Day 46: Monday
I spent my 4th of July in transit between Florence and the Isle of Wight. We woke up around 7:30am, packed our remaining stuff up, ate breakfast, and got the apartment ready. We realized around 8:20 that our train was leaving in 20 minutes, so we rushed out the door with our garbage. We didn’t know what to do with our trash, so we just left it on the street, figuring someone would pick it up if it was sitting outside Gucci. We rushed to the train but luckily we made it, Florence being so small and the station so close. My suitcase and the cobblestone roads, however, are not friends. We made it to Rome just fine, then discovered there was a train to the airport, so we decided to do that instead of Taxi. It was only 10:30, and the airport train left at 10:52, but we discovered that it was the longest walk ever to the train, and we barely made it on. And of course there was no room for our bags. When we arrived at the airport, we split up to check into our flights since Elli flew Alitalia and I flew BA, then we met up again to go through security since our gates were right next to each other. We got some food on the other side of security, and I suffered through eating my last shitty Italian sandwich. Then it was time to split up, so Elli went to her gate and I went to mine, and I didn’t have to wait long to board. There was a huge group of really obnoxious American kids on my flight, and I was greatly annoyed. I was able to fall asleep on the plane though. When I arrived in Heathrow, I was supposed to make my way to the bus station and wait for the bus to Southampton where I would meet up with Elli. I had a bit of trouble through customs, however, because I didn’t know the address of where I was going, and the UK government seemed to have a problem with that. The customs lady thought it was suspicious that Elli and I were arriving on different flights from the same place, so I had to spend 20 minutes explaining the entire situation, and finally she let me through. I found my bus station, then realized I was an hour early because my clock hadn’t been adjusted to the time zone yet, so I went inside for a Krispy Kreme because it was the only place I could find and I was hungry. Finally it was time to board the coach, and I was relieved to find Elli on it. The bus ride started off a bit exciting with Elli and I waving at all the truck drivers going by us and making friends. Then it settled down and we both started coughing horribly, but we had run out of water, so everyone kept giving us nasty looks. Oh well. We arrived in Southampton to find that the shuttle to the ferry did not exist, so we decided to walk. We stopped at McDonald’s on the way and were served by the cutest and adorablest little English man ever. The McDonald’s was right next to a TGI Friday’s, and it killed me so much to be so close to boneless wings without being able to eat them. After our fill of food, we began to make our way to the pier, having no clue where we were going and with our huge bags. We did manage to find it, however, but we bought tickets for the wrong ferry. We were confused for a short time before we found the correct place, then bought tickets again. We waited for the ferry, then it was a short 25 minute ride to the Isle of Wight where Elli’s parents greeted us and took us to the cottage. After a 15-hour travel day, I was very glad to finally arrive. It was the cutest little thatched-roof cottage ever, with a cute little garden and our room was in the attic. Elli’s parents served us tea, and we sat around a bit before showering and going to bed. I got to read a little of Pride and Prejudice before bed in the attic of the cottage. It was just too perfect.
