Day #5: Travels

Day #5 was a travel day, going from the island of ærø back to Købnhavn (or copenhagen as we know it). One travel difficulty i've encountered is trying to look up train schedules for cities I could not find, only to realize they were listed somewhere else in the alphabetical listings.

Everything was going smoothly, caught the ferry to the mainland and then the shuttle train to Odense. Once I arrived, I noticed that a train was departing to Copenhagen in just four minutes. So I ran and hopped on a train car, just in the nick of time. What luck I thought to myself! In the car there didn't seem to be enough room for me and my backpack (which is bigger than it appears!). No matter, I'll just stand by the door at the back of the car, wait until the next stop, and then hop off and get on a later car that probably had more room. A clever plan, I admit....

One minor detail foiled my otherwise flawless and brillant plan. I was in suhc a hurry to make the train, I neglected to see any other detail other than it was going to Copenhagen. It turns out that instead of making the 10 or so stops between Odense and Copenhagen the train would nromally take, I had hopped on an express train that made two stops: one stop in suburban Copenhagen and one at Copenhagen central. Consequently, I would have to stand the whole 75 minute trip standing while wearing my increasingly heavy backpack.

To add insult to injury, where I was standing was right next to the bathroom, which seemingly every Dane on board had to use over the trip. GIven the popularity of the bathroom, a long line ensued. Several passengers asked me a question in Danish and I shook my head no. I thought they were asking me if I was in line for the bathroom. At least, I sincerely hope that's what they were asking. Thankfully, I arrived in Copenhagen no worse for the wear.

Once in Copenhagen, I made my way to the boat dock where I boarded the Pearl of Scandinavia for my overnight cruise to Oslo. It was a very nice ship where I had a nice buffet dinner, used the internet cafe, and took in a movie before turning in. Not bad for roughing it!