Author: Annikki

Starting the railing again, this time together with my dear husband. This year we are heading towards Matera in Southern Italy, but before that we plan to travel in Germany, Switzerland and Northern Italy. We started by making a shortcut over the Baltic to Copenhagen in order to reach the southern Italy and not to need to hurry too much. However, for personal reasons I feel better after compesating that. Autumn Copenhagen had a nice atmosphere now that less tourists were around. What is not so nice there is the high price level.

In Copenhagen before starting the interrail we visited the Danish National museum. When wandering among those riches, I really understood how big the difference between the history of Finland and Denmark really is. They have a great history and close connections to rest of the Europe.

Back at Stockholm we overnighted in Birger Jarl hostel in the neighbourhood of the Fotografiska, which is museum or exhibition hall of photography. The exhibitons this time were quite hard. I quote two examples of them. James Nachtway, American war photographer : “The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated.” He had been in Irac, Afganistan, Africa and many other places. He had wounded while doing his work. He was their on nine eleven and photographed the crash down of the southern tower.

The second exhibition that you cannot forget is by Mandy Parker, who had for ten years photographed plastic waste on beaches in different parts of the world. She also followed the scientists who were examining the dead birds and what they had eaten. Large amounts of plastic were found inside the birds even on islands where no people lived.

She organized the scrap found from the beaches and photographed them. After seeing this exhibition you really have to rethink your use of plastics although we collect and recycle our plastics

The boat hostel Birger Jarl was chosen mainly as it was within walking distance from the Viking terminal from where Grace was leaving 7.45 to Turku.

At least we did not see recycling bins at stations, hotels or youth hostels. Maybe it is because they have built a huge incineration plant to Copenhagen and waste has to be imported from abroad to make it work properly. Danes are pioneers in wind power and the farming waste is also utilized. However, a lot of meat is served in restaurants and it was difficult to find other options. Cycling is really made easy here and there are a variety of different types of bikes, but all black, for transporting your kids, your pregnant wife, your dogs and moving your goods. On Copenhagen streets seem to be more bikes than cars on their own lanes and during rush the cycling lanes could be time to time overcrowded when first ones had to stop for traffic lights.

Maybe the gas used here is made in the new plant. Train connections are frequent in countryside and lot of bikes are seen outside the railway stations and stops.

Large exhibition of Bonnard , miniatyr sculptures of Degas and much more were shown in Glyptotek.

Stena line runs over the night from Oslo to Frederikshavn along the beautiful Oslo fjord. During our last day in Oslo we spent time in Popsenteret. It mainly focused on the Norwegian pop music, however, it was easy to recognize the same styles and music genres that I remember from sixties seventies etc… One difference was that Norwegians have had more internationally famous artists visiting than we. They had e.g. Beatles and Van Morrison concerts.

On Danish side we took a train from Frederikshavn to Skagen. The Youth hostel was told to be very near the station, but we learned that it would have been the previous stop before Skagen. Although only 1,5 km:s walk but after early wake up and some extra kilometers walk due to choosing wrong way in Frederikshavn we really envied bikers of all ages, that were passing us. The friendly lady at the youth hostel advised us from where we can rent the bikes, and those we needed as it was several kilometers to Grenen the tip of the Skagen where waters from Kattegat and Skagerrak meet, or you could say Baltic and North sea.

It has been the coldest and rainiest day of this trip, but we have been at least almost as brave as the Norwegians and not cared about the weather. The day started at the laundry and good breakfast, but then off we went. Munch museum, Vigeland Park with its statues, Nobel peace center, Grunerlökka and Oslo Mathallen were targets of the day. The Nobel Peace Center exhibition of this year’s price winners who are fighting against the sexual violence in wars was the most influencal experience. I listened the touching speech Dr Mekwege had given during the Nobel price seremony. There was also presentation of every peace price winner from the beginning of the 1900. This place was worth visiting really.

Mathallen in Grunerlokka area is both market hall and restaurant area also good for a Backbackers budget. Today we still have almost a whole day here in Oslo before our ferry to Fredrikshavn Denmark in the evening. Luckily they have promised little sunshine for the Ferry trip so we can admire the scenery of beautiful Oslo fjord.

We decided that 8 oclock train from Stockholm was too early and 3 pm too late for us, so we ended up taking a train to Göteborg. Slow local trains from Göteborg to Halden and Halden Oslo. Along that route I could see pulp- and papermills with familiar names to me. Saugbrugs in Halden and Borregaard in Sarpsborg. Big forests and forest cuts. We also passed the big lake Vänern that I remember from my early schoolbooks. Suppose these were also the areas where Gustaf Vasa ordered Finns to move around 1600, Finnskogarna.

Stockholm is so familiar and exciting for a Finn at the same time. Many others seem to have found that too, so many tourists we have seen today. We have enjoyed the sunny Stockholm, for the Oslo days heavy rains are forcasted.

The first thing after arriving was to buy the seat tickets to Oslo from the ticket office for tomorrow. Then I had to refresh again where the trains are leaving in that vast Central railway station.

Packing for mini interrail to Scandinavian capitals. This time travel mate is my granddaughter. Stockholm Viking museum is one of the first attractions. Have been following a new Finnish blog “Maata pitkin matkaavat”, where tips are given how to travel without flying. Many seem to make the seat reservations in advance, but we still rely that necessary seat tickets are available at station ticket office. After Stockholm we are heading to Oslo, Skagen and Copenhagen and back to Stockholm, Turku and train to Helsinki.

Malaga with its museums and tourist attractions  was our last target.  It is autumn here too, and it offered us some rain and thunderstorm.

We staid four nights at Pueblo Benalmadena, which is the original place of Benalmadena. It is still more authentic than the Costa, which is full of hotels. Our hotel had only one star, but the room was big and the breakfast was maybe best during whole our trip.

Just a pity that I have during these weeks adapted to the south European way of eating dinner late and cannot eat so much in the morning.

Now we are already back at Madrid and the trip continues towards north.