Ferrying Into Paris

      Soon after boarding the comfortable pleasant bus in Victoria Station, I immediately push the button, which rested my head comfortably backward, while the fumes and noise dissipated, to become only a distant memory. I assumed that I would be riding alone which was fine with me until suddenly a woman of color, in a deliberate fashion, walked past my seat and to the end of the bus in a hurried fashion. Then this woman returned and asks if she could sit next to me. I got up and told her that I preferred the aisle seat as she graciously stepped over me to slide into the window seat. This woman talked, and talked and talked.

It was not long before I realized that our bus driver was boarding onto a huge three storied ferry. This huge ferry was going to carry us, as well as other buses, cars, and people, over this patch of water, that I previously questioned, into Paris France. This ferry ride was pleasant as once our bus entered the ferry, we were free to get out and walk around.

Our bus boarding this ferry was very much like driving your car onto a ferry and then you walk around while the ferry takes you and your car across the water. Well the difference with this ferry is that our bus drove onto this ferry that was huge, comparable to a mall on the ocean. This “ ferry, mall”, had a moneychanger as well as various popular eateries such as “Mcdonalds”, “Chicken”, etc.  The ferry ride was pleasant, as within the mall area of the ferry, you saw some people sleeping, eating or just walking around. The bus mate and I decided to separate upon leaving the bus and entering the mall area of the ferry, after agreeing to see each other later upon the announcement to return to the bus for preparation to enter Paris France.

After meeting up again on the bus the bus mate and I talked a bit more as she further informed on the manner in how the ferry was organized. While conversing we discovered that we were both Libras’, and as Libras’ love to converse, needless to say the ferry over to Paris France was pleasant, I only wish that I had taken the time to exchange some Euros into British Pounds at one of the many “Money Exchange Booths” conveniently located in the mall area of the ferry.

After exiting, the bus and entering the Paris bus terminal my bus mate asked me to follow her to meet her husband waiting. She and her husband hugged and kissed.  The woman and I had already exchanged phone numbers and addresses earlier. They asked if they could help me with anything, in reference to language understanding, for me, and I said that I was fine, thanks, and that I was on my way to exchange some Euros to Pounds and it is nice to have met the two of you.

In Paris

Well the day in Paris looked like night as it was a dark and a hard rainy Sunday and everything appeared closed. There was to my surprise no money change booths anywhere near the station as I asked so that I would not go out into the rain in vain looking for a currency exchange booth. I asked the ticket agent woman previously where I might change my Pounds into Euros and she just shrugged her shoulders indicating that she did not know and she also appeared to have no concern.

Finally, as the clock continued to tick, I talked with a police security officer there within the bus station walking around. I told this police office about my dilemma in relation to needing to change my currency to euros in which to purchase my bus ticket for Barcelona. The police officer, without saying anything, motioned me to follow him. This police officer led me to the area that housed the public bathrooms within this bus station in Paris. This is where I saw that it costs a few coins to use the bathroom. There was a male bathroom attendant who was actually also a, I believe under-cover, moneychanger. I wondered why the ticket agent woman did not tell me that this man was here working as a money-changer. I guess the ticket agent woman realized that I would eventually figure it out. Needless to say, this moneychanger’s rates were not the best.

Finally, I have the bus ticket for Barcelona and relief settled in though I still sense the overhanging sense of discomfort in realizing that I was still unsure with my situation of having over-stayed my visa time allotted me in London. To reiterate, in London, the initial customs officer allotted me only about two weeks visa to be in London. I have now actually been in London for more than five weeks.

 

Boarding Bus from Paris to Barcelona Spain

After boarding the bus in Paris for Barcelona, this sojourn became sweet as candy, as everyone was Spanish, no Americans; just the way I like it. The group of people on this bus, in the Paris, bus station headed for Barcelona, was easy and peaceful. The milieu on this primarily Spanish people filled bus in Paris headed for Barcelona Spain was as though they were all family going on their way back home. These Spanish bus travelers were all dressed well, neat and clean, unlike the usual bus crowd of people you encounter on US buses. It depends, of course, on where you are traveling in the US. For instance if you are traveling by bus in some parts of Connecticut or Massachusetts or NYC or the Washington DC area in the United States, you will find most of people are in business suits. Still there is the chance you may encounter the possibility of running into the occasional eye opener of a drunken US American, unhealthy looking and wobbling about, with the police nearby keeping an eye on them. Well, none of that was on this bus in Paris headed for Barcelona as this bus was filled with happy traveling clean-cut well fed looking Spanish people headed to Barcelona Spain. Everyone on this bus headed for Barcelona appeared happy, peaceful and relaxed. The bus ride from Paris France to Barcelona was so comfortable it was as though we were all family, myself included, traveling from one state to another.

When the bus arrives in Barcelona Spain, we exit onto the bus stop directly in front of a small somewhat booth with a few bus agents inside. I waited until everyone was off of the bus that brought us from Paris as I was tired and in no hurry for the next possible challenge in my sojourn.

I finally exited the bus, went into the Barcelona Bus Station, and sat my bag down. Then I immediately sat myself down to rest as well. As I reflected, I realize that, WOW, I made it to Barcelona! I am actually out of London and in Barcelona Spain with no customs problems!

Then I saw a few Nuns of color dressed in the formal white attire that made it clear to anyone that these women were nuns. I decided that I must say hello to the Nuns as they were of color and appeared to be of African descent. Interesting, while talking with these two female nuns, they informed me that they were indeed from Africa…

 

The Bus Trip from Paris to Spain

Off The Beaten Path

A word of caution in taking the bus trip from Paris to Spain is that no English was spoken as it appeared that most of the people on this bus were predominantly Spanish speaking. I noticed the travelers for this bus noticing me as if they were unsure of what I was. Eventually a woman realized that I was US American and I noticed her tell her mother who was traveling with her. I noticed this woman’s mother jump and then suddenly looked my way as if she was shockingly surprised and she also appeared uncomfortable to speak with me as she continued to stare my way while seemingly trying not to be rude.

We were waiting together as a crowd for the bus driver to arrive and open the door of the bus so that we could confirm our tickets and board. This crowd was talking and happy as though on a family reunion. The seat next to me remained comfortably empty.