Paris Gare de Lyon

We have just been sitting under an awning outside the Duc de Richelieu bistro in rue Parrot near here, having an early supper. Though the air is warmer than it was in England this morning, the rain has been pouring down on a scooterised traffic warden, pausing to slap a notice on the windscreen of each of several illegally-parked cars alongside us. Our Geneva train leaves shortly, and then it's on to Lausanne to sleep, before going on to Florence tomorrow: a friend of a friend advises against the sleeper to Italy.