Only a week behind in this project. The Eurostar takes us through the last vestiges of English countryside, scrapyards and closed factories–not the stuff of song so much.
It is a changing world. This train represents the technology that is another step along history – from the Roman invasion to the fencing of the commons to the Industrial Revolution, what was England becomes England again but through the fire again. Each one is a melting down and re-forming into something new.
While the most economical and efficient method of travel, the experience of English trains is not very conducive to viewing the famed countryside. More like take the train and see the berms, bridges and tunnels of Great Britain.
On the upside, I can use the blue tooth keyboard for the Ipad which is not possible on the plane.
And can go through the engineering marvel of the last century. It may be just a rather indistinguishable at this point from a long ride on the subway but, c’mon, it is a tunnel underneath the great Channel.
The Channel, just a small stretch of water, really. Conquered by the Romans, Norse and Normands, Angles, Picts and Saxons – it shaped the British character – independent, pugnacious, ready to fight because it required a great deal of strength and dedication to cross the water. And, if those invading were strong, it stands to reason the ones already here must be equally as strong in order to repel them or clever enough to make a profitable peace with them. A peace that will bring those invaders strengths into the genetic stew.
Now that epic crossing of conquerers is a 20 minute tube ride. A very expensive, tightly controlled tube. Security at both ends to make sure someone doesn’t attempt the journey with an unscheduled diversion to paradise in the suitcases and backpacks or strapped to their bodies.
It’s also a very deep tube ride. The Northern Line with it’s 300 steps below ground level has nothing on this tube. My ears are popping as the train continues to drive on the downward arc.
And slows? Must already be starting to climb out.
And just like that, we are in sunshine again and coming into Calais. 20 minutes and an hour time difference–poof. Marvelous, bloody marvelous.
