The ferry I boarded was an enormous vessel, boasting eight levels. The lower decks housed vehicles, while the upper decks featured a variety of amenities including lounges, sleeping quarters, a cafeteria, a movie theater, a shop, a spa, and a bar, among others. I explored the ship before settling in at the bar where I ordered a shot of whiskey and a pint of Guinness. This was easily the most luxurious ferry I had ever been on, rivaled only by cruise ships in terms of facilities. Given it was already 9 PM, and with the ferry ride from Dublin to England taking about three hours, I knew we were in for a long evening. Amidst the backdrop of children playing and sliding on the slick floors, I enjoyed my Guinness and then retreated to a quieter ‘living room’ area where a movie was playing. I spent the rest of the journey there, chatting with a new acquaintance.

After the ferry, I boarded a bus, which gradually rolled off the ship onto land. I dozed off, sleeping intermittently through the seven-hour ride to London. Despite arriving later than planned, I was warmly greeted by my friend Paolo—an old boarding school classmate from California—who was hosting me during my stay. Paolo helped with my luggage and equipped me with a thoughtful welcome package including maps, important phone numbers, a tube card, and a pre-paid local cell phone, making it the nicest reception I’ve ever had.

Once settled, we walked around his neighborhood, picked up groceries, and cooked lunch together. That evening, after Paolo went to work, I started planning my London adventure.

My goals for the trip were clear: experience London’s Drum-n-Bass scene, buy warmer clothing, and visit Stonehenge. I booked the Stonehenge tour that evening and looked up local DnB clubs.

Over the next few days, Paolo and I explored London by day, shopping for practical yet stylish clothing—I picked up long-sleeved tops at Benetton, sweaters at Esprit, and a coat at Zara.

In the evenings, I ventured out alone to delve into the local pub scene, discovering it to be quite enjoyable with reasonably priced pints at around £3. One night, I met a group of married guys out for a drink, and after some lively conversation, they invited me to a local pub off the tourist trail. Despite already feeling the effects of a couple of beers and vodka gimlets, I joined them and had a fantastic time.

As my first week in London unfolded, I noticed it took me longer than usual to feel settled and confident navigating the city, a stark contrast to my usual quick adaptation to new places. Perhaps the vast size of London contributed to this. Despite my familiarity with the city from a previous visit in 2003, I even managed to get lost on the tube a few times.

Thankfully, by the end of that first week, I felt more at ease—just in time for my first Drum-n-Bass party in London that Friday night, marking the official start to the party phase of my trip.