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With our bus trip to London not until late this afternoon, we slept in a bit this morning. It looks like our wifi has been cut off for our departure day, which is a bit of a pain as we could really use it to book some flights that our coming up.
After breakfast, we did some mailings of things and then explored the mall a bit more, including a nature store that has become Joshua's favourite. After a lunch at Subway, we picked up our bags from our hotel and walked a short distance to Lille's other train station, where our bus (and the much faster Eurostar train) depart.
Though our bus was supposed to leave at 3:30, as the time approached there was no sign of it, despite the fact that our tickets said to check in 30 minutes ahead of time. Looking around, we asked other people who were waiting and found some who also going to London, which was reassuring. Finally, about 4:20, our bus showed up. It is obviously part of a longer run from some place like Amsterdam, because it was already mostly full.
The first portion of the trip was relatively flat
with farmland. As we approached Calais, there were more canal as well as some modern windmills. By about ten to six, we we went though the French security check. Here the delays were incredible. The digital signs showed the next two trains were at 6:50 and 7:20. We were going to miss the 6:50 for sure. Next we had to go through British customs. We watched as the time for the first, and then the second train passed. Finally, about 7:35, the last passenger was back aboard and the bus raced to catch yet another train.
I wasn't at all sure how a bus boards a train. It turns out to be remarkably easy. Near the front of the train, a panel side opens up and the bus simply drives aboard, almost like heading into a tunnel. The train is specially designed and is higher than normal. It feels almost like driving aboard a ferry, but very narrow, with only a few feet on either side. Once aboard, the bus parked, and we were able to get off and walk up though the train. As the train began to pull forward, it was a very strange thing to experience
as you felt like you were in some moving underground car park.
We were quickly into the tunnel and it was difficult to see anything outside of the train windows except for darkness. Back aboard the bus, it was very odd indeed to be sitting on a stationary bus but at the same time be conscious of the fact that your were on a moving train. I found myself listening to “Break on through to the other side” on the ipod.
In very little time were were on the English side the channel, looking very green and English. By this point we out bus was going to be several hours late, so we made a call to the apartment owner to let him know of our situation.
It seemed quite a quick drive to London, and soon were were seeing double decker buses, Freehouse pubs, and fish and chip shops. Many of the buildings were pockmarked with dozens of small satellite dishes.
Though we got to London quickly, the trip to the Victoria Coach station took considerable time. On the way, we seemed to come across a huge crowd of Indian looking families, coming out of
some sporting event.
Despite being a huge international city, the Victoria Coach Station seemed a poor set up with no direct connection to the Tube line and no clear indication of which way to walk to find it. After a few blocks of hauling our luggage, we found the tube and were able to plan our route, though the tickets came to a staggering 10 pounds (about $18). Fortunately at this time of night, things were not too crowded.
Exiting at our tube station Dollis Hill, we called the apartment owner and arrange to meet him a few minutes later. The route was fairly easy on along the high street, but I wasn't at all sure this was a safe neighbourhood and we ended up having to wait several minutes for the apartment owner, Sergio, to arrive on his motorcycle.
The apartment turned out to be fairly clean and looked nice, done up in Ikea stuff, though relatively small. Sergio explained that he had been having trouble with the wifi and gave us a USB dongle for our computer to use for internet instead.
Though it was quite late, we did some quick shopping in the
convenience store across the street and had some pasta for dinner, enjoying English language television despite the bad reception.
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