dead ends, wrong turns....

strandi — 2008-10-07T20:05:00Z

....and my fucking ass hurts like crazy! (not what you think)

So am getting better at getting round London on my bike. At least I thought so. Today I managed to get lost, driving in the opposite direction that I should've for about 20 minutes. But all is well now, because the nice people from London Cycling Campain actually made cycling maps which you can get for free, for example at that bike shop on New Cavendish Street whose name I can't remember. Still, my spirits concering biking was a little low today, because it actually doesn't help that every other street is one way only and you never seem to be allowed to turn left WHEN YOU FUCKING WANT TO. Sorry, but swearing comes with the territory. Anyways, I still think the bike was a great idea. I'm not that easily defeated, I guess.

I moved hostel today, because they finally have a bed for me at my beloved Dover Castle! And a great plus: free wireless in the room! Woohooo! On the other hand, had to leave Ana and Carrie behind, one Spanish and one Australian girl, two very nice ones at that. But all is well and future contact is secured through the miracles of msn and facebook. God bless the internet. Two funny Swedish girls, a German (grrrrr) and a Swiss (double-grrrrr) in the new room. So amount of native German speakers is actually not improving. Yet.

And the men? Well, they are still beardy and gorgeous, but I haven't met any. And yes, Julia, I remember that I swore myself to go to Popstarz to meet you-know-who (and I don't mean Voldemort).

Sorry mate, it's gonna be another hour....

strandi — 2008-10-06T13:16:00Z

Just went out and bought a bike at a great place called CamdenCycles right around the corner from Mornington Crescent Station, but also a nice 30 minutes walk from the Generator Hostel (walk until Euston Station, then follow the street on the right/east of Euston Place - there is a sign saying something like "will turn into Eversholt Street" - and follow it for approx. 15 minutes. Camden Cycles will be on the left hand side). When I got there, I told the guy (cute, but not as cute as the two waiters...) that I just wanted a reasonably priced bike to get around the city and he showed me one for £ 50 which he hadn't checked yet, so he told me I could come back in an hour and it will be ready by then. So I got myself a cup of Earl Grey, set down on a bench and read my book (The Shadow Of The Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, a real page turner and as it turns out conversation starter!) and about an hour later I got back. But they weren't done with the thing yet or hadn't started, so I was told to come back in another hour. A short walk, a Sainsbury Free Range Egg and Watercress sandwich and another chapter of The Shadow of the Wind later, I got back and he told me it's only gonna be another 10 minutes. So I got out once more and got back after about 20 minutes and true to word, my bike was all set. Three time's the charm, they say.

I adjusted the seat, got myself a ridiculously expensive lock (35 quids, but it actually has an insurance for the bike included. For a year at least, which is all I need.) and braced myself for driving on the wrong side of the street. If I were religious, I probably would have prayed, but I survived anyhow, apparantly.

Now I have to go by Dover Castle today to check whether they're gonna give me a bed long term, so I can get a proof of adress from them, so I can open up a bank account. With that and the national insurance number (which I will call about tomorrow), I should be all set for work. At PRET A MANGER for example.

UNDERGROUND* (a swiss lad living in london for a year) : topic:Transportation

dead ends, wrong turns....

Sorry mate, it's gonna be another hour....