In London! The land of fancy cars

After dropping Megan off at security for CDG I hightailed it through 2 terminals to get to the train section of the airport. I went through the better part of one terminal at a pretty good clip, smiling to myself as I passed a McDonalds, before I found a luggage cart. I threw my bags on and since I was then released of the burden of the pack, I was able to run, if not faster than at least more comfortably, to the depot.

Upon arrival, I looked around frantically with no idea where to go or how to handle the transition from CDG to Gare Nord (my departure point for the highspeed train to England.) The process would most likely have been obvious however when I am frantic like that, I tend not to see anything but my watch. I got in line at the information booth and proceeded to panic and watch the line move slowly forward. Everything was taking far too long. I was never going to be able to get to Gare Nord in time for my train at 1:30.

When after 20 minutes of panic I reached the front of the line, the attendant directed me to the automated ticket kiosks to purchase a ticket for the train. Noticing that they looked an awful lot like the metro tickets I previously bought for the Paris Metro I thought I was finally having a little bit of luck. Turns out, not so much. I walked back to the kiosks and bought myself a pass for the train.

Now there are two trains that run from CDG to Paris nord. One is a regional train and the other, an express. The regional train makes many stops and takes about an hour to reach Nord. The express only makes two stops before nord and takes about 30-40 minutes. Seeing as how the time had just sped past 12:30, I was getting pretty concerned I would miss my train to London. The decision on which train to take was easy enough to decide, however, on reading the display, the express was delayed: no explanation, no estimate of arrival, just delayed. I shrugged my pack, steeled myself, got onto the regional train and hoped for the best.

It didn't take long for me to become ever more concerned in my situation, but after sitting on the regional train for about five minutes, waiting for departure, I saw the express pull up and I jumped off as the doors were closing and managed to get myself onto the express. It turned out that this was a good thing to do.

At 1:15 I arrived at Paris Nord. And yes, I was still frantic. My frantic nature was easily identifiable if not by the look in my eyes than by the way that I walked into a wall while trying to figure out which way to go. Today became the day of the information booth. They have served me well and I used them again twice in this station alone. Finally working my way up through the station, I found where my departure gate was. But you know me, and you know that it was not going to be just that easy. I had, at this point, failed to receive any sort of ticket for my Paris-London voyage. I had reserved one months ago but not been issued a paper ticket. I asked another information desk and as usual he pointed me to a kiosk. Now we've all seen these. In airports, train stations, etc... You put in a major credit card and out pops a ticket. However, on these in the station, it has to be the credit card you bought the ticket with. Well, I don't have that card anymore, it is probably in a landfill somewhere in tiny little strips refusing to decompose. Time for information again and time was running out.

Well I got my ticket, I got through French Customs, I got through British customs (two new stamps in the book!) and ran to the train. Needless to say that I made it on in time, this would have a much different tone otherwise. I was, however, the last one on board and had to get in a few cars before mine in order to actually make the train. But I got on. It was a small but important victory. So in the future, I plan on being more prescient in my travels. I've enough grey hair as it is.

So here I am, on the jet train to London. We've just come out of the chunnel and are barreling through the english countryside.

It's weird being here alone but I find myself more than happy to talk to strangers. Some have even offered me cookies!

---5:30 P.M.

So I arrived at Saint Pancreas station without much of a problem. My Hostel, the Aster Hyde Park, is located in South Kensington. This is an incredibly wealthy section of London and one can tell easily. Once you walk out of the station the first thing you see is a Lambourghini dealership...by appointment only no less. Every other car here is something to dream of: Maserati, Lambourghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes, etc...and the neighborhood is absolutely adorable. I haven't taken any pictures as of yet because, frankly, I feel like taking a day off of being a tourist.

My walk from the station to Astor Hyde Park was a long one. But it was enjoyable due to the amazing setting. It is everything you would think of a fancy London suberb to be. I'll take loads of pictures tomorrow. It did take me a while to figure out the weird street numbering system out here. I don't know if it is just the area or all of London but it is not odd on one side and even on the other as it is in the states. Instead it is numbered going up in one direction from 100-199 and down in the other direction from 99-1. I definately got turned around for a bit.

The Hostel is a charming old building and is as much as I could expect. I am only payin 56 pounds for three nights stay and I am in a room with 9 other people. There are no lockers but there are these cages under the bed that allow you to lock up your stuff (for a fee of course.) I had a bit of a moment when I locked up my stuff and then lost the key immediately. It took me about ten minutes to find it under the cage but I got it back so all is good.

So the train ride from the Pancreas to South Kensington, one way ticket, was 6 pounds, which is a might bit high. I just got back from exchanging Euros and buying what is called an Oyster. It is a refillable transit card that allows you to bounce around on the trains for about 1.60 pounds. Still expensive but a better deal at least.

Anyway, I am sitting in the lounge here, using the internet and I must say that I was surprised to see it full of people watching braveheart. I guess not everyone wants to see everything :)

I may join them.

Tonight there is a group going to a pub for drinks that I may latch onto. It is organized by the Hostel as a nightly outing. If nothing else it will keep me from being lonely and allow me to meet people...should I need to.

Tomorrow, I'll be sightseeing.

TW