Paris by night is truly magical. Yes, tourists say it's lovely and romantic by day (and thanks to them I nearly missed my train!) but by night, 'The City of Lights' really is that! Muse's song 'Guiding Light' (Resistance album, track 5) really sums it up for me. Every time I walk out my door of an evening, there it is, the spotlight 324m above, spinning round; Paris' constant.
There are different lights. And sitting on trains really makes you take them in. Even on my journey to the station tonight there were all kinds of luminescence.
The orange street-lights on my street, giving way to white light as I walked across the park, to bright gold as the Eiffel Tower appeared in view; back to white as I descended into the depths of the metro. Flowing under the streets like a metallic snake, the metro paints a picture itself of light: red and green. Out once more to St Lazare into an underground cathedral of concrete and shrubbery, escalators and trains and the warm, soothing glow of halogen guiding you home.
WHOOSH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! WHIZ! go the safety lights in the RER tunnel. And out. Gare du Nord.
And what a place.
As a transport student, train stations are always special places. (except Birmingham New Street or Reading) and Gare du Nord is no exception. It takes my breath away.
The lights from the departure boards, the gold hue on the cavernous roof, the red, silver and yellow of the Thalys, TGV and Eurostar. The minty cool RATP showing tourists how to get lost.
And now, as I hurtle along at close to 200mph it's all dark outside. Autumn is upon me, the darkness of the French fields is all encompassing. And all I am is a small streak of light coming home.
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