And So it Begins....

Well, today is our day the true adventure begins. 

We’re leaving London for a bit more foreign, non English speaking (more so at least) country.  Right from the bus driver’s mainly French with broken English, it made us all realize we need to start attempting to speak the language... okay, break out the French 10 memory!

So the morning began by booking our accommodation and bus ride to Calais, packing and arousing the girls.  Luckily, we gave ourselves lots of time to get to the coach station as there were a few delays along the way.  Bit of a sad moment leaving Jen and her great family.  The security and comfort of their lovely house in known surroundings to venture off into the unknown... as I said, so starts the adventure!

So off to the bus station and after asking multiple people along the way, we found the coach station.  Check in and buy food for the bus trip.  Felt like a pretty typical bus station with a few dodgy people but all sorts for sure.  It seemed that we went around in circles for the first hour as we tried to get out of the downtown and then back into the country side.  As we were heading out a number of thoughts went through my head.  When do they change driving on the other side of the road?  Half way through the tunnel?  How do they vent the tunnel, etc.  We soon found out!

After going through border security, then an English police check where a dog checked the whole bus while we went through a passport check again and finally French customs we started driving through something that reminded me of the BC ferries.  Well, it turns out you don’t drive in the tunnel.  They load you onto a train and you get trained across.  Crazy, driving a bus onto a train and riding in an enclosed train car!  They sealed off all the train cars and away we go.

 Popped up on the other side and got dropped off in a huge mall.  No taxis, or much for people where we were dropped off so we had a walk around the mall looking for food and money carrying all our gear.  We’re now onto the Euro for the next month or so.  Got some directions with my broken French and back onto a city bus into town to our hotel.  The town of Calais is much nicer than I had envisioned.  I had read a number of things on Calais that talked about issues with illegal immigrants trying to get over to England from here and people having confrontations.  There were no issues at all and everyone was very friendly, trying to explain how to get to our hotel.  Checked in an bed!

Thanks again to Jen and Mike for opening your house to us, it was great to get to know you guys and have a homey place to crash for a few days.  If you or the boys ever want to come visit, our home is always open.