One of the best moments on my last trip to London was wandering St. Pancras International Train Station at 4:00 AM. The station was practically draped in a midnight blue and had not awoken quite yet. St. Pancras is easy to romanticize considering it is the gateway to Paris via the Eurostar, which was exactly where I was headed. When I arrived in my taxi, I walked through the grand Victorian doors and sensed anticipation in the air. This station truly embodies the romanticism of train travel.
First, I wandered up to the Grand Terrace, where it was empty except for a few people. I admired the art and Gothic architecture while a public piano played in the distance. What I noticed immediately was the text 'I want my time with you' floating under the station's famous Dent clock. This art installation says it all. Beneath, is The Meeting Place or, The Lovers statue, arguably the station's signature attraction. Standing tall at an impressive nine metres, it was much more imposing than I remembered. The sculpture sets out what it was meant to do, which is induce feelings of love and wanderlust. The next statue I found was the Sir John Betjeman statue, a man dressed in a disheveled suit, holding his hat and appearing to look up in awe. He essentially helped rescue St. Pancras from demolition back in the sixties, determined to save its architectural beauty. Even though I love the couple, this is also one of my favourites. I love these reminders to stop and appreciate life's beauty.
One hour and a flat white later, the crowds were starting to pick up. People were gathering and anxiously awaiting security to open. You could spot the excitable people ready for a day in the Paris, and I was one of them. Let's just say, I wasn't the only one wearing a quintessentially French striped shirt. I loved seeing others as enthusiastic as I was. We were on our way with passports ready. Suddenly, I was in the waiting area, which may have been the worst part of my morning. It was incredibly cramped and seating was a nightmare. Also, coffee. If you are willing to brave the swarms of business commuters and tourists, you might be one of the lucky ones to score a Pret A Manger to go. It was a far cry from when I had the Grand Terrace to myself not long ago. Thankfully, the wait wasn't long and I reminded myself I was going to PARIS. But the City of Lights isn't the only destination here. The Eurostar also goes to Amsterdam and Brussels. Fun!
The exhilaration peaked when we started to board. As I walked up to the platform, I couldn't help but think of the very first time I went to Paris 15 years ago! Everything went smoothly and I glided into Paris on schedule, thankful to spend another day in this great city. Before I knew it, I was back in London, where the sun was setting on St. Pancras and I was greeted again by the towering 'lovers' as I stepped off the train. You get the best view of this statue when arriving back in London so look up, even in a rush.
After walking an abominable amount of steps in one day and in need of one more coffee, I was tired, but the good kind of tired-traveller tired.
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