June 27th: exams are done, my bags are packed, I'm ready to head to England to start my summer internship!
With all my luggage, the best way to get across the English channel was to take the Eurostar (no luggage charges!). This was about as fast as flying, as well. I had a train ticket booked from Lyon to Lille, in northern France, then from Lille to London St. Pancras on the Eurostar.
Almost missed my train because the cleaning lady inspecting my room showed up 30 minutes late and was taking forever! I just made it on my train, but didn't have time to print my ticket at the station. I had a confirmation showing I had paid and the date and seat and everything, but the conductor told me I'd have to buy a new ticket and get it refunded at my transfer in Lille. When I got to Lille the ticket lady told me they couldn't refund my ticket, and I would have to mail it in to get my money back. I sent in my tickets and receipts but they didn't refund me 50$ of the ticket!
The Eurostar was a really cool way to travel. You show up about 20 minutes early to do a passport check, and it's just like a normal train, if a bit comfier. The journey through the Chunnel takes about 20 minutes.
Carrying all of my luggage (I was also bringing my sheet and pillow etc. with me, so quite a lot of stuff) on the tube to my hostel was a bit of a challenge, but Londoners of all ages were so kind as to offer to help me carry them a ways.
I wasn't starting my internship for a week, so my friend Jocelyn (who I'd traveled central / eastern Europe with) and I were going to spend a week in London. We stayed at the St. Christopher's in Hammersmith, which was nice in general, over a fun pub, but was a bit far from the city centre and we spotted some termites in the shower and dorm areas! At about 12$ a night though it was a steal for London, and the St. Christopher hostels are generally pretty nice.
More London stories and photos to come!
With all my luggage, the best way to get across the English channel was to take the Eurostar (no luggage charges!). This was about as fast as flying, as well. I had a train ticket booked from Lyon to Lille, in northern France, then from Lille to London St. Pancras on the Eurostar.
Almost missed my train because the cleaning lady inspecting my room showed up 30 minutes late and was taking forever! I just made it on my train, but didn't have time to print my ticket at the station. I had a confirmation showing I had paid and the date and seat and everything, but the conductor told me I'd have to buy a new ticket and get it refunded at my transfer in Lille. When I got to Lille the ticket lady told me they couldn't refund my ticket, and I would have to mail it in to get my money back. I sent in my tickets and receipts but they didn't refund me 50$ of the ticket!
The Eurostar was a really cool way to travel. You show up about 20 minutes early to do a passport check, and it's just like a normal train, if a bit comfier. The journey through the Chunnel takes about 20 minutes.
Carrying all of my luggage (I was also bringing my sheet and pillow etc. with me, so quite a lot of stuff) on the tube to my hostel was a bit of a challenge, but Londoners of all ages were so kind as to offer to help me carry them a ways.
I wasn't starting my internship for a week, so my friend Jocelyn (who I'd traveled central / eastern Europe with) and I were going to spend a week in London. We stayed at the St. Christopher's in Hammersmith, which was nice in general, over a fun pub, but was a bit far from the city centre and we spotted some termites in the shower and dorm areas! At about 12$ a night though it was a steal for London, and the St. Christopher hostels are generally pretty nice.
More London stories and photos to come!
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