Last month I arrived back home from my journey through Thailand and Sri Lanka. But traveling started to itch again. Don’t get me wrong: I was so happy to be able to see my dearest friends, colleagues and family again. But I also had to get “out there” again. So, I went to Copenhagen.
Two of my best friends from Thailand were there. Maria lives and studies there, Vicky came to visit her. I am writing this in the train from Hamburg to Copenhagen, and until this moment Maria thinks that “I am too busy getting my life back together” and “that I don’t have time to go to Copenhagen”. Yes, she asked me a thousand times already to come to Copenhagen when Vicky is there. Luckily, I was discussing with Vicky for a looooooong time already, to come to Copenhagen “without Maria knowing”.
Departure at Den Haag Hollands Spoor
Why am I saying departure? I am not even taking the flight… I went to Copenhagen by train! A ticket from Hollands Spoor to Copenhagen costs €50 + €1,50 (service charge) = €51,50. My parents were so sweet to drop me off at the station around 19:30, when the train departs at 19:53. I wasn’t sure if the train journey of 17 hours worked with 1 QR-code, but it does! But still, I wanted to be there in time, just to be sure that there wouldn’t be any problems.
So, I got on the Intercity to Eindhoven Station. The ride took about an hour and 20 minutes, still doable. Listened to some music. I want to start reading again, brought a book with me “Think and grow rich”. I want to force myself to read 10 pages every day, tried to do that in Thailand as well. But ye, at some point I was spending more time traveling around (okay, let me be honest, and was drinking and partying a lot). I really cannot focus or read when on the road or hungover, so that didn’t work out. But I can on a train!
In Eindhoven Central Station, I had a transit of 4 minutes, easy. From platform 4 to platform 3. I really hate the fact that people start running to the other side of the platform to get in the train, when it is still 3 minutes left before it departs. Like, why are you running? It is making me nervous as well, what if this train departs earlier then estimated. Then I’ll miss my next 4 transits. So, I ran as well…
Welcome to Germany
I had a 40-minute train ride to Venlo, near the border with Germany. Had the last short transit here, waited 7 minutes to get on the train to Viersen, a German city. 20 minutes by train, I arrived at Viersen, around 22:30. My schedule said that I had to wait here for a good hour and 20 minutes. So, I found myself a comfy spot, grabbed my book (on the bottom of my backpack), and started reading. I found my inner self. I was reading and listening to Come Through and Chill by Miguel Ft. J. Cole and Salaam Remi.
Until a train disturbed my inner peace after five minutes. I saw people walking to the train to get in, but I thought: “I still have over an hour for my train”. Until the sign on the train said ‘Duisburg Hbf’. With my book still sticking out, I walked with the crowd to the train and got in while thinking. “So, if this train is an hour earlier, does that mean that I have to wait even longer at Duisburg?” I was shocked already for seeing a transit time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Yea, you can add an hour up to this. I arrived there at 23:26, and the next train was about to come at 2:51.
All I could do this time is wait. I was getting tired, was getting hungry (okay, I had some cookies) and was the only one at the platform. Traveling is so much fun!
Hamburg
Finally… The train arrived. Oh yea, also 40 minutes later than planned, so 3:30 was the lucky moment that I could finally get on the train. In the meantime: toes, fingers and nose were frozen and counted 31 mouses on and around the train track. Arrived in Hamburg with a transit of 1.5 hours. Fine with that, it was a sunny morning, so it was bearable. Wandered around the station looking for some breakfast, and found a small bakery which had a panini, mozzarella, tomato, lettuce, dried tomato and pesto. I know, it doesn’t sound like the best breakfast, but it was actually pretty good!
Of course, this transit didn’t go smooth either. 5 minutes before departure we had to switch platforms. Everyone started running, of course. Found myself a seat in the back of the coupe. I was settled for the last 5 hours, before arriving in Copenhagen.
I’m going to fly next time
“The train is dead”… That is what the conductor said, when we waited for 20 minutes, before crossing the German- Danish border. We were stuck in Flensburg. At least, we were able to get off to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. He announced that the engine of the train didn’t go on anymore and that we had to wait 20 minutes before the Danish crew arrived to help. After 25 minutes we were finally able to go again.
After a quick stop at the border security, which had to see all the passports, we continued WITH THIS TRAIN to Copenhagen. Yes, of course, the part in caps did not happen. I was calling with a client, when they announced that this train isn’t going to Copenhagen anymore. And I was settled!! Unpacked my backpack, so I could properly work. So threw everything, without coordination in my back again and got off. The train left, and there we were. 40 people, hopeless, with no idea where to go or what to do.
Ah, the new train arrived after 15 minutes. This one actually brought us to Copenhagen, FINALLY. The estimated time was 17 hours and 45 minutes. With all the extra transits and failures, my trip was 20 hours in total. A lovely way to get the full train experience to Denmark…
