My Irish Adventure

by Miranda Stott (Australia)

I didn't expect to find United Kingdom

It was late August in Notting Hill, London and I had just had a whirlwind day meeting some awesome friends from all over the world in a Hostel and spending the day dancing down the streets at the Annual Carnivale. I was a young, crazy Australian backpacking around Europe before I started an Uni exchange programme in the UK a month later and I was having a killer time! I woke up in my hostel bed in a bit of a carnivale haze. “This is your carnivale” reverberated in my head and flashbacks of Jamaican jerky and lots of drinks circulated before remembering. I had to hurry! I had a flight booked to Santorini that morning. I grabbed my things and left in a haste. As I was power walking to the train station I noticed a Subway to my right. The bready-good scent filled my nostrils with joy and I was lured inside by the thought of my favourite meal, a meatball sub. God I love meatball subs... Moments later, I boarded a train, which seemed to make time go forever as I stared at my watch nervously. I bolted to Gatwick airport where I was told by a guest service agent that I had in fact missed my flight by merely minutes. “If you had printed your itinerary I would be able to let you on, but without it I’m sorry I can’t the system is closed” she explained. To this day, it is still the most expensive meatball sub I have eaten. But, you know, no regrets. “When is the next flight today?” I asked eagerly. “I am sorry, we don’t have a flight until Wednesday” she exclaimed apologetically. It was Monday. I had planned to travel to the Greek islands solo. I didn’t know anyone near Gatwick airport. What was I going to do for two days? I sat there contemplating my options. I could hire a car! I thought to myself. I could drive somewhere I have never been. So that is what I did. I hired a car and a GPS. I loaded in my backpack and pondered a moment. Scotland? Hmmm.... what about Ireland! I typed it in to the GPS - “IRELAND”, loading, and there it was 1 hour 45 minutes. Yesss... my mouth salivated at the thought of sitting down on a big stool, ordering a large frothy pint of Guinness and singing drunken songs with all of the locals at the top of my lungs. This would be an adventure to remember. As I drove, the city disappeared behind me and the open fields began to appear on both sounds... ahh the countryside. It seemed like a bit of a short distance to travel to Ireland but then again, everything had been quite easy to travel to from London. I looked at the GPS and I was getting close... But that’s weird- I thought to myself - it kind of feels like I am in the middle of nowhere. “You have arrived at your destination” my GPS beamed. I squinted at a tiny road sign that said “Ireland”. Something was not right. There were no pubs. Definitely no beer in soght, damn there was barely a house in sight. I had made it to a place called “Ireland, Shefford, ENGLAND. I zoomed out... whoops. Turns out Ireland is not a short drive from London Gatwick.. in fact it is a good day or two driving. Not to mention the BODY OF WATER you need to cross. I admit I didn’t pay attention in geography. I had to make the best of a bad situation so I drove to the closest town Bedford and went and got some Nandos. It was a cute little town and the next day I drove to visit Cambridge University and did a tour which was cool too. Moral of the story- try to be on time for flights, Always print your itinerary first and if you are going to trust a GPS to be your international travel guide.. well DON’T. #subsforlife