Thalys.. Amsterdam to paris

The red locomotive is the Amsterdam to Paris fast train.

I travelled on my first fast train in 2005 ... 18 years to the month when I had to endure seeing the French GTV fast train pull out of Lucerne, back in 1987.  I had everything stolen in Germany, including my passport; French and American visas.  Needless to say I was prevented from travelling on the world's fastest train at the time. My girlfriend and myself caught a train back to Brussels to continue our trip.  The speed of this locomotive was 330 kms per hour.  My Dutch friend has a 

colleague that worked on the Dutch Railway,  He was familiar with the train. A great experience.

To top the experience, the end destination was superb. Of all the cities that I have visited, Paris is the one that stands.