8 September 2025

by Léa Manke

My journey to the Biologists @ 100 conference began early on Saturday morning. Clutching my thermos filled with coffee, I made my way to the major train station in Paris, France, Gare du Nord. A light drizzle was falling on the city, turning Paris into a shiny mirror of lights while the sun was slowly rising. Arriving at the station, I saw the first cafes and brasseries opening while the waiters were urging the customers to place their orders. I arrived with enough time to buy myself a hot croissant and continue to passport control. Once passed, I comfortably settled in the waiting area munching my breakfast and reading my crime novel. Time went by in a blink and my train to London St. Pancras, UK, was called out ready for boarding. As I got on the Eurostar, the realisation settled in that in less than 3 hours, I would arrive in one of my favourite cities in Europe.

London has always been special to me, so I was very glad to have this small layover on my way up North. The train ride itself is simply enjoyable with the densely populated Parisian outskirts slowly giving way to the Norman countryside and grazing cows. The light rain was ceasing and the sun pushed through the clouds, promising a sunny day ahead. The feeling of excitement grew as we were passing through the Channel Tunnel and were underneath thousands of cubic meters of water at a speed of 180 km per hour to reach “The Big Smoke”.

Once in London, I went straight for my favourite coffee shops, bookstores, parks and favourite vegetarian Indian restaurant. One major advantage of train journeys is that you arrive at the heart of the city, allowing you to directly start exploring. I had a great time and enjoyed the bustling atmosphere in Soho. However, I only had a few hours before a second train would take me to Liverpool. Departing from Euston, I reached Lime Street Station in less than 3 hours, having covered a total of 800 km in less than 6 hours. The journey was pleasant and calm. I spent nearly the entirety of it contemplating the English countryside and thinking about the great challenge ahead.

I arrived in Liverpool at around 8 pm, had a quick dinner and checked into my hotel for an early night sleep. I wanted to be well rested since I not only registered for the conference but also set my mind on running the Liverpool Half Marathon on Sunday. I was rather nervous since it was my first 13-mile run. But the atmosphere at the start line was electrifying and the Scousers cheered us on all the way to the end. After the race, I enjoyed the most delicious fish and chips and looked forward to the conference beginning.

The conference was a great experience, and I met amazing people who made it a thoroughly wonderful time. At the end of the conference, I decided to stay one day longer in Liverpool to explore the surrounding area. I spent the next day walking through the dunes at Crosby Beach and enjoyed a beautiful sunset over the mudflats.

But then it was time to say goodbye and the next morning I headed back to Lime Street Station to catch the return train to London Euston. Once more I had a pleasant journey and truly enjoyed the slow way of traveling through the country by rail. I arrived back at London Euston at around 11 am and was looking forward to another day in the capital. The weather was phenomenal, and the feeling of spring was in the air. Exhausted after a long day of walking along the Thames, I boarded the last Eurostar bound for Paris. By choosing to take the train instead of the plane, I was able to see much more of England, appreciate its beautiful countryside and to spend two fabulous days in London. At the same time, I saved around 300 kg of CO₂, enough to illuminate the Eiffel Tower for 5 days straight.

So, I would just like to encourage everyone to opt for more a sustainable means of transportation and to enjoy every mile of it!