At Gare Lyon, I heaved my suitcases to the platform one at a time. It was impossibly crowded and I found myself resenting every single one of the people in between me and my ability to get a taxi or Uber. I was the grumpy, overly-packed American. My joie de vivre was nowhere to be found.

After pushing through the crowds, I made my way to the taxi line which seemed impossibly long. When I looked at the faces of the people in that line, it occurred to me they all mirrored my own. Sullen, tired and ready to be anywhere else. When I joined the line it was announced that the wait from where I was standing would be greater than 90 minutes. I didn’t even blink. I pulled my cases toward the road and tried to call an Uber.

Fun Fact: Calling an Uber, Friday night at 5:30 at a train station is not advisable. Three times I had the experience of being connected a driver that just drove further away from me until I cancelled. When I would try to book a new driver, Uber couldn’t locate any. Sophie and I were standing on the sidewalk next to a big cafe-Bistro de Gare. So many people were enjoying wine and beer with friends seeming so completely content. This was not us.

After about 40 minutes, a driver responded and actually drove towards me. He helped me heap my crap in the car and we crept slowly through rush hour traffic. We had almost made it. I fantasized about the shower, the bed and a chance to take Sophie out for a proper walk. I almost felt happy to be in Paris as we crossed the Seine at sunset. It was pretty, it was familiar, and it was not a train.

I got to the hotel where Matthew booked me and it turned out to be a very American style, Residence Inn with a huge bed, kitchen area, and private balcony. I put my weary Sophie on the leash and ran to the lobby to find that the beautiful sunset was over and now a soaking rain was washing the streets. Never mind, we walked out anyway. We had already been through far worse. We got soaked but found an Indian street food restaurant where I ordered the necessary comfort foods for me to recover after our walk. I found a large park that was centered in a residential campus area. Sophie had grass, plenty of light posts to sniff and got all her basic needs met.

We returned to the room where I fed Sophie and took a long, hot shower. It occurred to me that I should just throw my black, travel outfit in the trash but my frugal side wouldn’t let me. I found an international news program in English and I ate until I was stuffed. Sophie helped me with the rice. I cleaned up our dishes, turned on my alarm and crawled into bed right next to my puppy. Blessedly, it appeared that the day was over.