Mr Coeur de Lion Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Meeting someone who is arriving by train. I'm driving up. How easy is it to find this? Is it well sign posted and which is the best direction to approach it (I'll be driving up from Orleans direction)? And is parking simple? I do have a gps, but do not trust it very much, especially as it loses signal a lot in Paris.Any hep gratefully appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Gare de l'Est is not the easiest place to drive to, parking if I remember well is non-existant and it is not in the nicest of areas. Last time I was there, on the short walk to Gare de Nord I was approched 5 times if I wanted to buy drugs and 3 times to buy various sexual favours. Another time my case was nearly nicked out of the boot of my taxi. We had just pulled up and a bunch of scallys managed to get the boot open and get my case (this was in the middle of the afternoon, not late at night). The theft was only thwarted as my taxi driver, with amazing speed, rushed round and kicked the thief up the behind with such force that he dropped my case. He limped off, the rest ran off.It is relatively OK in the station, could you not ask this person to take an onwards RER/metro to a convienient point and meet up outside the centre of Paris? Might be safer/easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted October 2, 2009 Author Share Posted October 2, 2009 Gulp. I wish I hadn't asked now lol.Is there a pick up point at the station itself? Or undercover parking nearby? There seems to be parking around the station according to viamichelin. Is that undercover?I'm nervous now!And are dogs allowed in the station too? Can't see why not, but you never know.How much did they want for the sexual favours btw? [;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Maybe I was just unlucky.Well there is a pick up point right outside but keeps your doors locked - I'm not kidding.Don't know about underground parking as only have ever walked or taxi. I really would advise another pick-up point if poss.Never got as far as prices due to scabby/ill/dirty look of what was on offer apart from no way interested anyway. I'm sure you could have anything you want for the price of the next fix. Very sad . Probably the same at any station in any major city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 As per Pierre, best to avoid the area around the station.You could always ask your friend to grab a taxi and take a five minute ride out to the Cité de Musique. It's a large modern arts complex with extensive car parking situated just by the Porte de Pantin on the peripherique.....[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 Thanks for your advice.My friend's French is poor, so I think I'll try and meet at the pick up point outside the station. I'll just drive round til arrival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Your friend only has to write down CITE DE LA MUSIQUE SVP on a piece of paper and show it to the taxi driver.....[;-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 True. And it looks easier to find compared to the station too, just off a porte as you say. Will consider that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted October 11, 2009 Author Share Posted October 11, 2009 Met my friend at the station. Not hard to find. Straight down from Porte de Vitelle and turn right. They've apparently done the front area of the station up and it has a short term car park, free for 15 mins, €2.20 for up to 30 mins. Perfect for picking up and setting down. Think there's a car park next to the station too, didn't get much of a chance to look as I was too busy trying to stay alive in Paris traffic.So anyway, some info if anyone ever needs to know in the future.Oh and got back to the peripherique via porte de la Chapelle, which again was pretty much a straight line out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Richard thanks for giving us the feedback and I am so pleased it all went well.So often people ask the questions on here and then we never hear the outcome.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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