A Contiki tour by Mad Me!

Some years back a friend and I decided that an overseas trip would be fun. Well it was mostly her idea - it was something that at the age of nearly 30 I had never really considered. However as girls will be girls we set about planning our trip however just before our 6 week deadline to departure she decided that she was not going. Now I had my passport and visa, now what to do.

So I decided to venture into the unknown alone! So one little lonely South African from a very protected background set off alone to Europe.

Left my family and friends at the airport I still think today to my dad's disgust and flew alone to Johannesburg - wow all alone. Then had to venture to international departures. Wow what an experience.

I climb on the aeroplane must admit more afraid then I cared to admit. A 13 hour flight awaited me and I was venturing really into the unknown. I had not even read the brochure properly - just decided I was going and got on with it.

I for some reason could not sleep and when the pilot came down stairs and found me sitting wide awake he ask if i would like to come and keep them company in the cockpit (something you cannot do nowadays) wow I spent about 2 hours sitting in the cockpit and seeing us fly over the top of Africa. It was an experience of a life time.

We landed in Germany first then onto London Heathrow airport. Wow was I by now really scared. I had no idea where to go or what to do. So just followed the rest like a sheep. I ventured into the international arrivals and again just followed suit then saw there where lines for different countries. South African was mine. Eventually made it thru but hey where was my luggage. HELP again just followed the rest and then learned very quickly to look up at the signage (which our south African airports did not have) and saw what roundabout my luggage was on - I found it to my relieve. My mom has always made us tie some sort of ribbon on our baggage wow did I thank her that day.

Then off to find my way to the 'UNDERGROUND" train service which I have never , never seen before. So eventually after much lugging of luggage I made it to the platform - Just one problem I knew where I needed to get off but how on earth was I to know when. I stopped and ask one of the officials and got a rather snotty 'LOOK ON THE WALLS". I boarded the next train and though how on earth am I to handle this! 'LOOK ON THE WALLS" that meant nothing to me however as we continued our journey I looked on the walls and what did I see. Each station was clearly marked, and if I looked up on the inside of the train there was a drawing showing each stop. The poor guy must have been really fed up with all these tourist asking him every day questions like mine!

Well made it to my stop but remember I am now underground. So I get into a lift which I am once again following like a sheep and here in South Africa we dont have lifts that open both ways. So I get in and turn around and face the door I had just entered and could not understand why everyone else was facing the other way. Well i quickly learned - the lift opened on the other side when we got up top - another hard lesson learned.

Before I knew it I had made it to fresh air and the street above.

I was in London. I had made it.

Part two to continue the adventure!!! Keep reading!!!