Ferry #2: Rostock to Trelleborg
Following a delightfully unremarkable trip up the Baltic, we closed in on Trelleborg. We left our cabin and sat around with our fellow seafaring passengers. This included a small dog that looked somewhat confused.
Leaving the ferry and walking onto the bus, I was expecting it to be cold but was disappointed. My disappointment dissipated as we walked into Trelleborg station, when the overpowering smell of just baked cinnamon buns welcomed us home.
Train #15: Trelleborg C to Malmö C
Beep, beep, beep, beep… the monotonous beeping of the train doors was driving me crazy then, as if the train could read over my shoulder, the noise suddenly stopped.
Then it started again. Why do we need these constant irritations? Why is the modern world so full of annoying and unnecessary noises? It’s like accidentally catching Donald Trump speaking though, generally, you can turn that off.
Or having to endure the almost constant sniffing of a heavily made up woman on her way to work. Fortunately, she left the train after a few snotty stops.
Anyway, apart from these small annoyances, the trip into Malmö C was very smooth and very short.
Train #16: Malmö C to Stockholm C
For once, there was no mad dash for our carriage. I was sitting, waiting for the train doors to open. What a pleasure.
And what a pleasurable trip to Stockholm it was. Though there was one strange incident when “The signals decided to play a trick on the train.” This was just outside Alvesta and the train came to a very sudden, lurching stop.
Mirinda was standing in the buffet car at the time and was saved by the guy at the counter who calmly suggested she grab a rail. Which she did.
The only other interesting thing to happen was the persistent fog. Unlike the decidedly local fog we experienced in Portugal, today’s fog followed us all the way towards Stockholm. And maybe even beyond. It made the world outside the train look continuously eerie.
Train #17: Stockolm C to Södertälje Syd
Except that didn’t happen. Our train (#16) wasn’t due to stop at Södertälje Syd. Then, a train in Flemingsberg, caused us to stop. At Södertälje Syd. After a short while, the train person announced that the train doors would open for “One or two minutes.” For anyone who wanted to leave the train early.
Like a couple of crazy people, we leapt to our feet and gathered all of our stuff and flew off the train, plonking everything down on the platform in a messy but necessary pile. It was utter madness. But great fun. It also meant it saved us train #17.
It was a crazy end to our many trains. And here they all are on the map supplied by Interrail for the more intrepid traveller.
NB: The ferries are not included.
As we stood on the very windy platform, Mirinda texted KSP and Jonas who had generously offered to pick us up and drive us home. After being attacked sufficiently by the girls, we four sat around, drank coffee, laughed and talked about all manner of things, including the all important Melodifestivalen that was on tonight.
In the meanwhilst, Nicoline had driven the Begians to Vagnhärad station for us so they could catch the replacement bus for Norrköping. Originally we were going to drive them after we got home but the trains thought differently. It made it odd walking into the house and not seeing the Belgians before they left.
Even so, it was so great to be home.
