Parc Asterix`

Theresa writes:
Day 19

Everyone was excited about today's plans.  Parc Asterix is France's answer to Disneyland Paris and it was a lot of fun.  Mainly french families here today, loads of roller coasters and thrill rides and of course a chance to meet Asterix and Friends.

Getting there was a mission - pretty much 2 hours door to door as it was a Sunday and the on-going strikes were affecting the train frequency with only 1/4 of the trains running.  The people in Paris continue to impress us with how friendly and accomodating they are.  We had ticket issues (essentially I bought the wrong metro/train tickets for Scott and I and the lady in the original ticket office sold us the wrong tickets for the children).  When trying to return home we realised that we were going to have to buy another 40 euro worth of tickets.  I was not happy and spent a bit of time talking to the info lady. After a while she took pity on us and opened the gates to let us go for free..

So we spent the whole ride home half expecting to meet a ticket inspector and being slapped with a massive fine.  We did have a  moment of panic when trying to exit the station and we were trapped in the luggage exit.  We thought we had one valid ticket so were hoping to get us all through the luggage exit on the one ticket.  But alas none of our tickets would release us so we were trapped there unable to go forward and unable to go back.  I thought were were going to have to be rescued by station staff (and receiving a hefty fine as a result).  Lo and behold some lovely man stops and lends us his monthly pass and we are able to escape and continue on our ticketfree way..

We spent about 7 hours at the Parc plus the 4 hours commuting so it was a big day.  We arrived at 10 and kids were hungry and Scott and I ready for a coffee.  No such luck -  none of the food/drink places in the Parc were open. And they stubbornly remained so until midday. The French don't do a morning tea (including the school children who only get a break and no food).  Unlike every other theme park ever they aren't prepared to sell food whenever and where ever you want it....