"No accidents," I thought. Crossed fingers work in Europe, it seems.
It was eerie. Earlier as I was driving, I saw the English countryside with rolling hills reminiscent of Welsh and Irish beauty..
It would soon be gone. "Goodbye, baby, you did good." I said, a cowboy talking to his horse for the last time. Or something, haha. I had the same feeling with my "Irishmobile" (name pending) in Dublin three weeks earlier. She was my first international car hire, and thus more special (sorry Lucy).
I handed over the keys. I realized my journey was changing. From this point on, there would be no more car.
It's time to backpack 'for real.' Trains, busses, ferries, and places to stay. My legs fill the gaps in between.
It felt like my journey was just beginning.
I asked the friendly, elderly National fellow for directions to my ferry.
"Follow that sidewalk across the street, it curves around." He looked at me, sizing up my vitality. My balance was teetering from left to right, due to my 35-pound backpack and 5-pound grocery bag.
"If you feel energized you can walk it in 45 minutes. Otherwise there are cabs here." He pointed.
"Probably forty pounds for a trip."
Forty pounds? That's like two hostel stays. No sir, I shall walk!
So I'm on my way. I cross the street and follow the sidewalk. I feel like I'm Dorothy. Where art thou, lion? Tin man? Scarecrow? I almost feel like singing. Not about seeing wizards, but to express my uncertainty. Of France. Of the whole remainder of this trip. Will I get by? Will I have enough money left? Will I finish everything?
Soon my legs tire. I see the street sign for the 'out of city ferries.' Almost there..
I see a gas station. Where's the port?
I feel like Ryo Hazuki when I ask a cycling dude for directions. "Excuse me, which way to Brittany Ferries?" haha.
"Do you see those crates? The third one over, it's behind that. Two minutes away, mate."
"Thanks!" I exclaim. This is the beginning.
And I'm off to a good start. Because ze port iz in my sightz!
Relief. Success.
I prance, yes, prance across the parking lot.
Six people man the counter, and I talk to the fellow who gives me tips on French culture. "They won't even talk to you unless you speak their language." Hmm, way to encourage me, haha.
Gate one opens at 7:15pm. Almost there.
I go to eat dinner, which these days means a ham sandwich, chips, a pear, and Kit-Kat. And water. All yours for less than four pounds!
The guards eye me. Maybe it's my huge backpack and me finding a solitary corner of the waiting area.
Heck when I left the restroom there were three guards hovering outside, one female guard at the entrance of the other restroom on her walkie-talkie. Haha, are ya bored? I s'pose it's good they're watching things. But I don't like being the center of attention!
So I find a cozy spot far away with two outlets to charge my electrogadget thingies. Ever-so prepared, I load up the French Lesson Videos I downloaded on my iPod.
I practice my pronunciation.
"Bon-joor."
"Bon-swaa."
I'm really doing this.
7:15 comes and goes.
We board. We walk up a large ramp. I see the 'Bretagne' outside the windows. Hello, ship.
I enter deck six and the lush red carpet invites me. Windows and wine stores. The atmosphere washes the charming reality into my weary face -that I am entering French territory.
And there is no going back.
"Bonsoir!" a female attemdant's voice says. "Bonsoir," I respond, knowing that it means "Good Evening." I show her my ticket, and she directs me behind her. The corridor takes me to cabin 6003.
I enter.
I see a bed. That's my bed. I'm in between countries, and I have a bed. It's so simple yet it feels so...freaking good.
A weird feeling emerges.
I have a place to sleep tonight. And the bedroom will be traveling to France whilst I snooze. That is so awesome.
I see a side door. I open it. La toilette! And...a curtain? I move it aside to see a shower head. I didn't expect there to be a shower in this cabin! The joy! Haha.
I ease my heavy pack onto the floor and see my weary face in the mirror. I lunge into my bed.
A French voice comes on speaker. Afterwards the same voice says in a polite French accent, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be departing in fifteen minutes." And blah and so on. The important thing is she speaks in a lovely accent, haha.
Bon voyage..
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