We get up, finish packing our cases with toiletries, and then make our way to the front desk. Time always seems to go so fast in the morning so we've lost a little bit of time but we're scraping through. We need a quick check-out to catch our tram.
"Mr Holland, thank you for staying with us. You have mini-bar expenses and a dinner for two in our restaurant, correct?"
"Ummm, no. We haven't used anything from the mini-bar and we haven't been in the restaurant at all."
The phone rings and the front desk girl takes the call. It's an enquiry that lasts for a little while and it's making me anxious about time. She finishes and continues with the check-out costs:
"Is this your signature?"
"No, it's not. That's not even my name that is printed there. I can show you my licence."
"Ah, ok. It's ok, I believe you."
*tick tock*
 |
| Mum can't reach the floor |
The tram takes us to Lelylaan rail station and I need to buy train tickets. I can't find any at the bottom of the stairs so I go running upstairs but there are no ticket machines to be found. I ask a girl and she says they're downstairs. I go running downstairs, out of the main area, and behind a pillar. Here it is. Unlike all the other train ticket machines that I've used in Amsterdam, this one only accepts coins or a local debit card. Shit. I only have notes and credit cards! I do have a few coins but after a quick it doesn't look like I have enough. I go running around looking for another ticket machine. I find one but it's a different train system. Then I see a guy at the first ticket machines so I run up to him and ask if we can use his debit card and I'll pay him with cash. He is very helpful and says "sure!" I tell him that I don't have enough coins so he takes a look. He must be magic because an extra Euro appears in my hand, which means I have enough now... or I had enough the entire time. I buy the tickets and we're set. Meanwhile, the suitcases that I'd taken part-way up the stairs earlier are now at the bottom. Mum says, "oh, I thought we needed to go somewhere else. Sorry!" I carry each of them up the stairs one at a time just as the train arrives. I'm hot, panting, and my back is killing me.
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| Halo of plane in the clouds |
Check-in at the airport and the flight over were quite unremarkable except for premium economy on the plane. For a one hour flight, it hardly seems worthwhile having anything other than economy. However, there were a few premium economy seats yet we could see no difference between theirs and ours, including the service. Quite odd but worthy of a remark.
Ahhh, Copenhagen. What a beautiful city! We've arrived! Well, we've arrived at the airport. No immigration, no landing card, and a flimsy customs process. One youngish looking guy is pulled away from the stream of people leaving so he can be questioned but apart from that, customs is invisible. Where's my passport stamp, damn it?!
The train from the airport is crowded but we make it safely to Østerport train station. We ask an elderly lady about to mount her bicycle where our street is. She doesn't know but if it's in the new area then she believes it isn't too far. Besides, she said the taxis are too expensive so best to walk. Easy done... we're at the serviced apartments after walking 1.1km dragging suitcases behind us! The apartments are great: a home away from home. If only we could have held out with the laundry, as there is a washing machine and dryer in our apartment. It even comes with its own resident spider on the balcony.After settling in, we work out how to go back into the city for a look around. A bus only one block away takes us all the way in. Considering the problems we were having without Internet in Amsterdam and Paris, we decide to head straight to a phone shop to grab a pre-paid SIM. We need to look up the map to find the telco stores so where to go? We're hungry, too, so we stop in for some local cuisine: McDonald's. The little cheeseburger meal comes with two cheeseburgers each. We're extremely full now. We look up the maps and find a telco nearby. It is in a shopping centre on the opposite side of the major train station. It doesn't seem too far but it's Saturday and the shops will probably close about 5pm so we'd better get a move on, as it's currently 4:15pm. We enter the train station hoping to come out the other side but there's no exit on that side so we go out again after wasting some time wandering around. The shopping centre is a little further than expected and we don't arrive until right on 5pm. Luckily, the shops are open until about 6pm.
"Can I have a pre-paid SIM, please?""Yes, sure."
"Oh good! I really need Internet. It's driving me insane not having info at my fingertips!"
"Oh. You can't get data on these SIMs. You need to sign up for a 12-month contract to get Internet. Sweden is the same. Germany may be the same."
"Bugger... yes, I've come across this in France, too. As a tourist, I don't need calls or SMSs, I just need Internet to find things."
"Yes, I know. Sorry. You can't get it here in Copenhagen. Well, you can use data on your pre-paid SIM but it ends up being 20kr/MB (about $4/MB), which is very expensive."
What is up with Europe making it so difficult for travellers to get Internet on their mobiles? The UK does it no issue. Oh well.
We head back to the train station to go home. Mum needs to look something up so we again stop at McDonald's. All of a sudden we hear major chanting coming from the platforms and it's drawing nearer. It's a chant from sports team supporters. Obviously the young guys who support the losing team have their tail between their legs as they quietly join the food queue at Maccas. Shortly after, the winning team come along and their chanting is horrendously loud as it echoes throughout the enclosed train station. They're carrying their Heineken with them and approaching our area. One of them starts to become aggressive and pushes a supporter from the opposing team's supporters. He tries to start a fight but thankfully the other guy bends over and covers his head but doesn't respond. I quickly usher Mum outside and around the shop to safety. Then the aggressors take it to a new level: they set some cardboard and plastic on fire and put it on the floor of the train station. They chant around the small fire and take photos of it and themselves. It's pretty scary. There doesn't seem to be anybody that they'll yell at or leave alone. Mum is still fiddling with her phone to get information.The danger is now over and there's only the smell of burnt plastic in the train station. We catch the train back to Østerport and then wait for the bus. There are mosquitoes everywhere at the bus stop. The bus comes along and takes us back to the block where our apartment is. The driver is nice enough to inform us that the bus won't be running tomorrow morning until 11:30am. Hmmm, that changes our plans for tomorrow somewhat. We walk past the mini-supermarket and realise that we need to go grab some minor food for dinner and breakfast but it's closed. Feeling a little beat, we arrive at the apartment and I try to connect to the Internet to find out where we can eat. I open the balcony door and take the laptop to the edge to reach the wifi reception. Oh, the supermarket closed only twenty minutes ago. It will be open tomorrow (Sunday), though. I guess we can go shopping since the bus won't be running. However, there's nothing to eat tonight unless we want to pay $24 for a basic sandwich. Let's just have the Pringles in the mini-bar.
Copenhagen isn't as welcoming, romantic, or fun as it was six years ago.
Pics of the day
We find the hop-on, hop-off bus fairly quickly but decide to walk around the city to see what we can see. It's Sunday but some of the shops are open. However, shopping isn't the best way to see the city; any city can have shops.
Two guys are playing acoustic guitars and singing very well. We walk onward from the square and reach one of the canals. I have a plan to take Mum to see the main canal where all the coloured houses and cafes are and from where the canal cruises depart. I misfire and end up too far to the 'right' by a few blocks but then I see a warehouse-like structure with red doors that I recognise. Last time I was here, Andy took photos of that warehouse with my camera. I start to feel nostalgic and comfortable that I've found something familiar. Things are looking up and I'm feeling happier with being in Copenhagen again. We walk in the direction and soon after find ourselves at Nyhavn. It's beautiful. There's another guy singing here and he is exceptional and so easy to sit and listen to all afternoon. We don't move for a good half hour until we become cold. A hop-on, hop-off sales woman is standing behind us so ask for the details and a map. It's almost the same route that we've walked and not too much more. We decide to skip the bus and just take it easy, relax, and find an ice-cream.
Along the way to looking for an ice-cream, we see an exhibition for conservation of animals. It's quite interesting, especially the Iberian Ibex! Make sure you look at the photos to read the description.
We have our ice-cream now and arrive at the Lego shop. It's brilliant. Although we won't be buying anything here, we spend a good twenty minutes in the shop looking at the masterpieces that the professionals have made.
There is a water-filled moat but only the surface of the water is moving as the slight breeze touches it, which explains the mosquitos. We walk along the path beside the moat whilst being overtaken by runners and joggers alike. We leave the trees behind as we arrive at the highest point where we can see a power-generating windmill standing in the ocean, some industrial smoke stacks, and piers in the distance. Closer to our standing point we can see a church, some gates leading to the centre of the Kastellet, and an awe inspiring amount of intensely green lush grass all surrounded by the moat. 
The grass looks so soft that it's calming just staring at it. I don't think I've ever seen so much clean, soft, green grass in one area. Usually, this amount of land has trees planted to fill in the space or is turned into a garden. I love the grass! In fact, I'm feeling a little obsessed by it.
We arrive in Malmö Central station and things look completely differrent to last time I was here. The grand overarching roof has partly been replaced by a glass cube housing all the shops. Below ground are modern and updated train lines. Six years makes a big difference!
The first thing we notice as we follow the crowd out of the station are the wide open spaces of the public squares: cobblestones everywhere, relaxed atmosphere, and a few people walking around and chatting in cafes.
A canal with flowing water helps the chilled feeling, as does the cold air. Looking right we can see a beautifully lush green park with trees dropping their Autumn leaves. We head toward the park and realise that it's a cemetery containing neatly kept gravestones. It is both a park and a cemetery. It's a slightly odd feeling being here but instead of morbid, it feels quite inviting. There are fresh flowers on the graves. The families are allowing us to walk through their personal history.
We walk around a little more. It's now close to lunch time and we're hungry so we stop off at China Box of all places for a plate of unhealthy looking beef. Meh... it has a few vegetables, which is what we were looking to eat. So that's now spelt flakes and vegetables: a health kick.
Mum is starting to get a head cold so energy is zapping out of her fast. We shop around a little more and then we're ready to return. On the way back to the station, we continue to the shore line to check out the Turning Torso building. Again, this area has change so much compared to last time! There are huge corporate buildings, apartments for sale, and decks with stunning yachts moored. This is going to be an expensive area if it isn't already. It's gorgeous and if I remember rightly, Andy, you'll be able to see Denmark on a clear day. Malmö is certainly growing.
We don't have any definite plans this late in the afternoon except to become familiar with the local area and buy some food. In fact, we're a little hungry now. Mum still has a cold so she really needs some vegies. She noticed an Irish pub with a good menu as we first arrived at Hackescher Markt staion and we drop in there for a meal. 
There's nothing like local cuisine. We continue walking around after dinner through a busy cafe area and I turn to find a clown following me! Mum is just laughing. To our right we can see a huge tower not too far away at Alexanderplatz, one of the main shopping districts. Since we have the freedom of using our transport card on any form of transport, we jump on a tram to go see the tower. It's tall! The shops are also open, some until 10pm.
It's such a shame that we'll be leaving on Friday! We look around for a while checking out the local shops and jump on a tram to go back home. We're lucky it's only three stops. It's time for a big sleep.
We start our first full day in Berlin by catching a train to a nearby major station, Hauptbahnhof. It looks big enough that it will have nearby sights to see. These train stations are just massive. Anyone would think they're going to add another three train lines above the highest most platform. It may just be the local history kicking in but the large stations instill a feeling of grandiose power and authority.
Before we go anywhere, we're both hungry and decide to sit down for some lunch by the river. The head waiter is immensely funny. We can't understand most of what he says but he has such charisma that we hardly need to. Everyone is laughing and having a great time. Cruise ship after cruise ship glides by while we eat our woodfired pizzas.
We continue around the city and take pictures of some interesting buildings. We also come across a group of dancers, possibly ballet dancers, who are practising outside the Koncert Hall. It's like coming across a practice session of Fame!
One of the most notable tourist attractions in Berlin would have to be the TV tower at Alexanderplatz, which is just around the corner from where we're staying. We find our way to the tower and line up for the quick elevator ride to the top viewing deck. There doesn't seem to be any real city centre or layout. The city is very spread out. It should be interesting tomorrow when we try to find our way around tomorrow.
The hotel is only a few blocks away so we jump in the tram. It's an unlimited ticket, right? I check out the gym and jacuzzi area to compare with the hotel in Copenhagen.
Although this one doesn't have a lap pool, it does have two jacuzzis and a sauna! It's all quite nicely decked out with fairy lights in the ceiling and mood lighting all 
Favorite Quotes
