Yargghhhh *frustration noise*

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So due to a miscommunication between the Norway train system and myself, I now have to pay a train fare much much much higher than expected. About 3x as much. Note to self: booking a train ticket from a foreign country in another foreign country is not the easiest thing in the world. I wanted a discount ticket. I went to the central station in Amsterdam to reserve my place on the train in Norway. At central station I was told that I would have to wait until I got to Norway to buy my discount ticket. I email the train station in Norway in hopes to get a clearer answer as to how to get my discount ticket since their web page says you can only do it online. But if I do it online, there is no way to tell them that I already have a seat that I put a down payment on. If I bought it online, I would end up getting another seat and losing the down payment on my secured seat. Anyways, after a few days having heard nothing back from the train station, I decide that oh well...I'll sacrifice the down payment and just get the discount ticket online. And now there are no more tickets. Now I have to pay full fare, which is about 3-4 x as much as the discount fare. It's a good thing I'm working, because this probably would have drained my account. This train ride better be freaking amazing. Needless to say, I will only be taking buses from now on when I travel. Whoever said that traveling in Europe was cheap lied. It is not cheap. At least not from Amsterdam.

Aghhhhh this is frustrating. First the lost phone, now the lost discount ticket.

On a happier note, it's absolutely gorgeous outside. I also have some things to say about Open Day at the Red Light District, but I'm too stressed/upset about my phone, how much traveling is costing, finding an internship back home, finding housing back home, and figuring out a situation with my horse to write right now. I just had to vent about the ticket. Let's see what else goes wrong in the world of Lauren.

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Comments

[Rosanne]

Been reading your diary, love to see that you enjoy Amsterdam. Am a student at the UvA too, but having been born and raised in Amsterdam makes me sometimes forget why I love this city so much. Your blog brought it all back, thanx. p.s. - Been reading the comments as well, your cousin Judith sounds very wise, hihi!

[Judith (cousin)]

Train travel
The travails of travel are endless, but it's how we learn and do better the next time. In Frommer's Budget guides, they state to take twice the money and half of the clothes, you think that you need. Train travel is alot more expensive than one is lead to believe. Purchasing in country second class rail passes helps. One always loses or breaks something on a trip. It's just luck when it is something inexpensive. Sorry to hear about your phone. Be well and enjoy.