutters. On packing for our trip, we had decided to take some forks, knives and spoons as well as a good sharp pair of scissors in order to make our life a little easier and comfortable. I figured they had scanned it and seen it and wanted to make sure that it was alright. It kind of makes you feel invaded to know that a stranger has foraged through your personal belongings!

We grabbed a scheduled bus from the airport into Grenoble town centre, which is aligned with arrivals and departures of flights from the tiny air strip. When we touched down, the temperature outdoors was a tad unpleasantly chilly. On arrival in Grenoble Gare Routiere, we took a short walk to our IBIS Gare Hotel alongside the river...and set off in search of our dinner. By the time we checked in and headed back out it was well after 8pm, so on spotting the Golden Arches - McDonald's we decided to just wave the white flag and give into the temptation and indulge on a Royal Deluxe and a Petit Salaade.

Thoroughly tired, Steve and I retured back to our hotel room to warm up and retire for a good nights rest and take on our first day in Grenoble!


*Zzzzzz*

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