After my lightning visit, I farewelled Copenhagen and joined the train for Hamburg. This time, my seat was even more plush than the last – in a glass doored cabin with six large plush seats and just two people. Now I had wondered exactly how it was that I was able to catch a train from Copenhagen to Berlin. I was aware I had to change at Hamburg but that still didn’t explain how we were getting across the ocean. At Malmo in Sweden, there is a long bridge across the sea to Denmark but the journey across the ocean between Denmark and Germany is a lot further. Did we have to catch a ferry and then another train? Where was the ticket for the ferry? And just as I was wondering, my question was answered – the train actually goes on a ferry to cross, just like the car ferries. And just like the car ferries, you have to get off the train and cross on the upper decks of the ferry. It was quite an experience. There’s loads of duty free shopping on the ferry too but rules about when you can shop depending on the tax laws in the direction you are heading.
Once we arrived in Germany and got back on the train, I saw my first grass since I landed in Helsinki a week ago. There was still snow everywhere too and wind farms. It’s actually the first place I have seen them so far. All day the announcements on the train had been in three languages – Danish, German and English. Unfortunately the last one, which should have told me the platform number for the Berlin train I had ten minutes to find, was read in German twice and not in English at all.[‘Berlin Chair’ – You Am I – I swear this isn’t a ruse – it did actually just come up on my MP3 player – I actually forgot it was there.
Fortunately I worked it out and the directions to the hostel. It’s just a pity the door to the hostel had me flummoxed. There I was standing in the snow, with the same jeans problem I had in Copenhagen this morning and no one would help me. I ended up calling them by phone and they still wouldn’t actually come to the door. I have to say – I don’t think I’m cut out for the whole hostelling experience. In the corridor to my room the lights weren’t working so I couldn’t even find the door. The guy who worked there begrudgingly came to help me. They don’t provide towels. The showers turn on for 30 seconds and there’s nowhere to put your clothes to keep them dry. The nifty hanging bathroom thing only works if there’s somewhere to hang it. I think, in future, if I stay in hostels it will need to be the ones that offer a bathroom. The idea of a hostel, with fellow travelers is appealing but when most of them are under 21 and after a different traveling experience, it’s not really what I’m looking for. I am looking forward to getting out and amongst it in Berlin tomorrow but now I’m cold, wet and very tired so it’s time for sleep. [A Good Heart – Fergal Sharkey – pure 80s pop – it’s on one of my 80s compilation CDs and I had actually forgotten all about Fergal – living proof that an unattractive man can make it in the music biz]
Fergal had great hair!
And he also has a great chin.