Day 21 to 22. From Hamburg to Grenoble.

There was some luck in the end of the day.

First, some danish girl found my phone and was able to contact one of the persons that called me this afternoon. It was arranged to send me the phone by mail. Nice. For long time I say I have to make a backup of all phone contacts but I have never made it. Lets just hope I really get my phone back !!!

Second, the train from Hamburg to Paris were I booked a seated place had beds in my compartment. So I was happy I was going to have a good night sleep.

Third, I met a Venezuelan called Henrique, 20yo, and a Spanish called Isabel that were really really funny. Both were coming to Paris and since there was a French railway strike their help and company was hyper-mega-giga-jumbo valuable.


The night was very good and we immediately got a good mood between us. Latins, you know? :P

Isabel did not speak French or English. Only Spanish and German. Henrique and me did not speak German. We only spoke only English, French and Spanish/Portuguese. There was another person in the same compartment. She was from Armenia but only spoke German and Flemish/Dutch. I think we made a lot of noise, laughed very loud and I do not think we were a very good company for her :). Well we had fun and that nobody can take us. Check the videos.

Then we found out that we could use the beds. Henrique was not very convinced and was asking if we would not pay a fine for using them. I answered, don't worry the train expert is me. Nothing bad will happen lol. This made Isabel laugh for long minutes lol. Well take a look:



When the ticket controler came we found out that the train was not longer to Paris but only to Brussels because of the strike in France the train was not allowed to enter France. We did not know what was going to happen in Brussels. I was preparing myself to take another train in Brussels to Switzerland or some other that did not cross France. Isabel was trying to convince me and Henrique to help her. She did not speak French and was worried how to solve the problem alone and by herself.



I was taking the middle height bed. Henrque, the light weight, was taking the top one and Isabel was taking the lower one. At this point Isabel said she was worried about me falling on her in the middle of the night. I was not able to capture that conversation but what I did was 5 minutes later return to the same conversation, take a look hehe:



In the morning we had to wait for almost 2h but were able to take a train to Paris.

Day 21 - Crazy day in Copenhagen

The day did not start in a bad way.

It started with a breakfast at the train station and a lot of sightseeing between 6 AM and 11 AM.




The problem was that to take some pictures I had to run to be on them. This was not that good because eventually my pants had a whole between my legs and this whole was getting bigger and bigger. I could not change pants because I had left my bag pack in the lockers in the train station. Was one of this things I usually call "Big bad luck / Granda azar". I remember I friend of mine once called me David Azarão because of one of this things.




Then I met two Portuguese that will be working for 9 months in a danish biotech startup company. Thanks Ines for the company and help to find a cheap place for lunch The food was very good.

But not all was alright at this point. Later I noticed I had left my cellular phone on the restaurant. I did not have time to come back for it because I was late and had to take a train to Hamburg. In Hamburg I was going to take a train to Paris.

Day 20 - Leaving Sweden to Denmark

Thanks Linda for your hospitality. It was really fun to met you and I'm sure I bring something different from Sweden this time. I just hope I do not get addicted to the Manga series your transfered to my portable hard disk :)

I took the train at to Stockholm and then the night train to Malmoe. I had to have a couchette because the seated places were all booked.

Day 19 - Sightseeing in Eskilstuna

Eskilstuna is a small city (about 100.00 inhabitants?). It's name comes from the Anglo-Saxon monk Saint Eskil. Its a nice and calm city and here I was able to look more at the Swedish way of leaving (and surviving this days where at about 4/4.30 PM the light fades away).








At this point I was still a couch surfing virgin :) but was lucky with my host. Meeting Linda was a nice experience. Since we were two strangers there was lack of comfort in the first day but I'm sure we overcome that without difficulty.

We went toghether to the supermarket and following my advice we bough dinner. I was told where things were in the kitchen and cooked a Spaghetti Bolognese my way (lots of onions and not that much tomato). It was a nice feeling to cook in an unknown kitchen for an unknown friend :)








I was able to ride heavy old machines hehe :)

Interestingly, same games that are very common to play outdoors in the southern countries here are played inside. Guess why ? :P This is the most played sport in Marsellie, for example.


One of the traditional dishes here is a onion soap and pancakes. I had to have it :)



In the end of the day we had some drinks at a local bar (nice music by the way).


Then we went home and talked for long hours. We saw some Japanese manga series. I think we only stopped when one of us noticed it were 6AM already .. ups. I must say I only had apple juice all the night long. I don't want to be rude but some others have to start thinking on their health. Living like this won't be good. Check the trash can for example:

Day 18 - Sightseeing in Stockholm

Stockholm is one of this cities that I never regret returning. After having lived in different places I really value having the possibility to look at water (sea, lakes) everyday. Also the way this particular city is build fascinates me. Small islands connected by ferris and bridges. A mixture of buildings and green areas. If you haven't been here prepare you next holidays and come :)

In the train station there were table tennis games happening to promote the TT week. Check the video :)






I must say that after this last picture my ass was frozen for more then half an hour :)




The most fun part was that at 11.00 AM the Nobel museum opened. I knew that in Museums I could have a cheap and nice meal. So decided to see the museum and then have lunch there. I was lucky because at 11.15 AM there was a English spoken visit and no one else was there in the beginning for it. In the end of the visit and since it was forbidden to take pictures in the museum I asked the girl on the ticket office to take a picture of me with the English guide. Well, the guide blushed when I asked for the picture but I was still able to get it :P

I had a nice meal (Still laughing at the blush hehe) and then left to Eskilstuna.

Day 17 - From Berlin to Copenhaven

After traveling in a Thalys from Stuttgart to Berlin a hot train change was expecting me. Nevertheless, I was able to take some pictures in Berlin Hbf station :)

The next train was Berlin to Hamburg then another hot change to a train Hamburg to Copenhagen. This last train makes part of its trip inside a boat while crossing from Germany to Denmark.



The Berlin main station is beautiful. It was 4 different floors where train tracks lie. The top floor is covered with a big glass ceiling that makes the place full of light.













For the hot train swaps its good to have all the information readily available (wagon number, train seat, number of the track, number of the train, hour of departure). The best way is to have it written on your hand :)









The train station in Hamburg is more traditional but has a nice atmosphere at night. The train I had to take changed tracks two times and my german is not that good hehe :P










I did not resist to have a small desert before going to the train. Well you understand right? the night was going to be long... ;)














The train really entered the boat and crossed to Denmark. In Copenhagen the train swap to Copenhagen - Malmo and them Malmo to Stockholm was a bit stressy and could not sleep much on the train to the Swedish capital since I was in a 4 persons place. Unfortunately swedish are all and 4 x 2 = 8 legs in a small space :P

Day 17 - Travelling by train through Germany

In the morning a long journey north was started. At breakfast I was able to make some gymnastics with Rodrigo he he

And at the Stuttgart train station I found other scaring knife owners ....


Hot train changes in Berlin, Hamburg, Kobenhavn and Malmoe had to be perfectly scheduled. So all the interrail expertise had to be used again :-P

(to continue)

Day 16. Last day in Stuttgart

Thanks for all Pedro and Ricardo. I missed you for a while. Good research for both. Will you come and visit me on my next stop?

The men that killed (part II)

Some of you may have read the story of the men that killed. If you haven't please read here.

There is some confusion now... if this men really existed or if someone with double personality created a fictional character.

Day 14 and 15. Stuttgart meeting two friends.

After a Friday night bear day (yes Pedro drink a bit to much) I had to sleep on Saturday until noon. A long walk in the afternoon with Pedro and a then meeting Ricardo was the program. Imagine that Ricard had two beers only for himself!!! Check bellow... ;)




At night joined, with Ricardo, a dinner of Pedro and a few of his colleagues here in Stuttgart. Interestingly, Ricardo and Pedro are working for a few years in the same University and town and did not know each other. So my visit was profitable :)


On Sunday another nice walk with Pedro (by the way was it a Lion or a Lioness?) :P


A wonderful lunch with typical southern Germany food ...

and a dinner in Ricardo's place at the students residence.


Oh, by the way, almost forgot... Pedro you make wonderful pancakes for breakfast :P