First off let me tell you that all of these writings are done in 35 minutes, why 35? because that’s how long it takes for a load of laundry to wash. Therefore if the story cuts short, all of a sudden abruptly ends, or has a load of spelling/grammatical errors you know now it’s probably because my whitey tidies are ready to be dried. So start the clock.
London:
The bus l eaves at 18:38(6:38) from the Ingolstadt ZOB to MUC and I get out of class at 18:05 so I have about a half hour to get there to relax, and wait. I quickly found the #20 with 15 minutes still to spare so like an American I talk a stroll to either A) Buy something completely unnecessary or B) Get food. Being there wasn’t any stores close by my option was to get some grub; there is a little place called Muller’s that sells baked goods close by so I strolled in to check it out and instantly discover a croissant or baguette really didn’t blow up my skirt. Be in mind that I am blasting Atmosphere in my headphones stoked to see an old friend and something about sitting down and delicately eating a piece of bread was just not appealing. So out the door and down to the next pit stop; a connivance store the size of my old dorm room perhaps I was in the right place. Walking around not finding much for food I remembered a saying a German friend told me they have here in Bavaria which is “Beer is food”. After all I couldn’t break this rule so in true Super Bad spirit I grabbed 4 half-liters of Herrnbrau Hellas (the local beer; Hellas means light) and proceeded to check out trying to crack a joke in broken German that they were “strasse biers” or “road beers” but just got a funny stare. Back at my stop I opened one and took it down at ease and about 5 minutes later the bus showed up a few minutes early. The driver looked worn out and that made sense, I could not imagine driving a coach bus back and forth from Rochester to MSP for 8 hours and on the Autobahn at that. I hesitated for a minute but didn’t back down walking up to him and politely asking if he wanted a beer. Yeah, yeah he was driving but in a country where beer is food I don’t think that makes much of a difference. He accepted with a life-size smile and we sat on the bench sipping down a frosty one not saying a word. As the time approached for the bus to leave we quickly topped them off because when the schedule says it leave at 18:38 damnit it means it is pulling out 20 seconds before that and they laugh in the face of those running to catch it. Driving down the Autobahn buzzed watching Audis, BMWs, Mercedes fly past your bus so fast you have to guess their color is an experience in itself and makes any 50 minute ride easily slide by. Getting off the bus the driver and I parted ways as he grabbed my bag from underneath the bus and we shared a smile that anyone could understand through a language barrier which was “thanks for the beer man” and I responded with a smile that said “yeah dude no problem”.
I didn’t have to check a bag and got through security quick, which was nice, and now I had some time to kill and let my semi-drunk self come down before I boarded. Well so I thought; I grabbed one more beer downed it before boarding. I got my window seat and by the time the wheels left the runway I was out cold. I have never been to Heathrow airport, only heard about it. And come to think the only time I have ever heard about it was a movie (Love Actually). But it is a VERY nice airport, so far the cleanest and modern I have been to.
London was all right…it was huge, dirty, and pretty much wanna-be-American. All of the people there are obviously semi-obsessed with our culture and all of the stores are the same you would find in any major metro city in the states. The people are what I found most entertaining; the word “bloke” has never made more sense. The awkward, goofy style of the British is hilarious and their sloppy business attire and horrible teeth were all too fitting. The landscape was dull and if you have seen a Harry Potter movie anywhere outside of London resembles Privet Drive and expect to see a witch fly by on a broomstick. One thing I do not understand about London is the Underground subway system; it closes at 11:45 each night, even the weekends! Why on earth would they close? Who goes in that early, most nights I don’t even hit the pubs till at least 10:30. That was defiantly a frustration with London because getting back after midnight is at least a 10pound cab ride. Overall London wasn’t the greatest (very expensive) but being that I was with a good friend I had an awesome time. I realized no matter where the location whether it is in the depths of hell or the highs of heaven if you have the right company, all is good. Laundry’s done.