Thursday, July 29, 2004
Visit 2 - Day 3 - Warning, do not travel with Christopher Morton
Sorry for the delay in sending these out. Had to by CD-RW to burn these files and take it to Kinkos. No
where in London can I hook up my laptop.
So, I wake up at 3:30 Wednesday morning, knowing that I have to catch a 4:30 bus to make my 5:15 Manchester
to London train. Alarm goes off (I set it at some point the previous night, though I have no
recollection of doing so). Shower, shave, pack my bags (realize that somehow I can to England with only
one running shoe ? oops), and head out at 5:20. Walk part way, realize I left my confirmation number in my
room, run back to the room, grab the paper, run back to my bags, and then on to the bus stop. Its 430, its
raining, its dark (barely), and I am ready to go. The plan ? work on the train, figuring that 8500 words
cant take that long to write. Bus comes a little late (4:43), so I am a little worried about making my
train. That worry goes away when I get on board. The driver tells me the fare is 85p. I give him a ten
pound note. He yells at me: ?It 4:30 in the bloody morning and your giving me ten pound note!!!? Ah,
that?s all I have. ?Dumb American, do you think I want to count out coins all morning.? I guess he has
low job satisfaction. So, I slink to my seat, nine 1 pound coins in my hand (I think he had special
?sticky? coins, because they are all covered with gum and the like. We head on our way. Pick up and drop
off passengers. Arrive at the end of the line at 5:03. I have 12 minutes to walk the 10 minute walk,
get my tickets from the machine and make the train. I walk fast, get there at 5:11. It takes a few minutes
to get my tickets, I run to the train, literally stop in front of the door, and the whistle goes to take
off. I quick jump on! I made it. This is going to a good trip after all. Find my seat, and realize ? they
have no power ports. Oh well, I guess I will work til the machine dies, which it does about 1:30 later. At
that point, I have 3000 words written. Uneventful trip. Beautiful morning. Realize I am way
overdressed (75 in London today).
Arrive at London Euston station at 8:15. I have got to get my paper done though, so instead of doing sight
seeing before the conference, I gather myself together, sit down in the caf? court, and start typing
(after finding a power outlet). 9:00, 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:00, and then at 12:30, I am done ? 10000
words (and a good job if I do say myself). Well, its not the British museum, but I feel great about having
gotten it done, finally!!! Walk to the Underground station, catch my train to Embankment (on the bank of
the Thames), walk up and start walking to my hotel. The time is 12:50. Conference starts at 2:00. They
say its ten minutes from the Underground station. So I walk. And I walk. Walking still. Hmm, I am at
another Underground station. Did I miss it?
Let me be clear. Do not travel with me. I am trouble. Things go wrong. Really wrong. And I don?t
speak the language here. Well I think I do, but the first person I ask for directions says something that
I am pretty certain was in Swahili. Next person has no idea where the place is. Third person points me in
the right direction. I walk to where they said to go. No hotel/apartment. Walk to the college, see map,
says facility is right across the street. I walk around the street. Nothing. I walk up the next
street. Nothing. It is now 2pm and I have been walking, bag and backpack, for over an hour. Finally
I try this alley way. Nope, but the nice construction worker (who was dressed like a member of Hell?s Angels
but spoke perfect Kings English) takes me to this nondescript door. I walk in ? and there we are. I
had literally walked past this same door 12 separate times!!!!! Repeat ? do not travel with me. Do not
let me take your kids, your dog, or even your suitcase. I suffer from the lost gene. I even ask
for help and I get lost. How is this??? Oh well, got to see a lot of downtown London, including the new
Globe theatre.
Check in, get to my room (its now 2:15), see that I have a bed, my own toilet and shower (same space?not
going to ask), change socks, dump my bag, get ready to leave, and I have managed in five minutes time to lose
my key. Ten minutes later, lost key back in hand, I go to the conference. Now, finally, I find my way
quickly, settle down, and will hopefully be having a wonderful few days in London. Provided I don?t have
to go anywhere.
Talk to you Friday.
Manchester • Summer 2004 • (10) Comments • (0) Trackbacks • Permalink
