April 22 - The Blind Leading the Blind

When we arrived in France, Lyle easily negotiated our way through Charles de Gaulle Airport and onto the train to the city centre.  At Gare du Nord main station we spent many minutes looking for the Metro connection which would lead to our hotel.  Part of the problem was that our map was labelled in colors and the signs for the train lines in the station were given as numbers.  We eventually found our way down a series of steps to what we hoped was the correct platform.  Imagine my surprise when I noticed beside us a young man with a guide dog.  He also noticed my white cane, and in hesitant English, asked if he could help us.  We obviously looked a little uncertain.  After telling him which station we were heading for, he assured us we were on the correct platform and told us how many stops there were before before we reached our station.

Our new friend was very helpful.  I find it curious that our first personal contact in a city of 2.5 million was with someone who also had only partial vision.  I know I have said before that I don't believe in coincidences, but what do you think?