struggles of Metro and RER

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The Metro and RER system in Paris has been a lot of work to get used to. It's very different coming from the US where I have never taken a train to a city where the metro and train is the main form of transportation. Although I may seem like I'm complaining, I do like taking the metro and RER because it forces me to walk a lot and if I get lost, I can explore other parts of Paris and my citymapper app comes in handy. 

I live in Ile de France so I have to take the RER to Saint Lazare and then switch to the Metro line 14 to go to my school or to go to anywhere else outside of Ile de France. This usually takes me about 40-45 minutes. But I also have another way that I can take but I have to take two RER and then a metro, which I find to be way more work even though it's only 30 minutes. I actually tried this way one time and two RER were late so I ended up being late to class and my professor screamed at me as a walked down the stairs to find a seat. Never again. 

I was recently exploring the app I use called citymapper and I found another way that works perfectly for me and its only 33 minutes! I still have to switch 3 times but this is much easier because I'm only taking one RER and two metros. The metro is easier to take because most of them come every 2-5 minutes, unlike the RER which usually comes anywhere from 5-30 minutes. 

So, if you are ever in Paris, make sure to use this app because without it, I would definitely be screwed and it won't make you stand out like huge paper maps do!

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