Scandanavia

Wednesday, Oktober 13, 2010 - What's the easiest way to travel between two countries separated by sea? Why, by train of course! We boarded our train in Hamburg set out for Denmark - Copenhagen. After we boarded and got moving, I stopped to think about the logistics of our train ride. And asked Ana - "Mo, do we make any stops?" "No, it's a direct train." I asked to look at the ticket. Indeed, no stops. I pondered, and became bewildered. "Mo, isn't there a large body of water between Germany and Denmark, like, a sea?" "Hmm. I think you're right Mo." "Mm. This should be interesting."

The longer our journey, the more water we started seeing around us. Then finally the conductor came on and, after speaking gibberish (that was supposedly Danish), told us we were approaching the ferry. "Ahh, great. Now we get to lug all our luggage to a ferry and board another train" I said. But this is Denmark, one of the richest countries in the world.. Far be it from them to make their passengers perform such a monstrousity!

The train gets closer and closer to water, and closer, until it enters ontop of the ferry. And like clockwork, as soon as it does so the ferry bolts. We exit the train en-route ontop of the water and go up the stairs to a floating city, with luxury shops, perfumeries, expensive clothing stores, restaurants, cafes, etc.

Then the ferry docks and the train hauls @ss immediately off the thing and onto train tracks again. I can't imagine how much money and engineering it took to accomplish this feat, all so I wouldn't have to take my luggage and get on another train.

And thus begins our entrance to Scandanavia, a possible omen of things to come..