Hey do you know how to get to Z park (okay this is where I take some of the credit for my misfortune...I only knew that the park and ride name started with a Z)?
No.
Do you know where we can pick up the MegaBus?
What is this MegaBus you speak of?
HELLO YOU ARE THE INFORMATION BOOTH YOU SHOULD BE BRIMMING WITH INFORMATION.
By this time we only had about a half hour left to get to Zeeburg park so we decided to go out to the bus stop and hop on one of the busses Googlemaps told us we could take.
Do you know where we can catch bus 313?
No.
After running through the streets of Amsterdam like lunatics with me towing my rolly suitcase (not an easy thing to do on cobblestones) we finally spotted bus 313 and hopped on. We ask the bus driver if the bus was going to Z park but naturally he had no idea what we were talking about. Abby frantically calls her dad which probably costs $1,000/second and had him look up how to get to Z park. At this point we were heading further and further away from Amsterdam, and I knew in that moment we would never make it on time.
After getting off that bus, transferring to a different bus, and finally getting on the right TRAM thanks to Abby's dad, we ended up in Zeeburg park 10 minutes after our MegaBus departed and were welcome with the all too familiar sight of an empty parking lot.
We just kind of looked at each other like:
We decided to stay in Amsterdam for the night and hopefully catch the next bus in the morning. To attempt to drown our sorrows in fun, we headed to the fair that was happening in Amsterdam.
We hopped on the first ride that we saw and for the first 5 minutes it was the best thing we have ever been on!
A mix between the scrambler, the himalaya, and tilt-a-whirl all rolled into one, complete with strobe lights. Right as I was feeling slightly nauseous it started to slow down thank goodness. Once we were almost completely stopped I looked at the worker running the ride and he just kind of smiled like this:
Then the ride returned to full speed for about 10 more minutes. When we got off we were just like:
Vowing we would never ride another carnival ride in Amsterdam as long as we lived, we went in search of some libations. We stumbled across a bar named Prik and proceeded to taste the best drinks we have ever had.
As my mom so lovingly put it, "the bar u went to in Amsterdam was a gay bar did u know that". With a name like Prik, a slogan that said, "We hope to welcome you at our cosy pink bar to experience our 'Lovely liquids, sexy snacks, and twisted tunes'" and the best fruity cocktails we have ever had, yes I think it is safe to say we knew we were in a gay bar. And we LOVED it.
After Prik we headed home to Bob's hostel with the hopes of possibly catching the next bus tomorrow morning at eight.
As with every other hostel, the bed was HEAVEN compared to my bed in the Hague. But ah, such is life.
In the morning we successfully navigated to Zeeburg park (it's sad how easy it actually was...) and waited to see if we would be going to London or not. After explaining our situation to the bus driver who treated us like we were his grandchildren he was so nice, he told us that he could take us as far as Brussels, but from there on the bus would be full so we could wait in Brussels and see if the next bus would have enough room. After seeing how well our trip had gone so far, we weren't sure if we were willing to chance it on Brussels. However, right before the bus left the driver told us two people hadn't shown up, so there was enough room on the bus for our weary souls. Abby and I just looked at each other like:
And we were off with an 11 hour bus ride ahead of us! Unfortunately we didn't plan ahead and brought 0 food with us so the bus ride was more than miserable, especially with a ginger child singing "Go Ben it's your birthday, go Ben" over and over again. But somehow we arrived safe and sound in London and stopped in the first pub we saw to NOM on some dinner.
Abby why so serious?
First real burger I have had since leaving my beloved country in January. The Big Ben burger. And it was DELICIOUS.
After dinner where we paid with actual credit cards that the cashier actually knew how to swipe in the credit card machine (HALLELUJAH IT'S A MIRACLE) we went in search of where we were going to stay.
Now after reading Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door (see mom I told you I actually read it), he mentioned this website called couchsurfing.org where people offer up a couch, floor, bed, whatever they have to travelers in return for good karma. Yea buddy it's free. While Abby was slightly skeptical, and as Megan McCawley put it "it's free until you get your stuff stolen", I figured I had already lost my iPhone so unless our host wanted to steal some girls clothing there was nothing else he could really take. After taking a few wrong busses (by the end we figured out how to navigate, I swear) we ended up at his house!
We held our breath and rang the doorbell, not quite sure what to expect seeing as he expected us a full 12 hours earlier. However we were pleasantly surprised when Fergus opened the door and let us in, happy we finally made it! After giving us a tour of his house he took us to his room where we would be staying, while he would be staying in his flat mates room who was out of town.
He left us alone to unpack and Abby and I couldn't believe that we had finally made it to London and couchsurfing had actually worked!! I just looked at her like:
After unpacking we went downstairs and hung out with Fergus for a little bit, and then finally went to sleep in the comfiest bed I have ever slept on.
The next morning after eating the most delicious English breakfast (normally I would insert an Instagrammed picture of my delicious meal, but I seem to be lacking a phone...) we bought tickets for the hop on hop off bus and explored London! One of the best decisions we could have made because London is HUGE.
We hopped off at Buckingham Palace just in time to see the changing of the guard!
I felt a surge of England pride and really wish I had a flag to wave! A lot of the Asians had flags.
After Buckingham palace we walked through Saint James Park where Abby made me take multiple pictures of squirrels, and almost peed her pants from excitement when I captured this tender moment.
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It is currently her profile picture.
Squirrel.
Squirrel.
Squirrel.
Squirrel.
Then we got back on the bus and rode around!
Where Kate Middleton and Prince Harry got married!
You had to know these pictures were coming.
Hullo, mum?!
We tried getting a picture together, but the lady who we gave Abby's phone to took a picture of herself instead. So we gave up.
We then went over the Tower Bridge and went to the London Tower where King Henry VIII's wives were beheaded! See Dad I am learning things!
POTTER. Harry Potter.
We love the bus!!
But not the cold.
We then went on a boat tour that was included with our hop on hop off bus tour!
Millenium Bridge that was in Harry Potter!!!!!!!!! So basically I am famous.
This is the bridge being destroyed by dementors.
After all that touring we had worked up an appetite so we went to Subway. Really expanding our horizons. We also waited an extra 20 minutes simply so we could get fresh chocolate chip cookies and they only give you ONE with your meal, not two like in America. First fat world pains. Nevertheless, it was delicious.
We also went in a few tourist shops where I found a HEDGIE card!!!
We then decided to venture to Abbey Road where the Beatles album cover was taken!
Abby walking across Abbey Road!
For some reason it looked cooler when the Beatles did it.
We then went back to the city center where a magical moment happened.
I tip my hat to you, London.
Chipotle is a true gift from God.
We then ventured home, where we were were provided with some amusement when we didn't have the exact change to get on the bus, and a psycho passenger behind us went on a 15 minute tangent about how "Americans are so ignorant" and "no wonder they are all shooting each other" and "my husband is autistic but he has an IQ higher than you!" and "my sister lives in America and she HATES it!" and "America is crumbling" to name a few.
All of this, simply because we had 3 pounds instead of 2.40.
She was causing quite a commotion because an old woman near us patted us on the shoulder before she left the bus and told us not to worry about it. I then sat next to her to make her mad and she said "Don't be cheeky now" and proceeded to get off the bus because she simply couldn't handle being in the presence of two Americans. I wished her a nice night but received no reply. Rude.
We then went to a local pub to grab a few drinks before calling it quits and returning to our lovely home!
The next day after eating another amazing English breakfast at the same cafe (no shame) we took a two hour train ride to Salisbury to see Stonehenge! To pass the time I naturally brought some nonograms.
We love London.
It was the perfect day to go to Stonehenge and I wiped off the dust on my sunglasses because the sun was actually shining!!
This ladies and gentlemen would be known as a fail.
As we were leaving we passed an interesting character, who was telling anyone who would listen about the mystical powers of Stonehenge, as well as the powers of his staff.
He even let this woman hold it!
Abby is still convinced he is a woman.
We were sad to see him go.
We then went to the city center of Salisbury where we ate lunch and could not stop saying how we love England. Seriously. We love it.
We then walked around Salisbury and contemplated moving there after we graduate college. First we have to find English husbands though.
Salisbury cathedral- gorgeous.
After walking around for a bit we decided to head back to London to try and meet up with Pat, who is an Australian exchange student who happened to be in London the same time we were!
It was a long day.
When we got back to London we met up with Pat and went to an Italian restaurant for dinner where I had some banging Hawaiin pizza, and the lovely worker charged my camera so I could take pictures of London at night! Seriously, we love London.
The night got sufficiently awkward when I was taking a picture and a man dressed like a cowboy came up to me and put a fake gun to my head while simultaneously grabbing my butt.
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It was an extremely uncomfortable moment in my life.
Then Pat, Abby and I found a pub to hang out at and then we caught at train home which turned out to be the last train leaving so we got really lucky! Which is extremely surprising.
Now when Abby and I got back to our house, I looked up tickets for the most magical place on Earth (Harry Potter World), because we were going to spend the whole next day there before catching our bus at 9 pm. However, when I went on the website and clicked on "Tickets", the stark reality that I would never be able to experience the wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter was pressing in on me, when I saw the two words that will forever be associated with feelings of depression, sadness, and all around hatred for the annoying overbearing tourists who bought their tickets in advance for their bratty little children and who probably don't even know what the Deathly Hallows are: Sold Out.
I just kind of laid in bed, contemplating my existence on this universe.
In the morning on our last day in London, we decided to try to fill the empty void in my Harry Potter World-less heart by going to King's Cross Station, where I could at least take a picture with Platform 9 3/4 and pretend I was on my way to Hogwarts.
With the slight exception of my birth, this was the most monumental moment of my life.
Among the 8 and 9 year olds, I was absolutely the happiest person there.
"Now THAT folks is what we call a jump!!!!!!" exclaimed the conductor...no shame here.
Then we ventured into the Harry Potter gift shop.
It's Scabbers!
Forever a Gryffindor.
A few Horcruxes.
The entire Harry Potter Sorcerer's Stone on a single poster. I wanted this. Badly.
Entirely too happy.
What are you looking at lady? Never seen a wizard before?
Apparently neither has this guy.
Before I left I obviously had to purchase this. It is now hanging proudly on my wall.
Goodbye Platform 9 3/4...you will be missed. A home away from home.
After King's Cross Station, we ventured through Piccadilly Circus and ended up walking through Hyde Park, in search of Kensington Palace.
After multiple miles that we weren't prepared for, we found Kensington Palace. A little bit of a let down. We also thought Kate Middleton and Prince William live there. They don't.
By this time we were about four hours away from having to get on our bus, so we figured we would head to the Coach Station because there was no way we were missing that bus ride.
We found a pub conveniently located next door to the coach station, and bought a few beers because we had to get rid of our pounds somehow, right?
Whoever thought to make a chocolate beer, good sir I salute you.
Cheers to a great London trip!
In case you were wondering, we were the last passengers to board the bus. Not sure why that keeps happening. At least we made it!
