🇬🇧

From Mercedes to EasyJet

A journey through contrasts

This morning, we bid farewell to Devon and make our way back to Bristol Airport in style—courtesy of the rental Mercedes C200. Unlike the journey down, this time it’s daylight, and I can actually see what all the buttons do. A revelation! Most importantly, I finally manage to switch on the head-up display. Small victories.

Upon arrival at the airport, the peacefulness of the past few days is instantly shattered. Bristol Airport has adopted that uniquely American tradition of shouting instructions at travelers, particularly in the security queue. I can’t say I fully grasped what was being yelled, thanks to the thick West Country accent, but I suspect a few simple pictograms would be both clearer and significantly quieter.

Once past security, we navigate the self-checkout-heavy duty-free section, where we stock up on Polos and other hard-to-find-in-France sweets. I remain undecided on the merits of self-checkouts. Efficient? Perhaps. Impersonal? Definitely.

With time to spare, we indulge in one last British classic—a pint and a plate of chicken tikka masala. The perfect farewell meal.

Our EasyJet flight departs on time, a pleasant surprise. The plane is either brand new or recently refurbished, though no amount of refurbishment can make the seats any wider. The flight is a brisk 1 hour 35 minutes, and upon landing in Toulouse, we’re greeted by a notable drop in temperature. The drive back to Carcassonne is uneventful, and now it’s straight back to reality.

The Devon trip? A resounding success. We saw a lot, walked a lot, ate a lot—exactly how a good trip should be. Now, time to unpack, repack, and get ready for the next adventure.

Link back to my master Blog J²S