At the Orly railway station we changed to the automated electric tram which took us to the Airport. We schlepped the luggage all the way in to the baggage check stations where there were finally some luggage carts. I gave Lacy all my remaining Francs and sent her back to Paris. It was after I got thirsty that I discovered that I had no money left to buy anything with, so I wandered all around the terminal until I found a drinking fountain(!) I then found my way up to the departure waiting area and went through the security checkpoint into the Duty Free shop area.

This was like a huge indoor mall with perfume, clothing, liquor and other shops from one end to the other. Down somewhere along the way were hidden the actual airport gates! There were NO SEATS anywhere in this area and people (like me) were sitting on the floor in front of the departure display monitors waiting for our gate numbers to be assigned. When my flight's gate number was finally displayed, I proceeded to the area and discovered that all the gates are generic things shared by all air carriers. They each have about 30 to 40 seats which makes for an interesting wait when there's a 747 or an L-1011 waiting outside for 300-400 passengers! I talked with some US Army advisors who were travelling back to Washington DC from a secret mission somewhere in Africa (they wouldn't say where!)