France by www.born2travel.it

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22. 07. 1999 Modane (FRANCE)

We've just arrived in France and they've already given us good news: the first useful train to Paris is many hours away, in the dead of night! This border town is deserted and cold. On top of that my camera has broken too... We're off to a great start... [Takx]: While we were chatting with some local lads, Marco tried several times to "palm off" on them the 100 French francs (no longer in circulation) he was carrying; then along comes Francesco, a man of about sixty, the missionary type, who started talking to us all about faith and religion while we were making fun of him... At the first opportunity we slip away...

23. 07. 1999 Paris (FRANCE)

[Takx]: The train finally arrives. It's packed, there was no room in the compartments and the entrance platforms were taken, even with six people... Wandering about I find the platform at the end of the train, in front of the toilet, completely free! While I wait for Marco, a boy leans out and asks me if that space was free: "I'm sorry, I'm waiting for four other lads!" With a little knife we fiddle with the door of the WC until the sign appears: "Out of Order". A good night on the train towards Paris. As soon as we arrive in the French capital we head straight for the Eiffel Tower. We were really dead tired, so we camp out a bit in a little park nearby to rest and have lunch. A nice nap on our little mats was just what we needed! But in the end we set off again, destination Calais. From there we'll board for England.

24. 07. 1999 Dover (ENGLAND)

We're in Great Britain! The crossing of the Channel was very special; slowly leaving France and heading for England was exciting! It was also livened up by the presence of two very pretty Scottish girls. [Lorna MacPhail from Glasgow, Scotland]: "If you can't cope and can't hold on, go home" Having arrived late in the evening in the English capital, I confess I felt a bit lost in the great Victoria Station where everyone was rushing to and fro busily, and we didn't know where to put our tired bones safely to rest! Great idea! Gatwick Airport. We lay down our weapons and baggage and fall asleep at once.

25. 07. 1999 London (ENGLAND)

The Madame Tussauds Museum always enchants me! [Takx]: The statues are extremely realistic (some people mistook real people for statues), the chamber of horrors is wickedly interesting... We take loads of photos and as we're about to leave London we notice that: the camera wasn't loaded!!! Panic!

We set off again towards Oxford where some friends of mine are waiting for us... In the university town of Oxford we are welcomed by my dear friend Stephen ("Whiff", to his friends); he made a whole three-room flat available just for us! After a refreshing shower we're back on the road, destination: The Westminster College where the sweet Cristina is staying. We meet in a disco and shortly afterwards, both Takx and I find ourselves hidden in the wardrobe of her room so as not to be discovered by her "teacher"! Welcome! 26. 07. 1999 Oxford (ENGLAND) Since Cristina had a lesson today, we decide to return to my old college at Wheatley, in the hope of seeing my old friends again, first and foremost Marc Poncin.

What luck! As soon as we set foot in the college he's the very first person I see, playing tennis with a Japanese guy! [Takx]: When Marc and Marco met again I stood aside, amazed at the familiarity they had, it seemed as if they'd spent years together... Marc ("Fisherman", to his friends) is really great fun! The two of them chatted for hours and hours so animatedly, the words that kept coming back were: "girl, fxxk, etc. etc."

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