All posts tagged: tågluff

Mitt fiktiva tågluffargäng

Häng med oss på tågluff! Jag väljer rutt och vi ska ta Transsibiriska vi, från Moskva och så långt vi orkar. Kanske hoppar vi på en anslutande linje, t ex Transmongoliska för att åka till Ulan Bator, om vi nu kommer så långt. Hur som haver, på Transsibiriska är det mycket dötid har jag hört så därför viktigt med sällskapet. Jag har därför noga valt ut mitt tågluffarcrew. Med mig österut följer Rektor Hamid , för att prata politik och spela tv spel med vid stoppen. Tror han är grym på tv spel. Han är ju dessutom årets svensk och årets svensk vill man ju resa med. Nackdel är att han älskar tjock-tv- och hans tv spels – tv väger 180 kg. Vi får se Hamid om vi kan hyra en i Ryssland, delningsekonomin borde väl kommit hit kan man tycka också. Du hittar rektor Hamid på Twitter. Han är väldans rolig att följa emellanåt. Hamid -> Jag räknar med att du har spelat Metro 2033. Jag läser boken. I Moskva ska du och jag …

Tågluff i ett snöfyllt Norrland – 4 byar med vintercharm

Tre bloggare mot snön med en gnistrande soluppgång över Lapporten, händer mot släta pelare på ishotellet och en krispig kyrka i Karesuando. Polarcirkelexpessen mot Sveriges norra nejder har bara börjat. Sofia, i en isande kall Abiskojåkka, Abiskos ravin. Tågluff i ett snöfyllt Norrland – 4 byar med vintercharm Förra vintern packade jag och Sofia väskan och gjorde en tågluff norr ut för att hälsa på Helena som säsongade i Kiruna med bröder i Karesuando. Vi bestämde oss tidigt för att ta tåget och boka egen kupé på SJs Arctic Circle train från Stockholm till Kiruna. Tågluffa till norra Sverige Arctic Circle Train Bara namnet på Arctic Circle train är halva resan värd. Tåget som går till polcirkeln. Inte direkt lika magiskt är tåget som jag och Sofia kliver på på Stockholms central, en mörk eftermiddag i februari förra året men visst väger namnet upp, ändå. Vi har bokat en egen kupé, betalat barnpris för det tredje sätet. Att få plats tre personer i en sådan kupé är kanske inte det enklaste utan två personer visar sig alldeles lagom. En får ett litet handfat …

På väg: Arctic Circle Train mot Sveriges norra nejder

Tänkte ge mig på live-blogging, dvs att posta i skrivande stund från tåget. Nätverket går lite upp och ner men det höjer liksom bara stämningen när#NordicRoadtrip är på rullande fot igen! Kampanjen #NordicRoadtrip skapades av mig, Sofia och Helena en vacker söndag vårvintern 2016 över en lång frukost på Urban Deli i Stockholm, inför vår resa till Grönland, Island och Färöarna hösten samma år. Vi ämnar fortsätta vår nordiska resa, med fokus på att uppleva och inspirera till det som ligger nära. Vill du läsa mer från #NordicRoadtrip? Läs vidare här. 17.29 Kl 17.29 klev jag och Sofia på tåget, Arctic Circle Train på väg till norraste Norrland. Och om det var några som var peppa? Att kliva på ett nattåg är speciellt. Vi får gå och gå och gå för att komma till vår vagn, vagn nummer 12. Några instagramstories senare och träningsvärk i högerarmen kommer vi på och rullar våra väskor sakta in mot vår sovvagn. Vi har bokat en egen vagn till det ringa priset av ca 5000 kr fram och tillbaka för två. …

The cost of backpacking by train in Europe

During the summer me and Martin backpacked for 3 weeks in Europe by train. We traveled 2 weeks by train and 1 week on boat. Before the trip we checked out Interrail as an alternative to get the lowest price for our travel but in the end decided to buy ticket by ticket. This is the cost: Interrail Price for interrail excluding booking/reservation fees, about 360 euro for Martin for 22 days (21 years of age) and 760 euro for me. 22 days total – 1120 euro 10 days within 22 days total – 281 euro + 588 euro : 869 euro Grythyttan to Copenhagen – Our first stretch was from Grythyttan to Copenhagen and within our home-country and therefor not included in the interrail ticket. These tickets costed us 1200 sek/ 127 euros for two and took us from Grythyttan to Örebro, from Örebro to Mjölby with Tåg i Bergslagen (Trains in Bergslagen) and then from Mjölby directly to Copenhagen with the Swedish high speed train SJ X2000. Read more about the stretch in the …

Warsaw – hipster is the new backpacker

The train from Krakow takes only a few hours and we arrive in Warsaw late Wednesday evening. We sit in a cabin of six with a girl and this strange guy. We first met him on the train from the salt mine. He has Long hair and a suit. We later meet him and sit in the same compartment as him. During the trip he pics up a magazine about trains which he studies the entire three hour trip, when he is not talking on the phone (that is when he manages to answer) and later when getting off he puts the magazine back in its plastic wrapper. Getting off the train we walk to where we are suppose to stay, Chmielna Guest House on Chmielna street. Getting here we realize that we missed that the reception is at Nowy Swiat and the New World Hostel. In a way it doesn´t matter since then we get to go down Chmielna street and it is kind of an adventure in itself. With vegan food, 100 % …

The salt mine of Krakow – Kopalnia Soli

In 1996 the production of Kopalnia Soli, the salt mine of Krakow stopped. Today some small scale mining take place and it is the water in the mine that have a very high dose of salt that is processed in to a pure product. Today the mine makes it’s money from tourism and considering the number of tourists when we were there that should be a good business.  Arriving we get a guide, the tours start every half an hour and we get the funniest polish guide I ever met. A girl with dark hair and the driest sense of humour telling stories with a dark polish accent on her English, a fantastic experience. Going down hundreds of steps below ground you shouldn’t be afraid of cramped spaces and spaces below ground because it is far down and it is tunnels, normal sized but not especially big. There are several kilo-meters of tunnels and without a guide it must be extremely difficult to find a way to the top. With the guided tour that takes …

Krakow – in the footsteps of WW2

I have been to Krakow before. I don’t remember much I admit, it was a long time ago. Monday we arrived in Krakow after night train from Venice to Vienna and then train to Ostrava and bus to Krakow. Arriving in Krakow we had half a day and headed for the jewish quarters and old town.    The jewish quarters of Krakow are well preserved and is an entire part of the city. It holds several synagogues and jewish cemeteries, an old well known pharmacy called Apteka Pod Orlem, monuments of the war as the chairs and the emalj factory of Oscar Schindler. When you arrive in Krakow you just go for whatever map and it is all marked out on it.  The synagogs are in use so it is possible to visit them but during jewish holidays they might only be open for those who celebrate the holiday. The Apteka Pod Orlem was held open by a German guy who sold medicines within the Krakow Ghetto and was aloud to be held open only …

Train from Venice to Krakow – sleeping like a baby, having breakfast as an Austrian

After spending a day in Venice we hop on the night train from Venice to Vienna. For the somewhat large cost of 354,60 euro we got ourself a sleeping cabin for four, two bottles of water, a pillow, blanket and breakfast. We also gpt an Austrian train attendant who made us breakfast and woke us up at 7.00. Oh the luxury! Train – from Venice St. Luzia to Vienna. In Vienna we changed train to Ostrava and then took the bus from Ostrava to Krakow.  When arriving in Ostrava we had to run to the bus though we were at least 15 minutes late. The bus is though very close and they also wait for those who are late due to late trains so it doesn’t turn into problem. Breathing and sweating intensely when we arrive at the bus we end up in front of two Englishmen so typical English that you start to wonder if you ended up in the wrong country.   Finally arriving at the station in Krakow, Krakow Glowny, we easily …

The islands surrounding Venice 

When growing tired of Venice there is more to explore outside the small city. To the north you have the islands San Michele, Murano, Burano, Torcello and San Fransesco del Deserto. And to the south there is very many small islands but also Lido which hold the public beach of Venice. My partner and I visited Lido and Murano in one day where the public beach of Venice being the target. Before going we packed our bathing suit and had lunch at a random square for around 30 euros. From our hotel we walked to the St Marcus square and the busboats that take of from there. We bought a one day ticket 24 hours for all public transport in Venice and hopped on.         LIDO Arriving in Lido you just have to walk across the island. Since Lido is long and small this isn’t a problem, a five minute walk and you are there. On the way you find water fountains typical for Italy to fill your bottle with fresh cold water.      …

Venice – a quick guide including photo tips

Arriving in Venice the 27 degrees Celsius hits me in the face quite hard, even though it is only around 9.00 in the morning when the night train from Munich come rolling into the St. Luzia station at the Venice island. At first Martin and I almost disembark at the wrong station, Maestre, which also is Venice but main land. After a short stressful moment the island of Venice appear, and that is where we are going.        the SERVICE Even though we are not checking in to the hotel until 14, we head for the hotel Bargarin at Campo. S Marina. With sweat dripping everywhere, smelling, we drag our assess into the Italian hotel. The receptionist looking suspiciously at us. ”Name, please”. After giving the name the service start to flow and such much better service. The guy gives us water, breakfast and repeatedly say ”You room will not be ready before two” and we answer the same number of times ”We know, we just want to sit here”. After 20 minutes he …

Street photos in Venice

So much people! The thought hits me when I enter the city of Venice. As a break from the ramble on about our trip I give you some photos of people in the streets. Do you recognize piazza St. Marco? Katarina Shot with canon eos m3 and 40 mm panncake ed lightroom                                                                                                                                                                  

A Harry Potter night train from Berlin to Venice

The worst smell ever, is what hits you when entering the six people cabin at the night train from Munich to Venice. Martin disappears into another cabin after meeting an entire Indian family and not making it through. How odd start of a train trip. The train departs Thursday the 11 th of June and me and Martin are an hour early at the Berlin main train station. After an announcement of ”tricksters” in the station we are told to look out for our bags and take extra precautions and notice anything odd we depart in DB- bahn train ICE 1515 from Berlin to Munich at 16.40. After 6 hours in train, flying pass German villages and old industry cities, wine yards and train station upon train station as Nurnberg we arrive in Munich around 23 in the evening. Picking up a late snack we head for the night train and it is dark around the tracks by now. Entering the train it is like time travel. The carriages that are used are much older …

 Pauly Saal – how it feels to eat a star in Berlin

To please the mr in the family a visit to a one star Michelin restaurant was necessary. The choice fell on the restaurant Pauly Saal, a Beelin restaurant situated at the street Auguststrasse close to Oranienburger Tor. We visited the restaurant Wednesday evening after a long day of doing touristy stuff.  Before going we booked a table for 21.30 and the restaurant actually called to confirm the table. Maybe that was good since we had a time accident on the way. When going we added a 30 minutes to the schedule to be sure to make it but when getting to the station where we were to change tube the purple line was closed for maintenance. Oh no, we ran for the extra buses but no bus came so we ran back into the subway and had to go around to get to a station close by Auguststrasse but on the other side. This took forever. 15 minutes late we stumbled into the old jewish girl school and into the restaurant (the old gym hall) …

Hotel Rheingold – cute cats, big windows and a cool bar

The small old hotels are generally those who holds the biggest heart. When Martin choose the hotel for us when going to Berlin my first thought was that it looks fresh but has no own bathroom, and I like my own bathroom. So we continued to look and found hotel Rheingold. With varying reviews it didn’t look that cool to begin with, typical Berliner was one thought about the hotel, but since it was cheap and we got our own bathroom we went for this hotel anyway. The bathroom was fairly newly renovated, not by any means high standard but sufficient. And was it typical Berliner? Oh yes it was! but is that such a bad thing?  For typical Berliner I give you a old early 20 th century house with 4 m to the ceiling rooms with double doors that didn’t even fit into my 40 mm lens. The shot of Martin standing by the door is a shot of him looking out on our own balcony, like a boudoir dream.  The restaurant or …

the berlin wall.

After doing the classic round we ended the tourist day by visiting East Side gallery, which is street art on the eastern side of the Berlin wall. Here you can find the crying Einstein (probably have fancier name) as well as Picasso look a like street art and locks with names in them in many colors.  Walking from the S bahn station Warschauer Strasse to Ostbahnhof – you find the street gallery on Muhlenstrasse. We liked it so much that we returned the second day, Thursday the 11 th of June, so we could scout some more art but mostly just hang with the other cool kids by the water. During the day the sun was intense and what better than to find a nice spot in the shadows and just hang, feeling Berlin grow on you and making imaginary plans to move here some day. The best thing about traveling must be to dream.   Katarina Shot with canon eos m3 and 40 mm pancake lens ed in lightroom                                                                 

the classics in Berlin

Im not sure what the classic tourist places really are nowadays, it is not the 70s anymore when all tourists traveled to the same remote location to get red like a tomato and occasionally went on a guided tour to the city centre. The tourist buses still exist and frankly a bit tempting. I can see myself sitting there on the top with my sunglasses with a bit to much sunblock on the noose, just going round and around all day. We didn’t go in these buses but anyway, took the tour around on foot on what I guess is some of the classics in Berlin. (Due to the vast amount of photos an entire photo post will be dedicated to the Berlin Wall and East Side gallery.)          > Crossing the boarder at Check point Charlie  Martin and I were aiming at getting to Potzdamer platz but ended up close to checkpoint charlie so thats where we started our classics walk. We jumped of the subway by Kochstrasse and walked from there to the …

Ein currywurst in Berlin

Arriving in Berlin I told Martin that he had to have a currywurst, the true Berliner food. So first thing after dumping our stuff at the hotell we went for a currywurst, that and also walking down Kufurstendamm and checking out the Gedächtniskirche. The first wurst Martin was handed was over fried, so not a good start. The second thing was, the curry isn’t in the wurst but actually cheap old curry spice pored over the sausage. What? Not the best first impression. Or as Martin put it ”Germans seem to love yellow, the food is flavoured with turmeric, curry or mustard and the buildings including the subway is painted yellow”. Yesterday Martin gave the currywurst another try. It was better, but still, cheap old curry sprinkled over. A bit off a disappointment. But, still, the little sausage houses looks cute on photo, like a french old dancers house with red light lighting up the neighbourhood. Katarina Photo shot with Canon Eos M3 with 40 mm pancakelens and edited in lightroom app converting into black …

A hamburger in Hamburg

09.43 local time Tuesday 9th of June Martin and I hopped on the train to Berlin. For 178 euro we got a non refundable second class ticket to Berlin. This is the first we pay that the interrail ticket should have covered, since interrail just cover the cost outside your home country. This trainroute took us around 6-7 hours with a change of trains in Hamburg and included a 45 minutes ferry ride (with train!) from Rödby to Puttgarden. ”I must have a hamburger in Hamburg” Martin said so that is what we had, a hamburger in hamburg. That also coveres most part of this stretch, it was the journey where we had a hamburger in Hamburg. Katarina Shot with Canon Eos M3, 40 mm pancake from Canon and edited in Lightroom using the preset ”punch 2”.                                                 

3 hours in Copenhagen

The idea with staying in Copenhagen was simple. ”We need to stay somewhere to sleep, I will not travel with night bus” Martin said. So we booked one night at the Savoy hotel on Vesterbrogade 34, close to the Copenhagen centralstation, Kobenhavns Hovedbanegård.        Arriving in Copenhagen our plan was to buy the train tickets for Berlin via Hamburg, in the station, but after ending up in a queue in the station, longer than the bridge of Öresund, our plans changed and we bought the tickets online. This went well but the tickets where printed in German, not sure why since not that many people speak that language anymore!  Writing this me and Martin is on the train to Hamburg where we will have a 45 minutes stop and then head for Berlin. We will see what we can make of 45 minutes. Blogging from an ipad isn’t that bad after all since the time on the train now is spend trying to hit the right spot on the touchscreen. Martin sleeps, again, and he …