So the last six days were filled with amazing Londonness. Things didn't exactly start off smashingly, however. I took the bus from Paris to London. Overall, it wasn't a bad ride at all. About 8 hours in total, with a pleasant 1.5hr trip across the Channel via a luxurious British ferry. I occurred to me approximately one hour into my trip that despite carefully making these travel plans, I didn't have Delanie's number, nor did she have mine, and I also had no idea where she was living. In fact, the only thing I knew about Delanie's stay in London was that she was studying in conjunction with the University of London, which I only knew because she had mentioned it once in passing. Now, if you know us, you know this is quintessential Delanie-Justine. It's just what we do, it's how we roll. We're not ones for planning ahead, and we typically prefer spontaneity and fun over rationale. However, being in two separate countries and ones that neither of us has ever visited before, the stakes are a little higher now, and in retrospect, a little better planning would probably have been best. So, at approximately one hour into my travels, I felt sick to my stomach--not because of car-sickness, because I knew something was going to go wrong.
We arrived in London 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Knowing Delanie, I would be surprised if she even made it to the bis station on time, so I told myself I was going to give her 45 minutes, and then I would start worrying. I tried to sit in the terminal and read, but I couldn't concentrate on anything other than the gnawing feeling in my stomach telling me that Delanie was not going to come running through the doors fashionably late and slightly exasperated. At 9:40 I started to panic. My first act of desperation was asking the two young guys next to me if they happened to know anyone at the University of London. They did not. I left the arrivals terminals and headed across the street to the departures terminal thinking that Delanie might have gotten confused and assumed I would be there. Turns out the departures terminal was HUGE. Much, much bigger than the arrivals terminal. As I was walking I began to worry that Delanie mixed up the days. I remembered that she had a weekend trip to somewhere in England and that she had Mondays off. Perhaps she would not be back in London until Monday evening? What the hell was I supposed to do if that were the case? Stay in a hostel Sunday night and wait until she came back? But then how would she ever know where I was? I was really starting to panic at this point. Out of desperation I even started asking people if they had working internet on their laptops. Perhaps she sent me a message on facebook at the last minute telling me she wouldn't be in London until Monday. I went back to arrivals because I realized that it probably wasn't a good idea to be moving around. I stood outside of the arrivals terminal once again, this time talking to any random stranger I saw. They all thought I was crazy for not having my friend's cell phone number. I was beginning to realize just how stupid we were for not even thinking about exchanging numbers. They all asked if I could call someone else to pick me up. Nope. Delanie's literally the only person I know in the entirety of the United Kingdom. Shit. I'm beyond screwed.
I went to the information desk next hoping that I could at least flirt my way into getting the security guard guy with the computer to let me check facebook. Shameless, I know. He suggested I use the intercom thingy to request Delanie's presence, and give it five minutes. Ten minutes passed and I was on the verge of a breakdown. Then, if by some miracle, I heard someone say, "maybe you can ask at the information desk." And I turned around, and there she was. At 10:30pm, we had finally found each other. Turns out Victoria station is ridiculously big, and the tube drops you off nowhere near the Victoria coach station. She was as panicked, if not more, than I was. She also had to pay some random guy five pounds to help her find me.
Things got better from there. A lot better. Overall I had a really great time, no complaints. I got to see Big Ben (four times, actually. yeah.), Parliament, St. James Park, the Eye, Buckingham Palace, the guards (I even got to see two of them walk!! I didn't even realize they were allowed to move!), a gentleman's club, the official cobbler to the monarchy, the house where Clarissa Dalloway lived in Mrs. Dalloway, the Prime Minister's house, Abbey Road, Abbey Road studios, Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics emerging from Abbey Road Studios, the street where Oscar Wilde used to pick up young boys, Lawrence of Arabia's house, the British Museum, the national galleries, plus more that I'm sure I'm forgetting.
The ride back to Paris was less than enjoyable. I had to sit next to a nervous Franco-Italian, who kept fidgeting every ten seconds. I thought he was normal enough in the beginning of the trip because we casually talked about London and Paris and Italy, then discussed what I was studying and how I'm enjoying my studies. That was the first ten or fifteen minutes. Afterward he just got really fidgety which in turn made me feel really uncomfortable. I hoped that he just needed to get off the bus and walk around a bit, and after we got off the ferry he would be better, but he definitely wasn't--he was perhaps even more uncomfortable than before we left England. Maybe he was smuggling drugs or something. I don't know. But after I gathered my luggage and sat down in the metro, I don't think I've ever felt so happy to be home.
There were a few cultural things that struck me while I was in London. The biggest one was the supermarkets. I guess I never realized it because I'm so used to living in Paris, but the supermarkets here are so much smaller than in England (as well as the States). I'd forgotten that in supermarkets outside of France you can get literally everything you could possibly need all under one roof. But by having everything at my disposal made me wonder who in their right mind wouldn't want to buy their pastry, and bread, and cheese, and meat, etc, etc, etc, fresh. It boggled my mind.
I was also surprised at how much London reminded me of any random city in the States, specifically with all the chain restaurants and fast-food places on every corner. Paris has some of that, but probably only a 10th of what London has. As much as I enjoyed London, it made me really happy that I picked Paris to study in. I don't care what anyone says or thinks, a fresh sandwich from a quaint patisserie that's been in business since the 19th century trumps anything from Subway any day.
Burger King also threw me for a loop. I didn't realize France doesn't have Burger King until I saw them all in England. They've got quite a few McDonald's but no Burger King. I maintain that France's long-time adversity to the monarchy is the reason for their lack of Burger King.
Highlights of the trip:
1) The white cliffs of Dover. I have always wanted to see the white cliffs of Dover, and I definitely was not let down. Perched atop the beautiful cliffs were several unbelievable fortress-like castles. The nerd in me almost expected to see a Heathcliff-type char
acter broodingly looking out onto the water, but alas, I saw none. It really was an amazing sight to see, especially because I've never really thought that I'd be able to see it in this lifetime. My biggest regret was not getting a picture. I'm really kicking myself over that one.2) Delanie dancing into a chick in a wheelchair. Nuff said.
3) Burger King. I missed it a ton and I didn't even realize it until we were finally in England and I saw one with my very own eyes. We ate it twice in the six days I was there and I feel disgusting for doing so.
4) Getting to walk across Abbey Road like on the album. Abbey Road in general was a amazing. Kind of like my Mecca, I'd say. Seeing Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics was all kinds of rad too. I probably should have gotten a picture with him while I had the chance.
That's all for now. I'll update again when I return from Rome. Maybe they'll have Wendy's there. That would be pretty awesome.
