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Published: January 27th 2012
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ok so i've been bad so far this trip. Been to Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Copenhagen and surrounds so far.
first I forgot that my computer has a three pronged plug and my adapter doesn't take those - just regular two prongs. so i had no computer for hte first few days. Then I finally got that fixed (fixed=scraping out the adapter and then jamming the plug in. That was a couple days ago and I just had two busy days in Copenhagen and was too tired to blog. Also, my small bag (manbag) the zipper broke the first day! I'm so rotted. I can still open adn close it but the zipper is separating from the bag so one of these times its just going to conk out. Hopefully it'll last another week.
Anyways, guess I'll start at the beginning. It was a dicey start getting to the airport for my 625 flight last friday morning. Woke up to a raging blizzard. All westjet flights were cancelled the night before but Air Canada still said good to go. Got up in the morning, still showing on time so dad plows out the outer ring and I'm
off! Just a few minutes late for deicing but no troubles. Slightly unnerving watching the plane plow through the drifts on the runway but anyways.
So I booked my ticket on points for first class. Awesome! Free meals on real ceramic dishes, attentive service, lounge access. Had to go St. John's-Ottawa-Montreal-Frankfurt. First flight had an omlette which wasn't too bad. Montreal to Frankfurt was overnight of course, and so in first class they have these lie flat seats. I was super excited for this, thinking at least this way I could be half rested on arrival (I usually get maybe an hour of broken sleep). Anyhow I was mistaken. Most uncomfortable bed ever, it was too hot with no air conditioning vent, not wide enough to bend the knees more than a couple degrees, the man next to me had his overhead light on the whole time (which shone right in my face), seat hard and oddly shaped. So I got about an hour of broken sleep. Good meals though, right after takeoff had a beef tenderloin. for appetizers some gross salad with gross smoked salmon (yes i'm hard to please!) but then good steak, and for
dessert a nice berry tart. Then before landing some breakfast which wasn't anything special but still nice to get something to eat.
The plan was to get to Copenhagen and the easiest (cheapest!) way I found to easily do it was head to Amsterdam first, then take the night train from there. So thats what I did. Spent one day in Amsterdam, one of my favorite cities. Spent some time walking around the centre, took a train out to the beach for a while, relaxed and caught up on my sleep (14 hrs the first night, 12 on the train the second!) Anyways was anticipating another night of horrid sleep on the train but at 15 hrs was hoping for at least a few hours of broken sleep. Get on the train and I'm in a 4 bed compartment. "Bed" means seat and seat back slide up and then stick out from the wall in bunkbed fashion. And I'm on top. When I first got up there I was kindof afraid the whole thing was going to come crashing down it seemed so wobbly. But it worked fine, was actually reasonable comfortable, and being on top I
had extra space to stow my stuff in the space above the door.
Slept like a dream. except around 4am crossed the border to Denmark from Germany and customs agents come on board with their dogs and search teh train. I was mostly asleep and just kinda stuck my head out but thye didn't ask me anything so back to sleep I go.
Woke up and chatted with my cabinmate for a little while - he was heading from southern france to Stockholm, Sweden. Quite the trot from the sounds of it was taking him a few days to train it. Anyways he said when the customs guys came on they were very interested in people coming from Amsterdam and a guy in the next compartment ended up having all his stuff searched thoroughly and they asked him a million questions. Glad they let me sleep!
Copenhagen is beautiful! arrived to beautiful, cold sunshine. Trekked to the hotel I booked on hotwire about 15 mins from the station and settled in. Then headed out for a walk around. Didn't do anything in particular that day, just walked around, got to know
Amsterdam
they like bicycles the city, took some pictures. I estimate I walked about 30km that day. Thats when the blisters started.
Anyways Wednesday slept in a bit by accident. The sun doesn't come up until well after 8 here this time of year (further north than GooseBay!) and didn't have the alarm set. So off I went for the day.
Went to the National Museum which went through Denmark history from millions of years ago to the present. Lots of artifacts mostly dug up from peat bogs. They're excellent for preserving things apparently. Mummies, weapons, pets, other animals (a full auroch skeleton!) through the years. Also lots of medieval stuff like weaponry, clothing, jewelry, crowns, gifts.
From there I went to the Round Tower - about 500 years old, and aptly named. To get up top you walk up a spiraling "road" they used to drive horses and wagons up. Awesome views of the city from the top. After that, went to Christianhavn to see Christiania. I had heard a little bit about it before but was totally surprised by it. So back in the 60s or 70s some hippies decided they wanted to
squat in an old industrial area and live their "utopian" lifestyle or drugs and green ideas. It was kindof like entering a war zone. It reminded me of TV shows showing the future when civilization collapses. Long-haired people in scrappy clothes standing around burning barrels to keep warm. graffiti everywhere, old buildings full of dirt and grime. Then I noticed an area called the green district with all kinds of signs saying 3 rules: no photos, no running, and have fun. I walked into an open air drug market! All kinds of people with little stalls selling all kinds of hash, pot, bongs, pipes, bob marley t-shirts and the like... and god knows what else. It was so weird, they must have thought I was nuts b/c I was just kinda wandering and staring. It was even more open and obvious than the drugs in Amsterdam.
Anywyas, wandered back out of there and it was getting dark (4:00) so I walked back down the waterfront back to the hotel. Another 25km walking today. blisters are fading, feet are hardening up finally!
Thursday up a bit earlier and headed out to the train station. Wanted
to go see Elsinore Castle in Helsingor about an hour from Copenhagen. Its at the narrowest point of the straight (Oresund) that separates Denmark and Sweden. Its where "Hamlet" is set, but apparently Willy himself was never there - just decided to write a story set there. Anyways what a spot! huge castle right on the seashore with Helsingborg, Sweden easily visible in the distance (well the smokestacks were anyways). I didn't bother paying the 20 bucks to get inside to see all the rooms, there was still some stuff to see for free. Mostly I just wandered the ramparts, got some pics of the ocean an back towards town. Then walked back through Helsingor, went to a mall for a warm-up and quick break then back to Copenhagen. Had to do some research for Hamburg, book a hotel, and then pack up!
Up this morning early to check out and catch my train to Hamburg. Sitting on the train right now so figured I'd stop being so lazy and write a bit.
Weather is not too bad but COLD. Frankfurt and Amsterdam weren't too bad, 7-8 degrees but it was raining and damp.
Copenhagen
Tivoli - worlds ?first amusement park - closed for winter of course. Denmark on the other hand has been so sunny all the time, but cold I don't think its been above freezing since I got here. Glad I brought all my gear. The last few days I've been wearing long underwear plus jeans, a t-shirt, a sweater, a hoodie, my coat, hat, gloves, scarf.... going inside requires immediate delayering.
Anyways not too exciting so far but trying to relax a little more and take it easy compared to past kamikaze trips.
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E. Mackey
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Hi Jason: we're off to the races now! Ejoying the reading. You seem to have gotten off to a somewhat rocky start --a bit of discomfort now and again (lol) I'm sure you'll get into the swing of things in a few days. No doubt travelling in the winter is not quite as pleasant as in summer but you're hardy. A car for transport always at the ready kinda spoils you, eh? I don't think I'd last a day now without wheels. You posted some good photographs -- the Dutch sure love their bikes, winter and summer --it's a beautiful city. Will be following you along. Many thanks for blog. Nan