I made it! The girl who got lost for 30 minutes going from one end of Canal Street to the other successfully traveled from London to her new digs in Oxford all by herself. (Note on the Canal Street Mishap: That was before I got a GPS, so it’s all directionally good now).
I masterfully had the bellboy hail a taxi, instructed the driver to go to the Oxford Express stop, got on the bus in London and got off the bus in Oxford. My tip to everyone: Tip everyone. Carting a semester’s worth of supplies gets old. Pay anyone and everyone to handle baggage.
However, once I got off the Express, I found myself stranded with huge luggage that collectively weighed more than me and no bag carriers to pay off! But being a 5 feet 1 inch weakling girl finally paid off. Not two minutes passed between the time I exited the bus, kicked my luggage and commenced swearing did a nice grad student tell me that my bags were too heavy and proceed to carry my stuff to my dorm. And I thought I’d miss Southern hospitality!
But let’s not talk about university or upcoming classes. Instead, I’ll
finish the epic tale of the European Encounter tour, the best summer campever. Unfortunately, guest commentator Kati is unavailable, as she’s in Essex. I am eating a Happy Meal in memory of her super commentating skills.
Final Chapter: A Southerner in Paris
Most of the day in the city of lights was spent underground. On the metro. Getting lost. While I didn’t see the Mona Lisa or anything in the Louvre, I did visit nine metro stations looking for the line to the French Open.
Our driver, Disco, took us on a beautiful night tour that included a light show at the Eiffel Tower and driving donuts around the L’Arc de Triomphe at what felt like 50 mph. We took a lift up the Eiffel Tower but decided to walk down when we saw the line for the elevator down. Remember that fear of heights on the Swiss Alps? No better in Paris. I really need to ditch my new nickname, Amy Railing Clinger.
Always one to try exotic foods, I ordered some kind of poultry liver pate, frog’s legs and escargot – nature’s real candy. I also had potatoes. I kid you not when I say I’ve had some form of potato every day for the past 18 days. Europeans love their tubers!
During the third course, some of the Japanese girls from our tour walked past our outdoor restaurant in an odd, frantic manner. At first I thought they might be drunk, but it turned out a bum had stolen food from their plates at their restaurant and followed them to our dinner. Out of the goodness of my heart, and because, hey, I was eating amphibian appendages, I selflessly dished out some legs and potatoes.
Thus endeth my carefree times. Next I’ll join the ranks of studenthood and start classes.