Bus rides, train trips, and markets in London

I took the overnight bus from Amsterdam to London last night.....11 hours! Yuk! But I thought at least I will have lots of time to sleep....this is how it actually went. I arrived at the bus early, by about 40 min, and there was a line up. No problem, there would still be lots of room for me to get a good seat. Then they asked us to wait over by the couches (benches on the edge of the dark parking lot), while they fixed the bus door which wasn't showing it was closed and was setting off alarm bells. After standing outside for 40 minutes (thankfully they took our ticket numbers and passport numbers while we waited), the bus was ready to go. Well talk about stampede to the bus. At this point everyone had arrived and it was clear it was going to be a full bus so people were running to get on first. Then trying to get your luggage on was impossible since people were pushing and shoving. I finally got on and thankfully had met some kids during the wait who saved me a seat (we were clued in by a bus employee that the best seat is the 2nd row, there's more leg room but shhhh don't tell anyone). We departed at ten, only 30 min late.   I was lucky and didn't have anyone sitting beside me so I got out my book and read for an hour before blowing up my neck pillow and getting some shut eye.

We arrived in Brussels and I was reminded why I didn't like it as groups of scary men and boys stared menacingly at us as we drove by. Getting all the information from the new passengers took awhile and 2 of them didn't have a ticket number so the driver had to call dispatch.  Last girl on sits beside me, man! But it's ok, it isn't like you can stretch out in the seats or anything. At about 12:45 off we go, but before long the door alarm is ringing and the driver puts the bus in park and tries to fix it at every light, which means he's slamming his little side door every time! We don't have far to go as we are switching drivers in Gent.  I am asleep by this point and can only vaguely hear the driver explaining the door situation before we are off again.

Before I know it the driver has turned on the lights. It's 3:30 and he's explaining we need to have our passports out because we will getting off the bus to see an EU officer and then a UK border officer.....so two line ups. The first officer is nice enough. Looks at my passport and checks it's me. The English guy wants to know why I am in the UK (easy enough, I am meeting my dad, aw), how long my trip is (uh oh, gulp..."9 months" smile), how long I will be in the UK (double gulp as I haven't decided), and if I have a job (phew, yes! There is a reason for me to return to Canada and not stay in the UK). Honesty is always best and in the end he wished me a good trip! Whew....he made me sweat a little there!

So back in the bus and time to go back to sleep! Nope, surprise, we are taking the ferry and have to get off the bus.......for 90 MINUTES! At this point it's 4am and I am pooped. So off we go onto the ferry. I sit and chat with my new American exchange student friends and we debate the American election. Before we know it, it's time to board again. It's now almost 6 and I feel like I have barely slept. I have just gotten comfortable again when our bus is sent in a different direction than the rest of the coaches (I have a bad feeling)....straight towards a garage (I have heard they check a lot of the Amsterdam buses!). I seriously thought we would all be searched, I mean how long was this going to take. Nope, we just have to get off the bus AGAIN and show our passports. The driver actually asked if they even asked for our ID; they barely looked. Two people from the bus were detained which is probably why we were pulled off to the side. In the end it doesn't take too long and we are finally back on the road for the 90 minute drive to London. Thankfully I konked out for an hour but I am sure ready for an early bed time! Not to mention I am doing this again tomorrow for my trip to Glasgow, although thankfully without passport stops.

The first thing I did was try to figure out the London Tube system. Um, who said this was easy??? Their system sucks! And just when I figure it out I find out my line is closed for construction. So now I am lugging around my 20 kg bag for 30 min and I am hot and tired. I make it to my hostel where they offer me the free breakfast even though I can't check in until 2pm. They let me lock up my luggage, use the wifi, and he gives me my id bracelet early so I can get access to the free drinks and food. They have eggs at this place! Woo hoo! Good impression so far.

After looking at the map I decide to go to Brick Lane Market which it says is great on Sundays. I don't want to do anything that my dad would really want to see as we will be back in a week or so. I arrive and the area is old and crumbling but full of character. I walk down street after street that is full of little kiosks of food, clothes, jewellery, and knick knacks. I find cool vintage shops, a warehouse full of the most amazing food you can imagine, basements of antiques, and the cheapest fresh fruit and veggie stand. I spend hours exploring. Finally the dark sky begins to rain and I need a break from walking. Heading back to the hostel I am able to check in and find my tiny room to be about average. In comparison to the last place it is a dump but it's average compared to all the others. I meet my room mate, an Australian who just lived in Toronto for 4 months, and catch up on my email.

At about dinner time I check out the menu at the hostel, which looks good (it's thai), but I feel like getting out so I catch the bus to Warwick way and enjoy a delicious burrito in a Mexican restaurant before standing in the wind and rain to catch my bus. I am about ready for bed but I have had a wonderful day exploring the cutest market area I have seen so far.....I saw a quote today that sums up my trip so far: "Today something wonderful will happen!" How true, I love it!