28/9: Another Monday-Another country : Limoges, France

So there I was again, Vienna Airport waiting for a plane with an Austrian ticket, and Austrian Flight number but operated by Air France. I can't say I understand these things yet. Anyway the flight was OK and we departed on time and landed more or less on time and then I managed to get a train ticket from a French machine with a UK credit card and took myself to the Gare d'Austerlitz for the first time in my life.

The ticket selling lady was great and sold me a ticket for a train to Limoges (my destination) very efficiently and then said the train leaves in 20 minutes! SO off I went to find my reserved seat and away on time for the 3 hours to Limoges. The journey was fine, comfortable seat, all on time and arriving at Limoges still in daylight to find the station is a fabulous art-deco place with a magnificent location having all the trains running underneath!

The hotel was one of the white buildings on the left of the picture- hence all the railway noise!

The view below is the station from ground level withe detail of the cornices and the windows clearly seen.

The last picture is the inside of the station hall with the interior of the dome, quite beautiful.
As was seen in the pictures my hotel was only about 200 m stroll (reserved by the people I am working with) but whilst the people are friendly and it has WiFi. My room overlooked the railway line so after one night I was familiar with all the times of overnight trains! Anyway I met up with several other members of the committee almost as soon as I had arrived and put my brain into French speaking mode and off we went to a good dinner at a most modern looking restaurant on the other side of the tracks. Good food, good company and good wine, and all for 50 euros each - but we are in France!

The meeting today (Tuesday) was long and hard work but seemed to go well so we are off for another gourmet experience tonight. The meeting was in a room at the top of a Government building and so we had great views of the city almost all the way round - and a great view of the station again.