Sunday, January 23, 2011

Train Journeys

Do you like long distance trains?

I do.  Always have.  My first train journey (that I can recall) was from Vancouver to Calgary (when they still had such a trip) and I still remember my joy at seeing the Rocky Mountains in the morning and that steady noise of the wheels as we moved across my massive province.

When I travel I try to take trains.  In India, Tara and I took a 51 hour train journey from Dehli to Trivandrum, Kerala.  Amazing, to say the least.

So, when I realized I would be returning to Amsterdam for a short trip before leaving for Canada, I looked to the train.  On Saturday night I took the Night Line from Copenhagen to Amsterdam, a trip of 17 hours.

I booked in a sleeping cabin with six beds.  I ended up with three companions on the trip, only one of whom boarded in Copenhagen and each of whom left before Amsterdam.  Sleeping on a train can be a joy, except when it is not:)  My rackety patterns were louder than the sound of the wheels.  Amazing how much more irritated one becomes the later it is in the night.

Here is a video of a stop at dawn:



Despite less than ideal 'roommates' and rackety patterns, I arrived in Amsterdam on time.  One of the people from the Intermediate course (in Rotterdam) was kind enough to offer me his home to stay.  So I ventured into Amsterdam.

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