Bologna to Paris and the Chunnel by train: Milleniunm Series 25

We arrive in the ancient city Bologna late in the afternoon. The excellent assistance crew is waiting and helps up to settle in the station to wait for our connecting train to Paris. Unfortunately we are unable to explore this famous city. (next time)

Our train arrives at 9 o'clock and we board. The train is Eurostar and we booked first class sleepers. There is no room for the wheelchair, so mother has to walk. There is no baggage car and the rather surly steward is quite annoyed by our large overseas suitcases, He grudging moves them into an unoccupied room to get them out of the hallway. I am shocked when I see the accommodation.

We must climb up narrow stairs into the extremely small room. There is a hard backed built in bench-like-chair on one side, a small window and a strange, ugly, greenish-looking piece of furniture across from it. On further examination, we find the top of this strange contraption opens up to uncover a sink In the front lower portion of this are two doors. The top one opens into a very small cubicle which holds two miniscule hand towels.

There is an odor of urine as we open the bottom door. Inside is a plastic chamber pot with a spout. There is a hole in the cupboard underneath the pot, which I think goes to the tracks. so we can empty it. Our bathroom! My mother starts to laugh more at my indignation than our situation.

It is not until we look upwards that we find the bunks. Instead of a bottom and top bunk they are two top bunks and they are at least 10 to 12 feet up from the floor. I call the steward telling him that it is impossible for my mother to get up to the bed. Not only is she 90 years old but has had her knees replaced and cannot climb a ladder. He shrugs his shoulders and walks out. I am furious. We paid almost 400 dollars American for these rooms, for twelve hours of travel in which we are supposed to sleep. If this is first class I'd hate to see 2nd.

While I fume, my mother laughs uncontrollably. I'm not sure she realizes that she is sitting on her bed, the hard-bench-like-chair. The next problem is trying to get up to the bunks. Since the ladder is flat against the wall, it is impossible to climb as there is no room for the toes, I search for a spot to put the ladder. There are no edges on the bed to hook it over and with the now lurching train, I cannot just lean it against the wall, too risky. Again I ring the steward but he has become deaf and does not answer the call.

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