As most of you know, we went to Europe last week. Although a few friends on mainland Europe asked me if I don't consider UK part of Europe...
Britain is an island, Europe is big...
Two weeks before our planned trip to the mainland, I bought a ferry crossing ticket for £45-00 (±R676-00) to Dunkirk. It was quite cheap compared to other thickets to Calais which is about 80Km away from Dunkirk. Dunkerque is in France and close to the Belgian border.
We left our house in the early hours of Saturday morning and drove the 100+ miles (160Km) to Dover.
We got to the Ferry Port about ½ an hour before we were suppose to. Quite nervous, because it was our first time, and loads of people gave us different advice. We drove onto the ferry. Got out, locked our car and went upstairs.
Seeing that it was in the early hours of the morning, there was enough open spaces. We got a table and comfy chairs, next to a kids play area/table thingy. Most people slept, but we were too exited to sleep. I should have caught a shut-eye as well...
2 hours later we got back in our cars and drove of at Dunkirk. Armed with my SatNav, I was ready for the road-trip!
In Europe they drive on the right hand side of the road. It was funny at first and for the first few kilo's I had to remind myself to keep right... But it became second nature. If every1 else does it, it is easy. On some highways they don't have a speed limit, and I just stuck to the right hand lane, as if I'm driving in SA. The only problem I had was linking with another road, because seeing that I sit on the right side of my car, I had to look over my left shoulder, to see if there was a gap, etc. But it got easier the more I drove. In the end we drove ±1250miles (2000Km.)
In Belgium, I tried to put in petrol, but the pump where I stopped, number 7, didn't want to start. In Europe, like in the Ukay, you have to put in your own petrol, no petrol joggies around. I heard a voice saying something in, what I assumed, French, but I just ignored him. Trying to swipe my card and swapping the different kinds of fuel, but nada... Then I heard the voice over the sound system again saying something about 'trois' and 'non sept'. I decided that the guy was speaking, or trying to speak to me, so I moved to number 'trois' instead. And can you believe it, the petrol pump at number 3 worked!
After driving along, and consuming liters of Soda water, I needed to take a leak... Desperately! Every place we stopped we needed to pay 0.30 €uro cents. Al we had on us were pounds and pence. At a village shop, I asked, or rather tried to ask in my limited French, where the bank was. It took forever...
The conversation went as follows:
Me : Morning. Pardon, Mademoiselle.
Sales lady : Bonjour, Monsieur.
Me : A cash machine?
SL : Excusez-moi?
Me : Autobank? (And showing her my bank card)
SL : Si, si. (indicating the cash register)
Me : 50 Euros, Please?
SL : Non, Banque! Direction something, something bon and somemore somethings. Comprendre?
Me : Si! Merci! (And clueless, I left...)
We carried on towards the next small town, further away from the highway, with the SatNav girl going hoarse, trying to get me to turn around, or make a left at the next junction and then immediately a right. Got to the town square, and there was a wedding going on. It looked like fun, but by now I was reaching bursting zone, and the kids also needed to go. Maneuvered through the wedding guests with my car, searching for the bank, we saw a butchery/delicatessen and I went in. Now, before we left, people were telling us not to speak English, because then the French would be rude to you. As I went in I tried my best Bonjour. I was greeted friendly, and then I tried to ask for a bank, but the elderly gent that was in the shop before me, gave me a sharp look and kept on giving his orders to the lady behind the counter.
This took for ever, but eventually he finished and I asked for a bank. The lady smiled sweetly at me and pointed across the road. I thanked her in Afrikaans and English and ran to the building she indicated. I went in , but every card I tried in the machine, just told me 'ERROR'!! A older gent with the world's patience said something about EU and showed me a sign on his card. Yip, mine didn't have it.
I rushed out and decided to drive to Luxembourg, which according to my SatNav girl was just 7 miles away. In Luxembourg we past a big shopping center, with loads of parking. Inside I saw a Cash-Machine, and praying I popped in my card. No problem, it worked!
We saw the toilet sign , just next to us and rushed in. And guess what? It was free, gratis, verniet!
We walked around in the mall for a while, and buying snacks, so that we would have change if we needed it again. Most people spoke Flemish, and we could understand them. I felt relieved that I can understand people again. It is hard not knowing what people is saying...
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