Contiki Time

I figured that if I had mainly relied on my own sense of curiosity to see the sights in Europe, then I never would. I was all too willing to just meander through the streets of the UK for weeks on end. I might as well get my money's worth. So, before I left Canada, I signed up for Contiki.

From what I've heard and read about, Contiki is a company that takes "younger" travelers on tours around the world for very unreasonable prices. To me this meant a bus load of 20 year olds traveling around the UK and Ireland drinking Guinness and having fun. Not so much.

After finally finding the meeting place for my Contiki group, I was disappointed. Starring back at me where the solemn faces of about ten couples, clutching to each other as if they were each other's life vests. If the nasea of that sight didn't kill me, the age of everyone else in the room sure would. I was quite easily the only traveler in the group who had yet to sprout a grey hair. Great, I'd be changing diapers and assembling walkers for the next two weeks. I took my place in the group, trying to blend in with my new surroundings. I had literally just paid $2,500 to stare at pot bellies and repeat myself for the sake of the hearing impaired.

Just as Michelle, the tour guide concluded her speach, I stood up. I tried to shake the disappointment from my body but it clung to the walls of my mind, burrowing deeper and deeper. I closed my eyes and let myself breathe in a few quick breaths. Don't judge a book by its cover, I kept reminding myself. Just as I found a temporary place of zen, a continuous smooching sound snapped me back to the present. Directly infront of me was a Chinese couple from my group wrapped in a tight embrace. The woman nuzzled closer into her boyfriend, completely oblivious of my gawking stares. I looked away, but not before the image of her pecking his entire face was burned into the back of my retinas. A wave of nasea washed over me and I raced for the door. I could feel the couple's giggles chasing after me as I pushed open the gates to freedom, the street's air brushed passed me. This was going to be a long two weeks.