The Real Adventure Begins

Luke Doesn't want to contribute to the blog, which is saddening. So I shall continue to add in snippets and tidbits that he says without him knowing till he reads it before it gets posted. 

This evening we are in Biarritz, on the northern coast of France. We flew here because the flights were cheaper then to San Sebastián, which is our destination tomorrow. 

Alright, today I don't even know where to begin. We got up and decided that we were just going to take the express train to Stanstead airport, which was easy to get to as we knew the tube fairly well by this time. Everything was going way to easy. We had left ourselves plenty of time till the plane left, 3.5 hours to be exact. Except when we got to Stanstead shortly after noon, and went to check in, they wanted to charge us again for our bags, which we had already paid for. We also always check in online, and for whatever reason, be it the patchy internet connection at the previous hotel or just pure forgetfulness, we didn't. What a huge mistake that was. They charge you so many Pounds just to check in at the airport. We had to stand in this gigantic line to check in (because the kiosk was double charging us for our bags) and luckily when we got to the front the ladies system had it registered that we already paid for our bags, which made the waiting worth it. But she wasn't able to take our bags. At this point we had been waiting an hour, they only had one person working, and our flight was leaving in an hour. We know that they stop taking bags 40 minutes before the flight, and we had another massive line to stand in just to drop our bags off, why there was such a line for that we are unsure. We finally made it to the front of that line, with 45 minutes before our flight was to leave. Now time for security. In theory when we first got to security we were thinking that they had a really slick system. One line, three separate scanners open, with 4 people loading at each scanner thing, and a person directing and telling you where to go. That is until you end up waiting behind people who don't know what they are doing and have to pretty much undress. And once you go through, traffic jam waiting to retrieve your belongings and redress. Rather frustring but we made it through in good time. Half an hour till the flight leaves. We get our long speedy legs moving and head to find what gate we are at. All seems to be going fine, until we turn the corner. They literally have a whole shopping mall, perfumes, make up, clothes, the whole 9 years that you have to mingle your way through twist and turns, and after that, you wind your way through a food court. Most stupid system ever especially when you are in a hurry. Quickly walking past the communal gate seats we reach the next direction telling us where to go to get to our gate, 10 minute walk it says. With crowds of people around us that we are dodging we take the stairs down and are on our way. That is until the stairs that everyone has to take up to the next level. Like a heard of cows we waited with the many sweaty and anxious people to get up the stairs. WOWZERS! I have never had such a time at any airport. Especially when originally arriving with loads of time to spare. We made it to our gate and there was still a line to wait in to board. We may have been 2 of the last 20 people on the plane but we made it. As well as our bags.

  

 

    

That really was the chunk of the day as we landed shortly after 5 o'clock. We jumped an hour ahead. When we got our bags we decided that in true back packing style we would walk the relatively short distance to our hotel. We sorta felt like hitch hikers walking along the grass of a road with many cars passing by but felt good to have our packs and each other and knowing that we made it where we needed to be we could relax for the night. Or could we?

Luke says: "DUH DUH DUH"

There were many people waiting to check in when we arrived at the hotel and only one lady working. We waited our turn and told the lady our last name, with a puzzled look and French spewing out of her mouth we gathered that something was wrong. Apparently our booking was not in their system. Even though we had a confirmation and everything, we were not in the computer. With not a lick of English coming out of her mouth Luke decided that using the Magic App that he got he would call them directly for guidance. We had booked this specific place through Hotel.com, which is based out of Canada, so we called to see if our bilingual nation could help us out. The time was passing, our bellies were grumbling, as we hadn't eaten anything nutritious all day, and the lady as well as ourselves were flustered. Hotels faxed a confirmation, that had what she needed but she didn't notice the fax for about a half hour. Needless to say we have a room with a bed, only one pillow, but that doesn't matter... Cause it's Luke's anyways, good thing we are newly weds... Right? Sharing a pillow, no big deal.

FUN FACT: 6 years ago when I went on the France and Spain trip with the he school we stayed at this very hotel, that the rooms much resemble a cruise. 

We ventured to a grocery store where we found food. SANS GLUTEN! Two words that I just need to look for and all is well. I do have my trusty little cards in every language telling them what celiac is if need be. 

Now to sleep. The real adventure has begun, with language barriers, packs on our back, and train tickets in our pockets, no more sugar coating this trip we are now in the thick of it.

And so the adventure continues...