31 July 2026
Paris, France
Touchdown in Paris
We’ve just landed in Paris after a good flight overall. Sleeping was a challenge, though I’m not sure how much sleep I actually managed to get. Samuel, on the other hand, slept well enough for all three of us. The main disappointment was the food. The low-fat options — and even the children’s meals — didn’t look particularly appetising. The chocolate mousse dessert was not bad, but it had an odd strawberry addition that made it feel less like the proper rich chocolate mousse one expects. Charles de Gaulle Airport immediately feels much bigger and more modern than O.R. Tambo. We had to use a train-bus transfer between sections of the airport, which was surprisingly bumpy. For something at an airport of this scale, I expected a smoother, more automated experience — but it felt as though the driver was still mastering acceleration and braking. We have about a three-and-a-half-hour layover before continuing with Delta Airlines. Franli found the service on this flight disappointing, especially compared with previous experiences where food arrived faster and was better. I did not have a benchmark, so it did not bother me as much. It will be interesting to compare the service as we fly with different airlines throughout the trip. A small win: free airport Wi-Fi. My first international purchase has also been made — a small deodorant for €6. A bit excessive, but when in Rome… or, in this case, Paris.
