With all of my travels, you would think that I double check all travel plans and logistics to ensure a smooth voyage. Well, I must admit there are still times when I just take my travel skills for granted and/or my mind is elsewhere. The rationalization for this shameful, yet hilarious, travel story is probably a combination of not paying attention to the details and being entrenched with academic endeavors. But, before you read on, just know these types of travel stories make me feel alive. Crazy, but true! Here is the context of this story: I was invited to the
University of Sheffield to make a presentation, conduct an interview for the
hedda blog, and tour the campus. So, here is the story of catching the train to Sheffield:
12:05 All is good! Leave the UGA House and hop on the bus to the town centre.
12:11 Arrive in town centre. Walk in the drizzle, stop in at Taylor’s to buy a takeaway chicken pesto Panini.
12:16 Walk leisurely to train station.
12:28 Arrive at the train station, sit down, put my umbrella away, take out my train tickets. Read the tickets and realize I never printed out the e-ticket…all I printed out was the lousy itinerary. “An email containing your e-ticket will be sent to your email address.” Oh, bloody hell!
12:30 Begin freaking out! Get in ticket line.
12:35 I ask the woman if I can ride the train with just the itinerary. I know the answer, but think that if I put on the naive foreigner act, she may help me out. NOPE! She says I MUST print out the e-ticket and there is no where to print in the train station.
12:37 I run to the tourist office and she tells me the closest Internet café is about 10 minutes away. AHHHHH!
12:40 I RUN!!! Here is the visual: one hand dragging my little roller behind me, the other hand tightly holding onto the umbrella while my backpack bounces up and down on my back.
12:45 I arrive at Coffee Republic and artfully cut line to ask if I can jump on the Internet and print something quickly. She sees the sweat on my brows and proclaims, “30 minutes is 1 pound 50 pence.” I pay the lady, run up the stairs, and sit at the computer closest to the printer. As my email inbox slowly loads, I try to catch my breath as beads of sweat trickle down my face.
12:46 The magical e-ticket prints, as the angels in my head sing a sweet melody. I tell the gentlemen next to me to feel free to use the remaining time on my computer and then I bolt down the stairs!
12:48 I RUNNNNNNNNNNNN and think to myself..."damn, I am out of aerobic shape!" I have less than 20 minutes to catch the train.
12:53 Arrive at the train station…and navigate my way to platform 2.
12:55 AHHHHH, with 10 minutes to spare, I sit down on a bench, take off my coat, wipe the sweat from my head, and begin laughing. Now, this is traveling!!
13:02 The train arrives. I board, find my seat, highly consider stripping down to fully Monty, and let out a sigh of relief.
13:05 Train leaves, to Sheffield I go!
15:46 Arrive Sheffield, climb into a black cabbie
*see top 3 photos*.