Jelle schrijft een verslag van de schoolreis naar Londen

In het derde middelbaar trok Jelle Van de Vijver met zijn school naar Londen. We bleven er vier dagen, en leerlingen werden door gezinnen opgevangen. De reis zelf was geweldig, maar wat me vooral zal bijblijven is de smaak en de textuur van de limonade die we driemaal per dag voorgeschoteld kregen. Het verslag nadien, dat in een summiere stijl geschreven moest worden, spreekt tal van boekdelen, al zijn er vele verhalen waar het al dan niet subtiel geen woord over rept. Ik citeer met originele interpunctie en spelling.

Wednesday Morning, 9th March:
I woke up and quickly dressed and had breakfast. I was quite nervous. My dad brought me with the car to the coach on the Molenlei. We got in the coach but apparantly we had taken the wrong one. Eventually we left. On the road to Calais I was drowsy so I didn't really do much.
Afternoon
At 8.30 we arrived in Calais. I got off the coach and explored the ferry. One hour and 15 minutes later the coach took us out of the ferry and into Kent. Sightseeing in London, shopping and playing Playstation games in Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Walk to Tate Modern over the Thames, visit of the museum.
Evening
Taking the coach to Eltham. First encounter with host family. Walk to host family's house. The house was fairly small but cosy, in a way. First encounter with English food. Pizza, French Fries and pasta. Hostess ate in front of the telly. The lemonade tasted bad. I gave my chocolates together with Jens, Sander and Ewout. Robin forgot his. Watching the television and sleeping.

Thursday morning, 10th March:
We woke up and dressed. The family's dog was constantly walking around all night. He was quite wild. English breakfast isn't what it used to be. Flakes, lemonade and toast with butter and marmalade. Leaving the house and going to the coach. A 5-minute walk. Arrival at the coaches and sharing impressions with other people. It seemed we weren't alone.
Afternoon
We went to Madame Tussaud's with the coach. Madame Tussaud's was too crowdy to really enjoy it fully. It was fun though. Lunch at Madame Tussaud's and the Tube to St. Paul's. We climbed up, lost the rest, but quickly got a cab. Amusing cab ride. Exhausting climb in the Monument.
Evening
Then we went to the Tower of London. A fun activity. I saw the Crown Jewels. Going to the coaches and going home. Again, weird food. Fish sticks with pasta and fries, of course accompanied by lemonade. Watching "Jackass: The Movie" in Robin, Jens and Ewout's room. Interviewing host family. Sleeping. We deserved it.

Friday morning, 11th March:
Waking up was hard. The thought of more lemonade was unbearable. And yes; there it was. Lemonade, flakes and toast with butter and marmalade. Sharing tales about the dog blocking the toilet door was fun, but it was not fun to experience when he jumped onto me. At the coach, some people told tales about limousines and good food. I especially liked thinking of the latter.
Afternoon
Bustrip. Traffic jam. We walked next to the Queen's Garden and saw Buckingham Palace. We walked through London seeing important things like the Horseguards and Westminster Abbey. We saw Downing Street and Trafalgar Square. Then the double-decker picked us up. British Musuem deserved far more time I think. I got lost and waited outside for the rest.
Evening
After our "tasty" lunch, we went shopping. I ate some artisanal burger and played games. Sander bought a football. Taking the coach back to good old Eltham. Talking with people on the way home who stayed near us. We nearly forgot to empty our bottles on the lawn before we entered the house. Dinner was again, a special experience. Watching James Bond in one of his movies of which I forgot to sleep and going to sleep were our last activities.

Saturday morning, 12th March:
Waking up and knowing it was the last day was not fun. Then we heard that breakfast was ready. We expected the usual. And there it was again. Lemonade, flakes and toast with butter and marmalade. Nina and the enthusiastic dog, Barney, took us to the coach. Sander nearly forgot something and the dog nearly peed on his backpack. The coach brought us to Portobello Road, after we had been thoroughly saying "goodbye" to Nina and Barney. 
Afternoon
Portobello Road was crowded with tourists. We drank in a café but I wasn't thirsty. Then we went to the Cutty Shark. I finally got hold of a newspaper, but I've lost it again back home. I had a milkshake and finally dared to eat the crisps we had been given. (Chicken taste!) I stood on the Greenwich Meridian and was happy to stand on "time and space's epicentre".
Evening
The coaches took us to Dover. After seeing "Titanic" the previous days, we watched "Waterworld". Although our choice of movies wasn't a good sign, the ferry worked fine. I bought a salad. From Calais to Mortsel. I saw the movie and then, when it stopped, was a bit bored. After a noisy, dark trip, I took dad's car home, where I enjoyed some real lemonade and slept well.


--------

P.S. Waar Jelle het niet over heeft is onder andere het vernietigen van de slaapkamerlamp van de gastvrouw, het naar beneden werpen van ons lunchpakket op de top van The Monument, de ware hysterie toen ik en Sander onze schoolgroep kwijtraakten in St. Paul's Cathedral en nog vele andere verhalen.