Allyson and I woke up at 8:40 to get to the Rail Europe office before it opened. We arrived outside the office at 9:45am, fifteen minutes before it opened. The line was already around the corner. We got into line. About an hour later a lady came around passing out numbers. We were number 88. Apparently they could only take about 145 people in a day. That is about 20 people an hour. Insanity! We were there for exactly five hours. We spent only 20 minutes or so in the office with an agent, so that means that the rest of those five hours were spent waiting outside in line. It was ridiculous. We did meet some really nice people in line. We met an elderly couple from Scotland. They were very friendly, although it was very difficult to understand their thick Scottish accents. They have spent a lot of time in San Diego, because one of their children owns a time share there. We also met two girls from Boston University. Time passed fairly quickly while we waited in line. When we finally got to the front of the queue and explained to an agent what we needed to do, his supervisor overheard us and told us that we wouldn’t be able to book any tickets today because they were only serving people in emergencies and who needed to get home. I wanted to slap her. She was such a b*tch to us. I looked at her and wanted to scream, but told her that we had waited in line for five hours like everyone else and were not going to be turned away. She told us that because we were only buying tickets to go on holiday that they wouldn’t help us. Ergh! She made me so mad! I told her that we were from the States and that with the airports closed, we couldn’t get home, and that rail travel was our only mode of transportation. Such a B. The agent was a saint. He ignored her and helped us. He was the biggest help. He booked all of our night trains for us, as well as advised us on what trains needed reservation and which ones didn’t. He was such a help and such a stress reliever.
Now we have all of our train tickets! We are ready to take on Europe!
Headed back to the Centre, but first took a final stroll through Kensington Gardens. It was so funny! I was walking and eating some roasted soy nuts, when this puppy starts jumping all over me trying to get my food. I calm her down and start petting her, when her owner comes over and apologizes. We reassure him that it’s no big deal, and continue to pet the dog. Then some teenagers nearby start squealing. We thought they were making a fuss about the puppy, but it turns out the man was Alan Carr, famous British comedian. It was pretty funny actually. They were all obsessed about getting his autograph and photos with him, while Ally and I were a little ways off playing with his dog. He must have forgotten, because he looked back at us and apologized and made like he was going to take the dog away, but we reassured him that it was fine. I could have cared less about getting his autograph, but playing with the puppy was so much fun. Finally saw a celeb in London though. That was pretty cool! Fed the birds the rest of my soy nuts then went back to the Centre.
We spent the rest of the day at the Centre getting ready for our backpacking adventure! We said goodbye to most everybody, and made reservations for all of our hostels we will be staying in in April. We did take a dinner break and go to Tuk Tuk Thai Noodle with Calvin and Cameron. I am going to miss Calvin and Cameron so much. They are my favorite people at the Centre. I love them so much!
Packed and finished getting ready for backpacking. Have to wake up early tomorrow in order to catch our 8:30am train. Went to bed way too late though! I did scratch my name into my bed and wrote a message to future Londoners!
I am going to miss London so much!
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