Going to Bristol

I went to Bristol today, mainly because it was part of my weekly bus fare allowance and partly because I wanted to get out and see someplace new.

There were more fields along the way. Cute A frame houses, white with dark wood panels. It took longer than I'd expected to get to Bristol, but then we got there. It's basically a giant outdoor shopping centre.

I was looking for shoes. It was so unfair. The men's shoes are waterproof and the soles feel comfortable and they have a supportive base. The women's are more expensive fashion shoes that are really uncomfortable and most of them have a heel. I was frustrated at the stupid women's shoes, so I asked to try on some men's black boots but they didn't have it in a small enough size. When I left the shop, I noticed two girls mid 20s and two guys walking past. The girls were wearing heeled boots (which would be hard given it's cobblestone streets; I have enough trouble in flats). The boys were wearing casual sneakers. So the shops aren't just making this barrier up. Or maybe they are and people just follow it. Dunno.

Men's shoes: sturdy, practical (waterproof), nice-looking.

Women's shoes: fashion focus, little or no support, not waterproof. Same price as men's or higher.

I finished shopping later than I'd expected because of the stupid fruitless shoe hunt. Even though it was only a little past 4, it was already getting dark, and it would be about 2 hours before I'd get home again. I headed back up the shopping strip.

This picture makes me dizzy. Up ahead is a great kebab stand where they make homemade falafel.

There were many roads leading off. I think the road I'd headed up from the bus stop was the one to my right. I figured it'd lead up the same place anyway so I kept going. It wasn't quite as populated, but there were still people around. Some guy eyed me and was walking behind me. I sped up and tried to look purposeful. He disappeared not long after. I wasn't sure if the road was familiar. There was construction work to the right. Buses heading up the road. Where there's buses, there will be a bus station. When I came out to the other end, it met up with the main road as I'd predicted. I saw the theatre that I'd seen on the way in. Wait, wasn't that...that's right, I'd seen that, then headed past that. The station was back the way I'd come. Oh shit. What the hell, where do I go? I headed back that way, along the footpath beside the main road this time. A bit further down at a traffic light I took a chance and asked a jogger where the station was. He told me further up and under the tunnel (I'd taken the tunnel to get to the shops, so that was right). He said he was going that way, just look where he's going. I looked, and he started getting away. Panicked, I jogged to keep up with him. I did for a while, then I lost him. I asked someone else which way to go at the cross section. they pointed upwards. I went up the street. The directory didn't list a station, which is weird, like, wouldn't that be a key thing to indicate? Nothing up there seemed familiar, just some hospital. I went back down and asked the man in the fluoro jacket with the bus company logo on it.

'It's up that way, my love,' he said, pointing to the road next to the one I'd gone up. I wonder if that's the way the other person had meant or if they were confused themselves.

I won't bore you with any more details. I'll just say that Bristol has lots of roads that criss-cross and divert at slight angles. There is terrible signage. I went up and back and tried not to look lost in front of the scruffy men in the middle square. Turned out the station sign was in the tunnel I'd just come out from, I'd needed to go straight ahead and up the stairs. Kept going, unsure. Just as I thought of turning back or hailing a cab, I saw the Chinese restaurant I'd passed not far from the bus station when I'd arrived. I've never been so happy to see a grubby little Chinese restaurant in my life. The tightness in my throat eased as I knew it was just around the corner.

When I arrived, I had a tea and waited 28 minutes for the bus. I think the tea made me thirstier, but that might have been the muesli bar I'd had in between. A homeless man went around to me and many other people in the station and asked for money for food. I said I was broke (not too far from the truth). A young guy with two girls gave the homeless man his loose change, then sort of rolled his eyes at the girls when the man left. Most people eyed the homeless man dubiously and clutched their purses or crossed their arms. Some ignored the guy completely. That made him angry.

It's hard to know who's being truthful and sincere and who's not.

I only remembered later that I had more muesli bars in my bag that I could have given him.

When I got to Bath, I'd just missed the 15 bus, so had to wait 40 minutes for the next one. It was raining and cold, so I crossed the road to a café and bought a juice, breaking my 20 pound note (change is useful, I've found). I sat my the window and drank it, then moved back into a comfy lounge. There were empty dishes and a half eaten cake at the table, but I didn't mind coz I only needed the seat. I zoned out for a while.

The waiter came over and said, 'Is that cake finished, do you know?'

I nodded. 'Yeah.'

'It's not even yours, though, is it?'

His tone and the implication behind his words annoyed me more than it probably should have. He thought I was some freeloader. I spent about ten minutes thinking of good comebacks I could have made. I settled for:
Him: 'It's not even yours, though, is it?'
Me: 'No. It's about time you cleared it away.'

Subtle but stinging, right? After that I listened to Charlie's Angels soundtrack and observed people in the café. Man next to me had ordered a coffee and was working on his laptop. Young couple nearby. The guy had short shaven hair that was longer on top and strategically tousled (or maybe that was accidental. Not sure). Another couple by the wall. The girl's face was animated as she spoke and seemed incredulous at times, in the way people are when they're sympathising with people's bad experiences. She smiled a fair bit. Other groups around me, too. The place was cosy and full--everything a restaurant should be. Canton was ok but so boring coz it was hardly busy. It's way more fun to be busy and full.

The ride on the 15 bus home was cool. I went on the top deck and I had it all to myself. I wiped the condensation from the window and got a good view the whole way home. There were uni kids with roller bags on the lower deck. There were two girls waiting at a stop up ahead. They waved enthusiastically to the bus, then shrieked with pleasure when they got on. I heard their conversation in the background, but I was listening to music and didn't really care to listen. Too tired from the day to do anything else.

I wasn't sure if anyone would be worried that I was gone early and was still out late at night (well, only 6:30, but it was so dark that it felt like 8). I couldn't decide which way I wanted. I'm sure the girls heard me come in but there was no rush for Where Have You Been? I decided I liked this better. That's one of the reasons why I hadn't chosen the homestay; I didn't want to have to be accountable for my whereabouts all the time. Still, it's nice to know someone's noticed you've gone.
I don't really care and can't be bothered analysing. I have my Orientation day tomorrow at 10am (bright and early!) and I should be getting an early night. Haven't decided if I want to go to the kitchen and say hi to the new arrivals. Not really in the socialising mood. I am kind of hungry for the pasta in the fridge. Eh, probably just bed. Night.