That time I lost my smart phone on the train from Paris

Ten minutes after arriving in Amboise and I am running as fast as I can over cobblestone road, hurtling over small dogs and dodging motorcyclists. I make it back to the train station, but clearly le gare has already left.

“Bonjour madame,” I manage to get out between gulps of air. “I left my phone on the train, is there anything I can do to retrieve it,” I say in French. The ticket agent asks me what car I was in, but I have only the slightest inkling that I was somewhere near the back of the train. She asks me something else, but I can’t understand what she is saying. Luckily, someone in line, an older French woman with a sympathetic smile for me, steps in to help translate.

The ticket agent telephones the conductor, and presumably, they look through the last two cars of the train. Rien. Nothing. The ticket agent raises her eyebrows and shrugs at me. There is not much more she can do. I thank both women.

My mom, who I left with all of my luggage, arrives back at the station, so I use her phone to try calling mine. The connection goes straight to voicemail, and I hear the automated voice from my French cell phone provider, Orange, telling me to leave a message.

At this point there is little hope left. My cellphone was fully charged and turned on. Given that the phone is now turned off, someone must have picked it up, turned it off and pocketed the device. So now I’ve lost my BRAND NEW iPhone 6 on a train from Paris.

At this point, you may be thinking that this sad saga is about to reveal a miraculous and happy ending, where my phone is actually returned to me by some kind stranger, but you would be wrong.

This experience has taught me to remain aware of my surroundings and belongings at all times (something which I thought I was doing well, up until this day). I’ve also had the unique task of tracking down a French notary (for insurance purposes) in a foreign town. And although this setback will cost me $$$ and make my life a lot less convenient, I’ve pushed past the most negative of my emotions and am already working out alternative solutions for the rest of my journey.

#train #gare #transportation #europe #france #paris #amboise #iphone #electronics