My Burps Taste Like Fish and Chips

Isn't it annoying when you get to the airport and they just give you your boarding pass without a problem? I know, right!? Thankfully I didn't have that problem, instead I had the pleasure to be informed an hour before my flight that I could not get on without a visa or a return flight home. My mom and I had made a deal, where I would buy my ticket out of the states, and she would pay for me to come home. Symbolic, ya know? I guess they thought I would try to live in London as an illegal immigrant or something, but at least I felt better because I was not the only one. Another backpacker from Seattle, Sarah, was facing the same problem when I got to the airport. Long story short the Icelandair girl at the ticket counter was extremely helpful (and sassy/sarcastic) and helped us cut the lines at security after we each had to blow 600 dollars on flights we would not be taking home. Out of this I had made a traveling companion already, so I consider that a good experience and a lesson well learned.

On the plane I met a girl going to Iceland to backpack for a couple weeks with an open itinerary, but dreams of kayaking around icebergs, fly fishing, and eating cute puffer birds. She showed me a picture of what these birds were she was talking about, and I have to agree they did look deliciously cute. The guy next to her was taking an antique bike with him to bike around Iceland. Don't know what else he was going to do but he seemed pretty content with that.

On my flight from Iceland to London I sat next to the nicest British couple, that were so kind to me that shared traveling tips and even gave me their contact information in case I got into trouble and needed someone. I told them in the best way possible, I hope I never have to call them.

Once in London, Sarah and I met up at baggage claim and rode the Tube together to our respective hostel stops. In the half mile to my hostel I saw more turbans than I have in the past year combined. For a city that once symbolized white imperialism, it was apparent in seconds how much the city had changed in recent years, and I instantly felt small in this huge, diverse city. So what did I do? Went into the first place that had a Fish and Chips sign and dug in. To be honest...not that impressed. Should probably take a better look of where I choose to eat next time, in hindsight when you look at this "restaurant", you probably shouldn't expect a very good meal. Still, that is how I operate, so when I am in a place that has such a distinct food associated with it, I'm trying the first one I see.

Upon finding my hotel and checking in, I made my way to my third floor, 9-bed dorm room.

ok I'm stopping this thought mid sentence because he did it again! I've been here only a couple hours but this guy that is sleeping in the bed below mine (I'm middle bed in one of the three-bed bunks) keeps walking in and out of the room randomly without saying a word, and without doing anything that I can tell. He's waiting for me to fall asleep to drug me and steal one of my kidneys...

Anyways he's gone I'll continue. The room is small but exactly what I expected. I took a shower in the tiniest shower imaginable, but no complaints there, had hot water and was fairly clean.

I'm getting bored of writing, there is a whole world out there for me to experience. Till next time...


- Matt

Location:Arsenal Backpacker's Hostel, London