Wednesday 29th July 2015. Day 8
Our first real grey day weather-wise and as we are in Trelleborg, a port on the southern tip of Sweden where not a lot has happened since the fort was used as a staging post by the local Vikings.
We caught the bus to Malmo, Sweden's third city and booked into a hotel right by the railway station. (Stockholm and Goteborg are larger!)
We had spent that morning in Trelleborg booking ferries, trains and accommodation as far ahead as possible. I am not sure we appreciated how much admin time we were going to need! We have to be sharp-minded.... location is key to exploring a city as is the budget. Bearing in mind we both have our worldly possessions with us in two rucksacks, we need to make sure that our transition phases from train or bus to hotel and visa versa are as painless as possible!
We have cracked it though! As each rucksack weighs at least 25 - 30 kg and we also have a separate day pack (5 -7 kg), we need to be super efficient and organised. So, this is how it works!
Getting on a train:
Kate hops on and grabs two good seats and 'bags' them with her jumper! She then returns and I pass one rucksack to her which she holds on to. I then cross the threshold with the other, carrying the day pack on my back. Kate then sits down and I store them some where visible. If this is not feasible, I lock our rucksacks together using a high tensile wire I purchased with two eyelets. I strap them together and also tether them to a (preferable) metal pole on board!
Getting off a train:
Kate hops off and I pass one rucksack to her and then leap off with the other. We also have got into the habit of doing a "swoop"; a final check to ensure we haven't left anything behind.
Stairs:
To a certain degree, we are experiencing the travelling travails of the elderly or disabled. Stairs are a nightmare' and we use the escalators or lifts where possible. If not, yours truly grabs a rucksack in each hand and 'sweats' it to the top or bottom of the stairs. So, one question we do ask hotels (and soon to be hostels), is whether they have a lift or not!
(A side note: In Welsh, a microwave is translated as a "poppity-ping", which is rather lyrical and a very good onomatopoeic. In Swedish, a lift is translated as a "hiss".... ) When there has been no lift and two flights of stairs, there are times when I've been rather hissed off!)
Got chatting to the hotel owner in Trelleborg, whose daughter had just graduated from Warwick University! Small world!
The internet is becoming a "best friend" and we are now highly tuned to checking into a hotel and asking for the wi-fi code almost immediately. No internet means no accommodation later in the week, so we are now trying to stay one step ahead.... just like some of our friends and family who go on holiday with another holiday already booked!
To save money, we have cancelled the roaming facilities on both our mobiles so as not to incur massive phone bills. It does mean we can only communicate where there is wi-fi. Elle informed us that if ever we are stuck, to just plonk ourselves in a McDonalds anywhere in the world as they always have free wi-fi. So they have some benefits after all! However, it is incredible now how common wi-fi is these days. Nearly every restaurant has access to wi-fi, so we often nip into places to catch up!
Our hotel was right on the river and opposite the main station. The good news is that it had a really good "pub" about 5 doors down selling some interesting beers, including one brewed north of the Arctic circle!
The hotel room was very interesting and a style that we will no doubt encounter later in our travels. It was a pod...tiny, with a small double bed and certainly no room to swing a cat and so small, that you could go to the loo, brush your teeth and change channel on the telly without moving, whilst repacking your rucksack.
I had finished my book that Chris Goldy had given me, so I gave it to Gustav, the young chap on reception who had been so helpful. On that note, aren't the Scandinavians great people. Generally very helpful, articulate, well mannered and pleasant - unlike the bl**dy Russians - but more of that later!
That evening, we encountered sky-high Scandinavian prices. Malmo city centre was buzzing. Everyone seemed to be out enjoying an expensive meal - except Kate and I. The prices are extortionate! So, off to a Burger King it was, so I guess with their prices and free wi-fi, they do have a place on the high street!
Another practical oddity we noticed, is that every restaurant with outdoor seating provides everyone with a blanket, so it's not uncommon to see a whole bunch of people under a canopy all wearing the same coloured blanket! But why not in England?
Apologies! I know I am miles behind, but klife has been hectic. Now have four days on a train to catch up!)
We caught the bus to Malmo, Sweden's third city and booked into a hotel right by the railway station. (Stockholm and Goteborg are larger!)
We had spent that morning in Trelleborg booking ferries, trains and accommodation as far ahead as possible. I am not sure we appreciated how much admin time we were going to need! We have to be sharp-minded.... location is key to exploring a city as is the budget. Bearing in mind we both have our worldly possessions with us in two rucksacks, we need to make sure that our transition phases from train or bus to hotel and visa versa are as painless as possible!
We have cracked it though! As each rucksack weighs at least 25 - 30 kg and we also have a separate day pack (5 -7 kg), we need to be super efficient and organised. So, this is how it works!
Getting on a train:
Kate hops on and grabs two good seats and 'bags' them with her jumper! She then returns and I pass one rucksack to her which she holds on to. I then cross the threshold with the other, carrying the day pack on my back. Kate then sits down and I store them some where visible. If this is not feasible, I lock our rucksacks together using a high tensile wire I purchased with two eyelets. I strap them together and also tether them to a (preferable) metal pole on board!
Getting off a train:
Kate hops off and I pass one rucksack to her and then leap off with the other. We also have got into the habit of doing a "swoop"; a final check to ensure we haven't left anything behind.
Stairs:
To a certain degree, we are experiencing the travelling travails of the elderly or disabled. Stairs are a nightmare' and we use the escalators or lifts where possible. If not, yours truly grabs a rucksack in each hand and 'sweats' it to the top or bottom of the stairs. So, one question we do ask hotels (and soon to be hostels), is whether they have a lift or not!
(A side note: In Welsh, a microwave is translated as a "poppity-ping", which is rather lyrical and a very good onomatopoeic. In Swedish, a lift is translated as a "hiss".... ) When there has been no lift and two flights of stairs, there are times when I've been rather hissed off!)
Got chatting to the hotel owner in Trelleborg, whose daughter had just graduated from Warwick University! Small world!
The internet is becoming a "best friend" and we are now highly tuned to checking into a hotel and asking for the wi-fi code almost immediately. No internet means no accommodation later in the week, so we are now trying to stay one step ahead.... just like some of our friends and family who go on holiday with another holiday already booked!
To save money, we have cancelled the roaming facilities on both our mobiles so as not to incur massive phone bills. It does mean we can only communicate where there is wi-fi. Elle informed us that if ever we are stuck, to just plonk ourselves in a McDonalds anywhere in the world as they always have free wi-fi. So they have some benefits after all! However, it is incredible now how common wi-fi is these days. Nearly every restaurant has access to wi-fi, so we often nip into places to catch up!
Our hotel was right on the river and opposite the main station. The good news is that it had a really good "pub" about 5 doors down selling some interesting beers, including one brewed north of the Arctic circle!
The hotel room was very interesting and a style that we will no doubt encounter later in our travels. It was a pod...tiny, with a small double bed and certainly no room to swing a cat and so small, that you could go to the loo, brush your teeth and change channel on the telly without moving, whilst repacking your rucksack.
I had finished my book that Chris Goldy had given me, so I gave it to Gustav, the young chap on reception who had been so helpful. On that note, aren't the Scandinavians great people. Generally very helpful, articulate, well mannered and pleasant - unlike the bl**dy Russians - but more of that later!
That evening, we encountered sky-high Scandinavian prices. Malmo city centre was buzzing. Everyone seemed to be out enjoying an expensive meal - except Kate and I. The prices are extortionate! So, off to a Burger King it was, so I guess with their prices and free wi-fi, they do have a place on the high street!
Another practical oddity we noticed, is that every restaurant with outdoor seating provides everyone with a blanket, so it's not uncommon to see a whole bunch of people under a canopy all wearing the same coloured blanket! But why not in England?
 |
The Twisted Torso! Sweden's highest building |
Love it. I can see you now with your synchronized loading & unloading technique!
ReplyDelete