Part 1 (the Paris Escapades)

     We arrived safely to Paris with all our bags, heads and parts in tack, though getting here was quite the mission and a half.

     Travel members were: Marty Murawski (who is filming a part for the new FILMBOT FILES) Mike Lawlor, (who is kinda tagging along) and myself Mikendo J Filmbot.

     Stepping off the plane in France seemed simple enough. But not speaking any French, we had the hardest time trying to figure out how to get to Downtown Paris. Once figuring out where the train station was and where to buy the tickets, we board. "Do you speak English?" was a common phrase I used quite often.

     We stayed in the hostel called 3 Ducks. Unknowing to us, we were checking into a party hostel. Just how party? Well let's just say the lobby, where you check in, was a bar. But everyone there spoke English, so that was pleasant and comforting.

     Once settled in, onward we proceed to search for all the great landmarks in Paris. There was some kinda structure called the "Eiffel Tower" on our way to the main tourist attraction, a skatespot called Le Dome, ohhh man, were we psyched to see that. With our legs weary from 6 hours of straight skating, partially jetlagged and not to mention the wind chill factor being surprisingly strong (at least for us). All of us were beat and ready retire in our extremely noisy party hostel foam mattresses! Though the public transportation was great, almost like front door service and easy to deal with once we figured it all out!

     Day three consisted of hitting up the other spots around this fine city, such as Barcy, which was an enormous grass pyramid, where inside laid a concert hall. Fortunately the suckers were inside and completely forgot about the outside, which had excellent skate architecture surrounding the building. Creitel was the second stop, a football field sized slab of marble and other structures to throw oneself from. Did I forget to mention there was no anti-skate police, ever?

     It was getting late, and we needed to catch our train 19.00 o'clock (using euro time) train to Lyon. Leaving almost 2 hours early, we thought for sure we would have tons of time to get everything straight and board the train with ease... as your thinking now, we were wrong. Exiting the metro, one stop early, we thought we could walk to the Gare de Lyon Train Station, only to our surprise the next stop was across the river. Still with our hopes high, we decided to trek it. Remember, we have all our luggage with us: Marty and I have the largest rollerbags in the world (made by Vezix, thanks Coleman) and Mike Lawlor with a hand carried duffle bag, we slothed our way there. 750 meters (using euro dimensions here) or 11 city blocks, and our arms fully out of sockets, we arrive at the train station with a smooth 4 mins to spare. Finding our train number 5, we just hop right up onto the first open door we see, since the engine was already running, and we don't want it taking off without us.

"AHHHH" we exhale with relief. Oozing into our chairs, it seems to fit my ass almost perfectly, I think.
Making sure, I confirm our travels. "This is heading to Lyon, France right?"
"Yes", this English-speaking woman replies.
"Are we sitting in the correct seats?" I ask as I hand her my tickets.
"Noo, your sitting in First Class, your seats are in Second Class... at the other side of the train."

     With the thoughts it was all over, all of us unwillingly pick up all our bags, and make our way through the center of train, while its moving, to the far back end. Seven train sections, luggage placed in storage racks and feet dragging, we know are seats are just ahead. Analyzing my tickets, then the seats... then my tickets again, then seats... "Excusemua, your in our seats!" We all say at once. Long story short, we got our seats, and were off the train in no time (since we all slept) and in Lyon, France.