Travelling from Barcelona to Berlin was probably the most lengthy and intense travel experience I've had so far. I think it will best be relayed to you by the following timeline:
Saturday, April 30th
8:15PM - I say a sad farewell to my dear friend Dan Weller and head to a metro stop.
8:19 - I arrive at the metro stop and realize that I'm at a stop on the wrong line to get to the train station. I figure out how to get there via a series of transfers and then realize I'm at the wrong platform (train is going the wrong way). I leave to find the other entrance.
8:23 - realize that I've been going the wrong way down the street. I make the executive decision to fuck the metro and start booking it to the train station on foot. Train departs in 42 minutes and I'm not entirely sure where the station is or where to go once I find it.
8:40 - I arrive at the station after running out in front of a few buses and taxis. NBD.
8:44 - my backpack goes through security, but there are no metal detectors.... and I silently thank fate that I've been carrying my pocket knife in my pocket and not my pack
8:46 - I am directed back and forth by several train personnel regarding the location of my car. Apparently my assigned car, 80, simply didn't exist
8:55 - they realize that the cars are mislabeled, and I find my cabin
9:05 - train departs for Paris
Sunday, May 1st
9:03AM - train arrives at Paris Austerlitz
9:10 - I go to an SNCF ticket counter because the train I had planned on taking to Berlin was sold out and I had no idea how I was going to get out of Paris
9:20 - ticket window person is awesome and books me a ticket from Paris to Brussels to Liege to Koln. From there I will take the train to Berlin using my rail pass. This journey ends up being roughly half has expensive as it would have been if I had taken the train I'd originally planned on.
9:25 - I realize that my train is leaving out of Gare du Nord in 32 minutes and that I have no idea how long it will take me to get there from Austerlitz. Good thing I already spent almost a week in Paris and knew how the metro works.
9:50 - arrive at Gare du Nord with plenty of time
10:02 - train departs for Brussels right on time
10:55 - little boy sitting in front of me starts puking. Great.
11:20 - arrive in Brussels, buy some food, get on the next train
1:10 - arrive in Liege, which is a beautiful train station. It was a beautiful day, so I sat outside and ate a pear
2:20 - depart for Koln approx. 10 minutes late
3:29 - arrive in Koln. The train I was supposed to take to Berlin is right next to our train, but not on the same platform.... So I would have to walk all the way up the platform, over, and back down he other platform
3:32 - as I'm waiting to exit my train, I watch the train to Berlin leave.
3:45 - I find a Starbucks in the station and use the free wifi to let Jairo know that I will be later than anticipated
4:32 - another train to Berlin leaves, and this time I'm on it.
9:45 - arrive in Berlin Hauptbanhof
10:22PM - arrive at Jairo's house after 26 hours and 7 minutes of travelling.
No comments:
Post a Comment