Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#80

So this is it…the final blog.It’s somehow fitting I find myself in the hotel bar whilst it’s absolutely pissing it down.I’m directly opposite Lille Flanders railway station,my room is two floors up and the beer’s good,if a bit pricey…no point in going out exploring so might as well stay here and write this…

I’m not really sure what to say now.A bit tongue tied and all that.I mean it’s been both fun and very eye opening at the same time and not as tiring as you’d imagine.I think that might have something to do with not having to go back to work when I get back.If I were I would probably be crawling in like a cartoon fella lost in the desert…it’s all psychological.

Oh there’s a Scottish family staying here.How do I know they’re Scottish? Cos’s they’re dressed head to toe in Scottish football gear…

Storm Bastard seems to have hit…is it called something else in France? Anyway if I did have a thought of leaving the hotel that’s gone with the wind and rain…it’s a window rattller that’s for sure…plus I have just had onion soup so the windows will be rattling from both sides…

The soup was good but nowhere near as good as the tomato soup I had in Leipzig.It’s the best I’ve ever tasted and quite possibly the best of any food I have had.The cafe is called Spizz in Leipzig Markt and if you’re there go try it…the worst food I had was sadly in Lyon.I know,France right? To explain it was 40c and I was walking past a fast food joint by a museum felt their air conditioning as I strolled past and just had to have some relief.Of course I had to buy something so had a burger.The half eaten burgers dotting the tables should have been the red flag and mine soon joined them…how the hell do you get a burger so wrong?

But in general all the food has been fine.Some more than others with Italy coming out on top.Sorry France but it’s true,Italian food beats yours hands down…as for beer I can’t remember a bad drink but of course the Czechs win that particular race…

There hasn’t been any place I have been to I have  hated.Some have not quite lived up to expectations like Ceske Budejovice,which inexplicably closed at 10pm but others have exceeded expectations by miles.Graz for one and Genoa too.Both tip top places…I have also met and got drunk with some fascinating people. 

Of course the old favourites were still great like Berlin,Hamburg & Düsseldorf…but new favourites have been added including Copenhagen and a little placed called Paris,which I personally think is a great place despite its reputation and as that was my first port of call it got the trip off to a great start…

The trains for the vast majority of the time have been superb,on time ,clean & comfortable.The one exception was in the south of France between Nice & Lyon.But maybe that was just down to the mad weather.I had to change my t- Shirt in the bogs as the other one was sticking to me.Horrendous…there have always been little hiccups but nothing mental…

That’s just a quick summary of how it went.Nothing outrageously bad happened to me either with other people or with my health.Was I lucky? Probably but maybe most of us don’t live on a knife edge constantly…it was just a great experience.I may do it again but possibly for a month shorter.We will see…

Next is probably a little crew of us Wolves fans will head off to Berlin in May for a punk festival called Punk & Disorderly…this festival was really the catalyst for my Interrail trips…early 2016 we’d been to a Wolves game and were talking about David Bowie dying and I mentioned I’d always wanted to go to Berlin and the punk festival came up.Clearly one of our group hadn’t read up on the etiquette of having eight pints,making plans then spending weeks hoping everyone else had forgotten cos’ a few days later tickets,flights & accommodation were sorted and I fell in love with Berlin on sight and also with the idea of seeing more of Europe…also there’s Euro Championships in Germany in June too…

Anyway I am hunkered down here tonight whilst Storm Bastard does It’s bit…It’s been great doing this blog and also that many of you seem to appreciate it.Thanks one and all…Caio!

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#79

Since saying I might do a blog on tips of interrailing around Europe I have have been inundated with people stopping me in the street with tears in their eyes saying they need me more than ever in these uncertain times…sorry momentarily turned into Laurence “Lozza” Fox then…nah one person said it might be a good idea( hi Nige!) and if that’s not a mandate from the masses I don’t know what is…

This isn’t gonna be a what to do/what not to do thing.You’re all grown adults I presume…just a few tips on how I have got the best out of my Interrail ticket( not sponsored either unfortunately) I have done it a couple of times now with both a paper ticket & a phone app and even as someone not entirely comfortable with modern technology the phone app wins hands down.I think Interrail will probably make the paper one obsolete soon anyway.It’s the way of the world…

So if you’ve never done it before and fancy a go the first thing is get a battery bank.Mine was about £25 and it’s a bit of a bulky item but I got it about seven years ago( still works great) but I would think like video recorders when they first came out they were as big as the Ark Royal but over the years slimmed down to After Eight size so that’s how Battery Banks are going…anyway you can’t alway rely on train power points so have your own on the go…

Go to the Interrail website and they have a myriad of tickets to suit your needs.It’s easy to negotiate and to also download the app & ticket…it also helps that you can purchase the ticket up to eleven months before travelling.That Xmas bonus will be better spent on that than silly old presents nobody really wants…

If you’re travelling from the UK it can be used for Eurostar both out & in but you will have to reserve seats at £32 each way( it’s Eurostars way of grabbing some money back) again there’s a facility on the Interrail site to do this.Strangely Eurostar insist on paperwork so you’ll have to print it off your email(god they’re so behind the times!) You won’t get on without it…oh and keep the email on your phone cos’ you might do something stupid like putting your return reservation through the wash at a toasty 40c…not that anyone is that idiotic…

Once you’re in Europe proper you can start using the app properly.It’s valid in ( I think) 33 countries so pretty wide ranging.The app gives you every possible train you might want to take so for instance if you fancy going from Paris to Bilbao on Sunday May 18th just put that It and it give all the trains that day,all the changes,how long it takes and even if you need seat reservations ( if it says you do in red then you do.I got fined for ignoring it.In blue it’s just recommended.Blue is normally cheaper) it will also say if the change between trains is short or not,usually ten minutes or less.That gives you the option of maybe switching to a later train at the change over.Something I have done several times…I would rather hang around for another hour,relax,have a drink & smoke rather than dash around like Speedie Gonzalez on whizz getting all hot,bothered & irate…

That is one thing the phone ticket has over the paper one.You can change it mid journey.With the paper ticket you write in your details and you’re locked in and if you change it they can refuse travel.I have actually changed my phone ticket on the train I am travelling on.It’s a great thing to be able to do…I have not had one problem when it came to ticket inspection after well over 30 journeys…

That’s really the nuts and bolts of it as far as the ticket goes.I’d recommend it to anyone if they’re so like minded…it’s liberating.

As for the other things.well…even if you mostly transact via bank card always carry some local cash( usually Euros) If like me you budgeted at the lower priced hotels then book early if you can( I got some great deals) they’re basic but all have been fine and most en suite.Don’t expect a laundry service but there’s usually a laundry near by and they’re easy to suss out…

I always try to get to a new destination in the daylight as mainline stations are usually a magnate for the less desirable elements,although in saying that I have no trouble in nearly three months…but it’s better to be safe.I always download the local transport app of wherever I am and buy a 24 hour ticket each day,usually between 6-9 euros.Had my ticket checked on several occasions so it’s not worth it trying to dodge.. 

Also I tend to use the tram mostly in cities.For one thing I’m never sure what the protocol is on buses and you see more of the city from the tram “ oh look they have a Woolies” 

If the app says you need reservations for your next trip then go to the mainline station ticket office.Usually it’s a 15 minute wait and it takes no time.I had to get one today for my trip to Lille tomorrow.It was €9 and I was in and out in 20 minutes…

Finally if you like stats the app will give you the lowdown on all the data including a little map of your trip…even down to how long spent on trains.I’m over three days now…

So yea go for it,..This trip has been the best thing I’ve ever done and would I do it again? In a heartbeat..,

Hope this has been helpful…Caio.

Ps I forgot to ad…three apps I have found invaluable are Google Maps(obviously) Google Translate( not always accurate but close enough.Once had an entire conversation with a Czech bloke via it) and Citymapper which gives you the lowdown on all the transport available in each city including all the stops on each tram & bus route.All been a great help and if none of that works don’t be too proud to ask someone..,

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#78

Got to Mainz station early as per usual so changed my Interrail app and got an earlier train.No point hanging around when I could be moving…unfortunately got caught up in a carriage with everyone trying to find their seats and by the time I got into a relatively empty one all the best seats were taken.The best seats being the ones on the right hand side of the train heading north from Mainz to Bonn…this is because of the view.( I missed out on the way down owing to it being on a different route) I have seen it before a few years ago so no biggy…

If you are ever of a mind to take a train ride through Germany the journey between Bonn to Mainz is a treat.It goes down the Rhine Gorge and takes about an hour.I think the drivers deliberately go slower so people can enjoy it…picture perfect villages on either side of the river shadowed by steep sided hills with vineyards cascading down the slopes.I think they must employ those goats that stick to the sides of mountains to harvest the crop,no human could do it…dotted about everywhere are the kind of castles usually seen in guide books and probably built for European nobility with names like Heinrich the Inbred Halfwit and Ludwig the Lockjawed Lascivious Loon…but they look great,unlike their original owners…honestly it’s worth a trip.Going south get the left side and obviously the right side going north…

Got to Cologne too early to check in so went for a drink in the bar hitched to the hotel at the front by the river.There’s usually a picture of Cologne featuring the cathedral,bridge and three olde worlde brightly coloured houses.The hotel is right by all of those.Indeed my room looks out on the river & bridge but not the cathedral as that’s behind me…apparently the hotel building is dated from 1245 but at least it has a lift! Wake up Berlin! 

It seems good though.Any Hotel with a river side bar can’t be bad…because the tourists have now gone it’s probably gonna be pretty quiet but in the height of summer I’d rather a hotel a bit further inland cos‘ I imagine it gets pretty rowdy down here at times…

So I have tomorrow in Cologne,Wednesday in Lille then I head to Paris to get the Eurostar back to Blighty and that’s it.Journey done and dusted.and it barely feels like it’s been ten weeks.In truth I don’t really want to come back yet but rules is rules and I don’t think I can do any more time owing to my time being up.Not sure when the next batch of time permitted to be abroad starts.I assume it’s at the start of the year…anyway it’s been a blast.I was thinking of maybe doing a few tips in the next two blogs for anyone who wants to do what I’m doing around Europe…will see how I feel…

For the moment Caio…but as usual I might be back..,

Ps The outside area of the bar I’m drinking in has about a dozen mice dashing about.It’s a bit weird but everyone is like “Meh,what can you do?”

Bilious Blog.. Around Europe in 80 days#77

That’s it Mainz.Thank you It was great…ended up in a Bulgarian bar close to where I was staying.At first I thought it was Turkish because there were hairy dark blokes in there speaking in a tongue unfamiliar and lots of terrible ethnic sounding music in the background…oh and I’m also very adept at stereotyping…But I then noticed the Bulgarian flag on the wall…

Had a beer which was very cheap and then another and suddenly the barmaid came over with a  schnapps “ for you “ it was from the boss who was sitting with three of his mates.So of course I said thanks and we exchanged the Bulgarian equivalent of dinner party small talk and I then confirmed it was indeed a Bulgarian bar…heavy on machismo as you can probably guess.But I wanted to go,but I also thought if I leave after accepting this free drink I’m going to look a prat and also I don’t know how certain cultures react in such circumstances…In Britain we’d probably tut and say “ bit rude” in Bulgaria do you get dragged round the back,put in a Winnie Mandela necklace and set alight? 

So I did the decent thing and bought the table,myself & the barmaid a schnapps.I was batting for England and as six schnapps came in at €12 it was a cheap gesture but it went down well and I could leave with my head held high before the big bottles hit the table and I ended up in a Balkon v UK drinking competition…

Early in the day I went to Wiesbaden.Nice place only about 15 mins away on the train.As it was a Sunday and early it’s always hard to make out how a place is but it was clean with plenty of shops not boarded up,plenty of bars & cafes etc so I suppose it was doing ok…I’m always very impressed how in every German city except Berlin the cleaning crews do an early Sunday shift to clean up after the Saturday booze up…anyway it has the history,a big cathedral and bars so that’s all you need really…

Off to Cologne in a few hours.Only a two hour train journey.I have deliberately made these last few train trips shorter the closer I get to the end.I figured I’d be getting a bit sick of hanging around stations and then sitting on a train for five/six hours and that’s pretty much the case.Had most of the long hauls when I was still bouncing around like an excited puppy dog…I always seem to use Cologne as a starter or finishing point on any journey I make( either this one or when I have been round Germany) as it’s got direct links with Eurostar.I should give it a proper go sometime…This time I am staying right next to the magnificent Hohenzollern Brücke which is pretty cool…

Outside having a smoke yesterday morning chatting to a fella doing similar and it turned out there was a one day wine festival thing going on and he was one of the musicians.If I got it right it was some kind of rock/ ummpah hybrid…not really sure as I was zoning out a bit…

Thought I’d leave you with the image of a rock ummpah combo.. Ciao.

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#76

When I get into a new city it’s usually early afternoon as most hotels don’t check in till then so I try to tailor my train journey accordingly.There are variations of course but that’s my aim.If I know the place then I quickly get myself sorted and head out,if not I either stay local or pop into town depending how close I am…in Mainz I popped into town as I’m only two tram stops away from the Hauptbahnhof.It was a Friday but seemed pretty quiet…

Then yesterday I was out early to explore the town.I have to admit I was beginning to think I’d picked a dud.It was so empty and I couldn’t find anything that resembled a centre of the city( my Google Maps was down as was much of the Wi-Fi in patches) Ah well them’s the breaks…then I stumbled upon everyone.If you have seen The Walking Dead there’s a scene early on where the main protagonist turns a corner of a seemingly abandoned city only to be met by thousands.This was like that but only a few tried to eat me so that’s where the similarities end…

It was market day and they have it outside their striking cathedral.It was rammed and also there were lots of bars dotted about plus a temporary wine bar set up too which was doing a roaring trade…I had found life! Naturally I started to feel much happier about my choice of venue…had a drink,bought some fruit,had another drink,bought some more fruit.The usual Saturday afternoon really…luckily the weather is still warm & sunny down this way…also managed to get a Mainz lighter which I didn’t think I’d get.If you don’t know I am trying to buy a lighter from every city I stay in or visit.As yet I am only missing Oslo(got a Norway one instead) and Odense,which didn’t surprise me having an Odense lighter would be like having a Wolverhampton one and our town suffers enough arson without encouraging more…I even went to the Mainz FC club shop but they don’t do lighters any more.Smoking is a German religion,more so than religion is too…

Talking of Mainz FC I went out to their ground on the tram to take some pics but I couldn’t even be arsed getting off.It’s out in a field somewhere out of town and looks like A.N.Other ground built in the last twenty years.Just an IKEA type identikit square box.The only thing that changes is the colours…

“Ah you speak a little English? Good” not,as you might expect, myself talking to the barmaid but the barmaid talking to me! Cheeky little minx…she was fun and fair play she took the piss a few more times too.These sort of interactions make the day really…

On my way to grab some food I saw a few people gathered around a small hexagonal stall in the street and being nosey went to see and it was one woman selling wine.Not seen anything like this before.There was red or white of the same make.No messing around.I had one of each and it was good.There seems to be a kind of wine Octoberfest on around town as I have also seen a fair few Lederhosen & Dirndl’s knocking about too…

Off to Wiesbaden later.It on the other side of the river but I think my Mainz transport ticket gets me there even though it’s in another state.Mainz is in Rhineland-Palatinate and Wiesbaden is in Hessen.I assume they have an agreement as I’d think many commute between the two cities…

Anyway peeps that’s my lot.See you all later…

Tschüss.

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#75

Standing outside the hotel at 7-15am having a smoke.Still dark and still pissing down.A “couple “ approached me asking if the hotel was open.Him about 45 her about 20.No luggage…they clearly wanted a room for,let’s say “ recreational “ reasons and maybe for an hour if I’m being generous.I had to disappoint them by telling them there were no staff on duty and there’s no bloody way I was letting them in! They went off,him frustrated and her probably ruing a lost earning potential.Life’s rich taperstry… 

Last night in Düsseldorf turned out pretty good.The bar was quiet so I was shooting the breeze with Gary the English barman when suddenly about twenty young folk came in and livened up the place.Gary told me they were all Polizei and were regularly in there getting pissed.I have to say( and I noticed this on the train today too) there are some very attractive women Polizei in Germany…anyway then a party of about ten Spaniards came in and they were good fun.I kept accidentally bombing their group photos…look what I’m saying is I basically got pissed with a load of German plod,a few Spanish holiday makers and Gary,an English bloke born in Nottingham,supporting Chelsea and living in Düsseldorf…Life‘s rich tapestry…

Got the train to Mainz ok( change at Frankfurt airport) after a bit of comical changing of platforms for about three trains in five minutes at Düsseldorf HBF.Much Keystone cops rushing about by everyone.Needed not to worry too much as our train was 15 minutes late leaving anyway…got to the next stop after Cologne and loads of Polizei got on but not in a Millwall are playing at Birmingham kinda way just taking seats in different carriages.There must have been twenty five dotted about the train and I assumed (correctly) they‘d all get off at Frankfurt airport…I had a couple of Polizei sat by me and yet again the women were stunning.I’m sure they aren’t employed due to their pulchritudinous,especially as this is Germany and that’s just not the way but it does seem bizarre…sorry the inane ramblings of a sad old geezer…

Mainz seems ok.Having a bevvy by the Hauptbahnhof as the hotel is only two tram stops away.Nice hotel as well,great room on the fifth floor with a lift,ok it only goes to the fourth floor cos’s this is Germany and you have to do at least one flight of stairs a day but y’know,little steps.Literally…I did have to explain to the receptionist what happened to the passport especially as her face betrayed something akin to finding dog shit on your shoes when I handed her the still slightly damp and limp item.At least the look of disgust disappeared…

I also managed to buy a ticket for The The at The Halls ( should that be The The Halls?) in Wolves in about a year’s time.It’s on a Friday at the end of September so if there’s a home game that weekend it would be a great crack.They’re one of my favourite bands so well chuffed…

Did I mention that it’s back to T-Shirt & shorts weather in this part of Germany? Had my trusty Primark coat on all day then suddenly get to Mainz and it’s summer again…middle of October man.Crazy…Talking of Mainz If I get into a football conversation I must remember not to slag off Klopp.He played here for years and is a bit of a hero in these parts.I will keep my counsel on Mr Klopp whist here…

Anyway good people gonna publish this now but there could be add ons later…Caio for now.

Ps When I was in Frankfurt Airport earlier i just got off the escalator and heard an almighty crashing behind me.Someone had dropped their wheelie suitcase from the top.Now it wasn’t as big as Angel Tube escalator and luckily it was empty but it was a fair drop and the suitcase survived intact.Props to the fella who dropped it,he came down with all eyes on him,shrugged,and went back upstairs…

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#74

After the almost disastrous trip to the laundrette yesterday things have calmed down thankfully.My passport is drying nicely in my room and I’m off down south tomorrow to Mainz.Not sure if it counts as South Germany or middle Germany but either way…travelling on Friday 13th? What could go wrong…I don’t believe that superstitious nonsense by the way.If something goes wrong it’s not due to the date,that would be silly.It’s simple logic and Taurus rising in my Aries or something…

Sitting in my 2nd favourite bar Dä Spiegel ( only cos‘ the barmaid treats me like a local) opposite my favourite Düsseldorf bar Auberge.It’s my last night here for a while so I would think a few bevvies are in order…relatively quiet in the Alt Stadt today.It’s a bit dull & rainy so many are clearly staying inside.The sun always brings more people out unless it reaches 40c then sensible people stay indoors…

Popped out to the Fortuna Düsseldorf Football ground today to take a few pics.They have five games at next years Euro championship so if you’re coming over and have never been before here’s the lowdown…the stadium is about 15 mins out from the Hauptbahnhof on U77.They terminate at the ground so no problem missing your stop.When you get off you may wonder where the ground actually is cos‘ all you can see is something that looks like a conference centre for lots of grey suited dicks talking to other grey suited dicks.Yep that’s the ground.But it’s great inside.In Germany you can drink & smoke watching the game but I bet UEFA won’t allow that but the concourse bars are plentiful with lots of room,you know the exact opposite to most UK grounds…oh and German Polizei are armed( just saying)

The bite on my left hand seems to be healing up nicely.It was pretty swollen and itchy,red and annoying but I’m  happy to say it’s now almost looking as gnarled and old as my right hand…some speculated it might be bed bugs as Paris has an infestation apparently but it felt and looked like a spider bite to me.I like spiders too,they kill flies and I never knowingly kill a spider yet this is how they repay me.Talk about biting the hand etc…

Quick aside; It really bugs me to see people with their phones sticking out of their back pocket.You’re literally inviting somebody to steal it.Just me or do others feel that way?

I have mentioned the “German stare” before.This is the habit many German’s have of holding a stare at you just for a split second longer than us Brits( and I suspect many other nationalities) find comfortable but on this trip I have barely noticed it until today on the tram.A strikingly attractive woman gave me “ the stare” a couple of times.At first I thought “ aye aye” but then remembered which country I was in and my hopes died in the dust.Still it was a good minute or so before I cottoned on so I’m counting it as a full on flirt…

So down to my last week on this trip.It has flown by which is good.Not all been 100% exciting of course but luckily my boredom threshold is pretty high.It has to be all the time I have spent in stations & on trains and if I was getting a bit bored of one city another one was just around the corner…writing this blog has helped considerably too.I honestly never thought I could manage a daily blog but so far so good.As some of my friends will tell you I can be annoyingly talkative at times which can be a Brucie Bonus if you need to knock out a daily blog…thanks for everyone’s kind words & encouragement too.Much appreciated..on that note I’m off to get pissed…

Ciao babes…

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#73

Yesterday I got away with potentially one of the most stupid things I have ever done…I was in the launderette waiting for my wash to finish and noticed some paper in with it.I thought it was a label off an item that had come off so wasn’t unduly concerned then I opened up at the finish only to discover I had inadvertently chucked my wallet in with the washing and in my wallet was some money,my passport and my boarding pass for Eurostar to London in a weeks time…

As you can imagine my heart was now racing with the ramifications.The money was‘nt a worry because like the British notes the Euros don’t tear apart in the wash,so that was fine.My fear was that the passport had dislodged form the wallet and been ripped apart but luckily not.The paper was my boarding pass for Eurostar which I assume had come out of wallet near the end of the wash cycle as it was in about six different soggy parts rather than papier-mâché…so finished with the drying and counted my lucky stars as it could have been so much worse…

I kept the Eurostar email on my phone and the very helpful receptionist printed me off a new one and the rest is drying out in my room but imagine if the passport had got loose of the wallet and been ripped apart? Bloody hell that would have been a mess in every sense of the word…as for how the wallet got in there I think when I went out the night before I took some cash out and just threw it on top of the washing then when I came back in chucked whatever I was wearing on top without thinking…anyway I am a very lucky boy.

I had a look at the map whilst at the Hauptbahnhof and noticed a part of Düsseldorf called Himmel Geist (Sky Spirit or Heaven Spirit) and if you call yourself such a glorious name you can be sure I’m going there…not sure what I was expecting.Maybe some hippie commune straight out of 60‘s flower power or possibly  the complete opposite of what the name suggests like Dingly Dell being as tough as the Bronx but sadly neither was true it was just a very quiet middle class type area with not much going on.Hopped back on the bus with no idea where I was going but ended up back at Blik which is where I got off a few days ago thinking it was my stop…

At least my favourite small rock bar was open.It’s the Auberge in the Alt Stadt.Only a tiny place but it’s got a n undefined cool quality about it.Nice to see the barman is still there.He‘s an English fella from Nottingham and we always have a good chat every time I go to Düsseldorf…also got chatting to a Swedish bloke named Christian from Stockholm who was sound…this was my first Altbier since being here and it’s very deceptive.As it comes in small glasses it’s very easy to drink and before you know it you’re eight or nine drinks in and getting pissed.I don’t know the strength of it as I’m not very good with those sorts of things but it feels like it’s strong…it creeps up on you.

Last day in Düsseldorf today and finally the rain has come.Not before time either.The late late late summer sun is a welcome distraction and all that but it throws everything out of kilter and confusion reigns…tomorrow I go to Mainz.I don’t know much about the place apart from it’s in the Rhine valley,which is a spectacular train ride….Rotterdam,Düsseldorf,Mainz and my last but one stop Cologne all on the Rhine.Was‘nt planned that way Honest…

Anyway with a soggy,but thankfully intact,passport have a great day all…Caio 

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#72

Good morning Peeps…It’s 7am and I’m getting ready for yet another laundry run,the place doesn’t open for another hour and hopefully it’s gonna be the last of the trip…I seem to have spent a fair bit of time in them up and down Europe way…

Yesterday I went south of the river( well west really but I can’t get the London out of me) took the U-Bahn which sort of also acts as a tram too.Not really sure which system it is as it runs on all the same tracks in many parts here…anyway went to the first stop after the big bridge and for that first mile it was all very nice and middle class.Again my London centric view was expecting the Düsseldorf version of Bermondsey…had a mooch around then decided to carry on…ended up at the terminus in a place called Neuss…

In my ignorance I looked at the map and assumed Neuss was just a suburb of Düsseldorf but it is It’s own separate entity.Infact there’s a lot more history here than most places,it goes back to 16BC ( yes you read that correctly 16 B bloody C) and has a population of over 160k so quite possibly the biggest German city I had never heard of(no football team you see) Walking round was quite interesting as it was market day,it was pretty busy but it felt like I was on the set of Cocoon…everyone looked so old! As it was a Tuesday afternoon I figured all the local young folk were busy working in the many magnificent huge factories that dotted the Rhine in Neuss.If you don’t know I have a thing for big old factories.I see them as temples to the industrial past.The fact that all these appeared to be open and operational was a bonus unlike many in the Black Country…

Anyway many of these old folk were spending money in the shops,market and many cafes that lined the streets and this got me thinking about how much disposable income these pensioners have.The pension in our country basically keeps our pensioners on the breadline so many have little or no disposable income but over here it seems they’re well cared for and spend their money accordingly which of course helps the economy greatly and pushes things along.I mentioned yesterday about how busy many European cities are compared to many in the UK and yesterday in Neuss was another example but it was the older folk chipping in this time…

Got back to Düsseldorf,went and had a couple of beers down by the river,it was a glorious day.Nearly mid October and it’s shorts & T-shirt weather.Crazy…went back into the Alt Stadt and had a beer I went to yesterday.The same woman served me and didn’t even ask what I wanted just bought me the same beer I had the day before…if you know the strip in Düsseldorf it’s next to Lucas Podalski‘s Doner shop(yes really.It would be like Harry Kane having a burger van in Leicester Square) after a few the barmaid asked me to pay as her shift was ending.This is common over in Germany as the bar staff are essentially self employed so it’s not the bars money but theirs,they pay rent to the bar.One reason they work so bloody hard and another reason not to do a runner as you‘d be ripping off a fellow worker and not the bar…she told the place was open till 5am every night.Lord it’s a young man‘s game now this going out lark…

I like the service in German bars rather than all scrambling at the bar in British pubs but I am also aware that being a bit British means if I have a tab I can’t just have one drink on that tab.I feel obligated to build it up with at least two drinks and usually more.If I pay up once I get a drink I don’t care about staying but somehow it feels wrong to leave after one after they’ve opened a tab for me…is that a normal reaction or am I too sensitive about barstaff‘s feelings?

Laundry time…laters

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#71

Today could be laundry day,I don’t know yet as I haven’t decided.I‘ll knock this out first and see how I feel.They actually have facilities here but it would mean waiting for the reception to open and I could have done it by then so we will see…

The trip yesterday was ok,Even though it took over four hours I’d say a good chunk of that was hanging around at stations.The main one was at a place called Venlo which I had never heard of before and it’s a fairly big place too.It appears to be a major change over stop on the Dutch border with Germany.There were lots of bored looking local teenagers hanging around the station.Do teenagers ever look anything but bored? 

I did make a slight cock up at what I thought was my stop.I was drifting in and out of sleep and heard the announcement of “ naschte station Düsseldorf “ so bounced off the train but hadn’t heard final bit of it which was “Blick” a station before the Hauptbahnhof.Like getting off at Sandwell thinking it’s Wolverhampton.Ah well…I actually knew before we pulled in but as I had moved various people with my bags pride then prevented me from staying on once I realised my mistake…

Anyway no matter.The hotel is so close to the Hauptbahnhof the extra twenty minutes messing about didn’t make a difference…did my bit at reception.I am on the same floor as the receptionist desk.It’s a weird setup,and it feels very much like I am next to the teachers room on a school trip…

Had a stroll around the Alt Stadt.I am always amazed at how busy Düsseldorf  Alt Stadt is.Ok I get that during the holiday season it’s going to be busy but this was a monday afternoon in early October ( yes the weather was nice) and many of the cafe bars were pretty full.Not heaving but still a respectable amount of trade coming in…I keep seeing right wing comments on social media saying Europe is dying on its arse and my experience over the length of the continent these last ten weeks says the complete opposite…if full high streets,shops & bars are any indication (and I think they are) then Europe is alive and kicking and doing pretty well…if my hometown,Wolverhampton,was half as busy as everywhere I have been It would be in a much healthier state than it is now…

Popped out for a smoke earlier and noticed a Stolperstein outside the door.I didn’t see it last time I was here so presume it’s been added since(I can’t imagine the sort of research that has to go into this venture.It’s not a government thing) This is the first time I have stayed somewhere where there’s direct evidence of a family being dragged out of their home and taken to a camp…sobering thought.

Not sure what to do today.Once I have bought a day transport ticket I will have a look at the map.Maybe go over the other side of the river for a change.Oddly all the times I have been here I have never had a look over that side of the river…it more of an East/West thing here rather than the classic London North/South divide…

Decision made,the washing can wait until tomorrow or Thursday…

Only a short one today I’m afraid…Caio.

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#70

Sitting in the hotel room with a coffee and the occasional smoke,I have a balcony I can smoke on,waiting to start my journey to Düsseldorf.It’s a three and half hour trip with two changes so not too bad.Luckily I can take my time today as the hotel is directly opposite the Düsseldorf Hauptbahnhof and I have stayed there before so no need for Google Maps assistance today…I feel as though things are winding down…

Yesterday was basically spend the day in the pub watching sport day…not done an all day/night in the same pub on this trip before…

Early morning I went to have a look at the cube houses and the huge market hall and had a couple of nice coffees by the old harbour.All of this is situated by Blaak metro station.Unfortunately neither the houses or market was open,it being early Sunday morning an All that…both look impressive feats of engineering though…

Had a bit of a stroll,things were starting to open,unlike Germany Sunday here is a sort of normal day except things open a bit later.Found the Dutch version of Greggs called Barts and dare I say it their sausage rolls were the equal,if not better,than Greggs.They also heated them up on the spot rather than let them sit in a warming cupboard and they were all the better for it…

It was about 12-30 when I found the Irish pub.A real spit & sawdust place( there was actual sawdust on the bar floor.Surprised The Giffard hasn’t adopted the idea frankly) Rugby & cricket were on the multiple screens and there were a surprisingly lot of Japanese chaps in there watching it…Japanese is probably one of the least likely demographics you expect in an Irish bar in the Netherlands I would suggest…got chatty with a Welsh couple who lived there.Then they went.Had a few more beers and at 4-00pm they began showing all of the Prem games…there were a few Liverpool fans,A Brighton fan,one Villa fan and me oh and a couple of Rangers fans left over from their game earlier…I had a Wolves top on so there was no hiding but in truth most were watching Brighton v Liverpool…

Anyway all cool.Myself & the Villa fan had words but nothing too bad.A lot of the Liverpool fans buggered off after their game and it started to fill up with Arsenal fans but no Man City interestingly.Blah blah blah…

I had moved to the back of the bar when a couple of blokes began chatting to me.They were Serbian‘s who lived in Rotterdam and supported Feyenoord.The chat was cordial for a while then I mentioned how it must be pleasing for them to see Ajax doing so badly and I received a torrent of racist filth coming out of their mealy mouths ( Ajax have a big Jewish following) That was enough for me so I made my excuses and went to another part of the bar( it was one of those places that looks small but has a lot of rooms around the back) was gonna start writing this blog but then a fella came up to me and asked if I was ok and sat down…turns out he‘d heard the two Serbs and saw my face and came to genuinely see if I was fine.Nice bloke…he was from Aberdeen but lived in Perth Australia and was in Rotterdam working for a week.His name was Rory.We had a good old couple of hours…it cheered me up as I’d had a good day in the bar and didn’t want my last memory of it sullied by those racist pricks…

Left about 9-30 a wee bit drunk but happy drunk unfortunately ( or maybe fortunately) the bar was closed.I had forgotten the landlady told me they don’t open Sundays…so that was my day in the pub.Could have been better with a Wolves win but take the point & move on etc.Could have been a lot worse with the two racist pricks but luckily Rory saved the day with his weird hybrid Aberdeen/Aussie accent..,

Off to Düsseldorf soon and their Altbier…ciao 

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#69

If you think I am going to make lewd Carry On innuendos at which number blog this is for once you’d be wrong.I am a family entertainer,you know,the worst kind of entertainment going…anyway all I can say is “ Oh Matron!”

Had a lie in yesterday.Didn’t even leave the room till 11am and as soon as I did I got accosted by Jehovah’s Witnesses.I was studying the bus stop map whilst simultaneously having my phone open to Google Maps which one woman who was virtually on my shoulder clearly saw and not once did she look at me with puppy dog eyes and say “are you lost?” Had she done so I may have joined up there and then…an opportunity missed by the Joeys…

Turns out I am so far out in the sticks here that the bus doesn’t run at weekends and on weekdays it’s only one an hour.It doesn’t feel that far out to be honest.If it was London the equivalent would probably be staying in Romford.I’d rather be here though…good old Google Maps pointed me to a metro station about a five minute walk away.I didn’t want to ask the Joey’s Witness.Can you imagine? “ can you help me?” Her eyes would have lit up like Wembley stadium on a night game!

It’s a brand spanking new station too.Not sure how old Rotterdam’s metro is but all the stations I have seen look fairly modern.I’m guessing it wasn’t all built at once but added to bit by bit.All of their stations have a lovely big yellow “M” marking where they are and I bet Mr Maccy D’s had something to say about that but if they did they clearly lost whatever action may have taken place…

If your only vision of the Netherlands is the beautiful houses that skirt Amsterdam’s canals then Rotterdam might be a bit of a shock to you.The city centre is Nothing like that at all,it’s the complete opposite Infact.All large gleaming brand new buildings in the city centre.It’s quite easy to get lost,if like me,you’d not been here before(I have but it was 40 years ago and it’s changed so much it might as well be my first visit) then it can be a bit disconcerting,like you’re walking around in circles.Not that that’s a bad thing,at least you’re getting the exercise in…

There are still some “old” Rotterdam streets round by Centraal Station so you can imagine what the place looked like pre WW2.I say “old” because a lot of the streets were clearly rebuilt after the war but in a sympathetic style to how it used to look.Many long six story terraces in dark red brick.Very beautiful and probably highly sought after.In the little side streets leading off the main drags it looked like a community of sorts had sprung up with many coffee shops and cafe bars tucked away…

Today I am going to go look at the cube houses & market hall which in pics I have seen look very interesting.Luckily it’s on the same metro line as my stop so will be easily found.Also I might hang around Centraal Station for a bit as Feyenoord are playing at Zwolle ( just over an hour away by train) and it’ll be interesting to see what(if any) the police presence is.Obviously it’s gonna be more in Zwolle but I don’t know if they all get hearded on to one train or just allowed to go as they please…

Then I need to find an Irish bar that shows English football in the hope that the Wolves v Villa game will be on…

Ok peeps that’s it for today…see you all tomorrow sometime…Caio.

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#68

You know when people say they have found their spirit animal or whatever well I have found my spirit hotel…got off the bus in Schiedam,about five mile out from Rotterdam,looking for my hotel called The Windmill Cafe Hotel.There in front of me were two windmills.One with the sails working.I thought “ nah that can’t be it” and sure enough I was correct,it wasn’t but right next to them was a bar called The Windmill Cafe Hotel so I popped in and sure enough it’s an old fashioned bar but also the hotel reception! Looks like I have found my spirit hotel…already running up a tab too…

Had an odd last night in Bremen.The bar was pretty empty but a woman of about mid 30’s plonked herself down at the table next to mine and proceeded to dig out files,covered the table with them and was writing furiously whilst drinking & smoking equally furiously.Then the spread sheets came out.Occasionally she’d ask me to keep an eye on her stuff whilst she went to the toilet( she knew I was English as she heard Len,the barman, talking to me earlier) This went on for a good two hours and once she packed her stuff up I couldn’t help but applaud her efforts.At first I thought she was maybe a teacher marking students stuff but it turned out her boss was a complete and utter arsehole who landed this stuff on her last minute to be ready for the next day and she lived miles away so thought “ fuck it,do it in the bar” anyway I let her vent and boy did she vent! Didn’t even exchange names but I feel I helped and she’s probably handed in her resignation already…I very nearly got a fellow traveler when I told her I was off to Rotterdam next morning!

Trip was ok if a little long winded.Had to change trains three times as well as a bus replacement too.All was good though despite it taking the best part of six hours to get here.Got off the bus from Leer to Groningen and within a minute nearly got totalled by a young lad riding one of those heavy duty Dutch bikes.Totally my fault and of course I apologised and he was your typically laid back Dutchman accepted my apology in perfect English with a “ don’t worry it’s cool” cocky little bastard…

Many times I have mentioned how German mainline stations are also glorified shopping malls well Dutch stations couldn’t be more different.They’re very basic in design ( even though the four I have seen today,Groningen,Zwolle,Rotterdam and Schiedam have been well turned out) there are one or two food outlets and that’s it.Another surprise was they all have barriers,even before you get to the concourse too…

I have got so used to just strolling in and out of stations all over Europe it came as a bit of a shock.At Zwolle I had a long wait for my train and wanted a smoke,not allowed on the platform naturally,Asked a guard if my Interrail app let me out and,crucially,back in to the station and luckily it does.Phew that was a relief.For some reason I just didn’t expect Dutch stations to be so strict…another lesson learned.  

This is a real local’s bar.More so than the one in Bremen.This place is cool though.Been made very welcome by the landlady and not been attacked yet so it’s looking promising so far…It’s also a Feyenoord pub so if things do get tricky I’ll just drop John de Wolf’s name in the mix.Always keep an ace up your sleeve…

That’s it for the time being but could be back in action later…ciao for now…

It’s 6-45 and the ladies of a certain age are already dancing in the bar…and it really is some god awful Dutch Vic Reeves nightclub singer stuff too! Hahaha

It’s a weird thing.I have been here a few hours.It’s pretty full and nobody has engaged with me apart from a few quizzical looks and yet I feel very comfortable here…one last thing before I go to bed.Four bottles of beer cost me €11…goodnight all.

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#67

Laundry done.Place was about a five minute walk from the hotel.Got there about 7-30am.I like to get in that time as a) it gives me the rest of the day to do things and b) I’m usually there on my own.This time there was another fella there but he’d almost finished so it was cool.Luckily I also picked the best part of the day as it started hosing down a few hours later and in truth had it been like that earlier I might have given it a miss and resorted to the old t-shirt sniff test…not always reliable.

Back in my favourite bar( I do like to have a base wherever I stay.Not always possible but got one here) as most of us are creatures of habit I have bagged the same table each day I have been here too.Us humans are funny like that…truth is I can normally write this blog better with a beer on the go too.Is that bad? I make no claims to be a writer but by the same token I can see why many of the real writers are alcoholics…I suppose like normal conversation it come easier as the night with booze wears on…

After being in Scandinavia for ten days or so it took me two days to get back to the German way of traffic light etiquette.The Scandi’s still go by the same rules but are a bit more relaxed about crossing on the red when there’s no visible traffic and I’d got into that habit too( assimilation!) so of course I have done it a few times here too only to realise halfway across the road whilst getting the thousand yard stare from the old biddies on the opposite side! Jesus they scare me,not the lights,but the old biddies…

Took a riverside stroll today for as far as I could before the rain made me abandon it.It was ok and the Primark waterproof was holding up well then it just dropped and I had to get the tram back into town.Got as far as the Werder Bremen Stadion which is an impressive structure by the Weser river.It stands out as the whole outside of the stadium is covered with solar panels.I assume all their power needs are met by that.Fair play…the barman(Len,yes really) told me on matchdays the WB fans do a march through the Viertel to the ground which is about two miles down the same road.Shame I will miss it as I’m off tomorrow…incidentally of all the places I have been Bremen has so far been the best supported merely  by dint of more people wearing their shirt just strolling around.Everywhere else I have been I have seen a plethora of shirts from the usual suspects,Barca,Man Utd,Liverpool and PSG(Though not where I was staying in St Denis,their home ferchrissakes) so good on the Werder Bremen fans…

After spending far too much time in a fancy cafe staying out of the rain and having far too many coffees and frankly one of the best slices of cake I have ever tasted,I eventually braved the rain and went to Schnoor…

If you don’t know Schnoor is what medieval Bremen looked like about four hundred years ago and a small part has been preserved sort of how it was.I say sort of cos’ I doubt very much it was full of craft gift shops,fancy cafes and tourists like me taking selfies in front of quaint little alleyways…more dirty,dangerous,riddled with every disease imaginable and smelling of shit,much as I’d think the City of London was pre the 1666 fire…anyway I had some nice fish & chips…Knowing how the Germans love a festival I’m sure Schnoor has had It’s fair share over the years and if at least one hasn’t been called “ The Schnoor Fest” then that’s just a golden opportunity missed in my book…

So where to tomorrow? Well fans of The Beautiful South may have already guessed my destination.It is of course Rotterdam.I am not only going there because of the song( as good as it is) I didn’t fancy Amsterdam as it’s hotels were far too expensive,even though I may take a day trip there,and Rotterdam looks like it’s done a lot of work improving itself over the years.I was last there in the mid 80’s and it was a bit of a shithole then.I expect better this time…got a dreaded bus replacement too from Leer( nope me neither) to Groningen along with another two train transfers…

Anyway looking forward to a bit of time in The Netherlands.Was gonna say Holland and actually Rotterdam is in South Holland but,well you know…

Until tomorrow…” This could be Rotterdam or anywhere ,Liverpool or Rome…”

Ps Just remembered when I left the hotel this morning there were workmen digging up part of the pavement and one was walking very slowly using a diving rod! That can’t be a thing can it surely? Seemingly so…very odd…

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#66

Number 66…was gonna do a route 66 quip but struggling to come up with anything so all suggestions welcome…

Back in the bar I was in yesterday cos’ it’s an ok place and I’m enjoying the music.Mostly 60’s & 70’s non poppy stuff.Mind you I was thinking that last night and inevitably The Doors came on,not their rocking stuff which is fine but the absolute self Indulged wank that is The End and on cue I called it a night…

Had an interesting encounter with a bloke who sat next to me,coked off his skull,babbling away ten to the dozen but he was fine even though a little annoying as most coke heads can be but the young barman( who has been as good as gold with me these last two days) came over and stood in front of us.I assured him that all was fine but he stayed there and “ encouraged “ the fella to leave.It was only later he explained to me that he had encountered the chap before and most times it’s ok but things have been known to escalate quickly as his mood changed rapidly.A psychotic on coke is not a good combo…anyway thanks for that fella! 

Bremen is a cool place.If you have never been you should give it a go.It does get tourists but most of them seem to be German rather than overseas ones.Think it’s off the radar of many being sort of in the middle of destinations like Hamburg,Amsterdam and Cologne/Düsseldorf.To be honest it doesn’t seem to suffer any hardship missing out on the foreign dollar rolling in.Just quietly sitting here doing it’s own thing.Anyway give it a go,you might be surprised…

One of the young barmaids just came to ask if I was ok out of the blue.Very strange.Think the barman from last night must have said “ go check if the Englischer is ok will you?” She seemed suitably embarrassed doing so bless her…

So it’s laundry day tomorrow again,it comes around so quickly eh? I reckon I have two more to go before heading back to Blighty.If my calculations are correct it’s gonna be here and Düsseldorf,which is handy as I know where the one there is just by the hotel I’m staying in.Gripping stuff eh? But it’s not all glamour and listening to coke fiends ramble on.Sometimes the reality of normal life kicks in…

One complaint is the ticket machines for the public transport seem fucked.I tried six before managing to buy a ticket.I tried the app but it wouldn’t accept my location for some reason.Anyway when I did buy one I couldn’t validate it on the tram as I didn’t know how too.Apparently you have to bend the ticket in half( thanks again for the info from,yep you guessed it,the young barman!) as I have been here before I must have sussed it out then but clearly forgot.Anyway it’s a silly system having to bend the ticket in half…

Not sure about the hotel’s location.It would seem to be in the red light area.The few times I have been around the place there seems to be scantily clad ladies of dubious nature hanging around in pairs.I’m a bit worried to be honest,winter’s coming and dressed like that they could catch a nasty cold…I am close to the Hauptbahnhof so it would make sense,also in my little street there are numerous hotels…maybe my room being named “ Sofia” is some sort of code.Is Sofia a prostitutes name? Probably not…Stay safe ladies.

Got another day here so after the laundromat ( Waschsalon in German) I will go exploring once more.Not been down by the river yet or to a place called Schnoor,which is an area of Bremen of small closed in streets.Sort of what Bremen was like hundreds of years ago.Very pretty & very expensive!

Ah well all that to come.Ciao one and all…

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#65

Made it to Bremen,a city I’m familiar with and like.It’s a bit lefty & progressive in parts,especially where I’m drinking at the moment in the Viertel.The sort of cultural & arty area.I always use Hackney as my template for such places and the Viertel is Hackney with ( small) knobs on,whereas Berlin is what Hackney wishes it was…

Got to Odense station in the dark and wet this morning.The Interrail App said It only recommend I reserve a seat but I couldn’t be arsed and got a single unreserved seat straight away.It’s a rare treat to grab a lone seat especially for a nearly five hour journey so I savoured the solitude…the border Polizei did get on but not at the stop actually on the border.The train stopped there but nobody got on then about ten minutes later it came to a shuddering halt in the middle of nowhere.Maybe the cops were on a smoke break( this is Germany after all,I have seen coppers smoking on duty in the street) They did their bit,their bit being a cursory look at our passports and moving on.Frankly I don’t see the point unless they’re all Terminators and can PinPoint baddies that way…

Had to change at Hamburg where I was informed by Rikky via Facebook that it’s a bank holiday in Germany.Only Germany would make you go to work monday then have the Tuesday off rather than making it a long weekend.Anyway my connection was only ten minutes away but I wanted some food( and a smoke of course) and Bremen is pretty close the next train being only an hour later,so I thought…grabbed some scran and went outside and immediately got Stopped by two people asking for a smoke so moved back to the platform for a tab.Incidentally there were a lot of Polizei vans outside so not sure what that was about…

Noticed on the indicators there was a Bremen train before the next one advertised on my app,went to information to see if I could use it on that and got a “ yea don’t worry about it I’m sure it’ll be fine” they also told me it wouldn’t be going at the time advertised but at 1-15.The train actually left at a totally different time altogether…I have noticed much more of a lassier faire attitude with German train Staff over the years.I’d say they’re a lot less officious than their British counterparts and their train journeys are much the better for it…got the train,guess what? Single seat.That’s a bingo! Never got my ticket checked either..,

Hotel is close to the Hauptbahnhof so found it easily.Got an email from them yesterday giving me the code to get my key.Fine,no worries but there was no indication either in the email or at the hotel which room was actually mine.Ah this could be interesting…

Got to the 3rd floor and all the doors had names of European cities on them like Amsterdam,Rome,Istanbul etc and I saw one with London so I Sherlock Holmes‘d it and figured out that was the code for our rooms.Tried my key and a stressed looking woman opened the door.Shit…an awkward five seconds silence then I managed to explain the situation.She looked at my key and told me I was on the fifth floor( of course I was.I have missed you Germany) “How do you know?” “ You’re in room Sofia” 

Now look I’m not stupid even though sometimes I can be as thick as mince but if I have a key with “ Sofia” on it printed with a phone number it’s my assumption I should call that number and ask for Sofia if I have any problems…so I didn’t Sherlock it,I didn’t even Watson it.I Mr Bean’d it…all sorted.It’s a lovey room,nice and high up and I hope I did’nt give that poor woman in London nightmares…

Anyway I’m having a bevvy in Viertel.Bank Holiday in Germany is like a Sunday only more so.Less bars open for a start so I’m stopping here…gone from not being able to smoke within 20 metres of a pub in Sweden to every table having an ashtray inside the bar.As I said I have missed you Germany…

Ciao for now…

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#64

Why Odense? In all honesty it was always intended as no more than a one full day stop over between Gothenburg & Bremen as there was no way I could have hacked that journey in one day and that was before the added complications that came about.So it’s no more than a makeweight.But that’s not to say it’s not worthy of respect…

Luckily my hotel is only one stop from the station on the tram and really in walking distance as I chose to do today just to see for tomorrow as I already winged the tram on my arrival yesterday owing to not being able to get any Danish currency or use my card until today,all my own fault.Will be happy to get back to Euros tomorrow as I do have some floating about…I don’t want to wing it again.I don’t like doing it but at the time needs must an‘ all that…

Odense is smack bang in the middle of Denmark and is pronounced Olense ( or something) a fact that was painstakingly explained to me by two Danish women I was talking to in England who were laughing their tits off at my attempts at pronouncing it!

I didn’t go out last night,I was pooped after the trek,it was wet,it was cold,the hotel was toasty warm with an endless supply of free coffee.Whatyougonnado? 

So this morning I ventured out to have a butchers.My first impression was “ hmm bit of a hole” but it was still early,it was still raining and yes it is also bloody October too! So first impressions can be misleading….the more I looked the more appealing the place got.I started to notice more and more bars.A sure sign the place had something going for it…there are also lots of little passages snaking off the main drag with more bars and Indy cafes.Also more & more people were appearing which helps too…

It’s clearly not a touristy place but there is a uni and a few other cultured things going on too.They even have a film festival as well…

There’s a curious mixture of old and new buildings.The older ones look like they’ve been around for a good time.Lots of painted wooden timber frames and uneven doors & windows.A sure sign of authenticity as it was a case of “ yea that’ll do” for normal dwellings.But it’s not marketed in the same way as,say,Freiburg was to cater for the tourist.It’s just a mosh mash of old & new…In truth it seems an ok place and maybe worth a longer visit if only to take in some of the bars,sorry I mean cultural events…

Right I’m going to publish this now as it’s the only way I know to not lose the damn thing.Will no doubt add to it later…

Like Copenhagen and indeed Oslo & Gothenburg,all the people I have spoken to have been good natured & friendly.Is it the same all over Scandinavia? I have no idea but the little I have seen has left a favourable mark on me.To be honest the same could be said of everywhere I have been.I have been met with nothing but seemingly good natured people…even in places that have a rep for being unfriendly to Brits,like France for instance,I have received Nothing but good vibes.Maybe you get back what you put in and those that have been met with unfriendliness have been arseholes in the first place.Of course I’ll let others judge that…

Good morning all…in my usual spot of waiting for a train.Bit of rain around this morning.Getting that Primark waterproof jacket in Stuttgart has served me well these last few weeks.Don’t really know why I thought I would get away with not having one in Northern Europe in October! I think stupidity might be the answer…ah well off to Bremen.

See you all later…

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#63

Late again.If I had an agent he’d probably dump me…

Had a damn good sleep and ready to explore Odense.It looks quite a small place so I don’t think I will need to download a transport app to buy any tickets especially as I’m away tomorrow anyway.At least I have learned from the fella here how to say it properly.They don’t pronounce the “D” so it’s more like “ Oselense” fancy having letters in words you don’t pronounce! Phfft ridiculous…

On that subject,whenever I have been on any public transport I look at the monitor for the next stop and say it in my head then wait for the announcement to see how close I was.I reckon I have got maybe 25% correct in all the time I have been doing it…which doesn’t sound very good really but probably another 25% is close enough to be understood but the rest is a case of “ how the hell do they get that from that?” It’s like they’re speaking all foreign… 

I’m intrigued by the passport control in Scandinavia.When I came in to Denmark via Germany the train stopped and the border police came on and checked our passports & ID‘s and yes my mind did go to wartime POW escape movies,sorry,couldn’t help it…I was expecting the same. Leaving Denmark for Sweden but nothing.Ditto Norway.Yesterday our passports were checked at the gate but that wasn’t customs it was just an ID thing as they said a driving licence will do just as well…so I don’t really know what’s what.Be interesting if we’re checked going back into Germany tomorrow…

So back in Germany tomorrow.In Bremen,which I have been to before,I like it and can also pronounce it properly,I think…I am getting to the stage where I feel I am winding down on the trip and maybe running out of steam a bit but I still have Bremen,Rotterdam,Dusseldorf,Mainz,Cologne and Lille to go yet so still a fair bit to see…I have done well to be this enthused for so long to be honest.Maybe I am just having a bit of a natural break from it all in my head at the moment.Sorry I am rambling…

This is only a short Blog today I am afraid….Off out in a bit to have a little mooch….

Bilious Blog…Around Europe in 80 days#62

Finally on the train to Odense and finally I can write this blog…this will be my third attempt at this bloody thing.The first one got lost in the ether when I was about half way through and the second one I was in the process of publishing when my land signal totally disappeared ( I had forgotten I was at sea!) and that one joined It’s mate floating about somewhere…

Anyway the ferry was big and impressive and on time,also fairly empty.When I did my reccy yesterday the place was rammed so I thought then I’d better be sharp getting there,which is not a problem for me anyway.. luckily the ferry port turned out to be at the end of my street! I hadn’t seen it as there’s a bend in it which hides the terminal.It was very handy and also very handy it wasn’t blowing the same gale as yesterday as it would be rocking…

…rocking like Molineux was yesterday! ( what a transition) so all Wolves fans did that thing of predicting two vastly different results,including me,you could call it Shrodinger’s punditry.We simultaneously said we were going to get battered by seven/ eight/ maybe even double figures but also we all added the caveat “ it would be typical Wolves to go and win” or similar and guess what? It was typical Wolves to go and win against the best team that ever lived in the history of football or something…Over the years we have done ok v What used to be Citeh but is now devoid of any old school humour & charm and just another sheik’s plaything..,anyway fuck em’ we won and even more satisfying was the lad who scored the winner was Hwang Hee-Chan who the City manger referred to as “ the other South Korean player” rather than naming him…

So I’m a happy bunny despite a lot of dicking about travelling today…as I was leaving the hotel at 5-30am a cyclist went past and was asking me about the hotel.He did stop,didn’t just keep riding whilst his words got more distant being lost in the wind…either way it was a weird encounter especially at that time in the morning…

I know I keep banging on about smoking in this blog but I do find it interesting how other countries deal with it,as I have said less & less people smoke in Scandinavia than elsewhere I have been to and Sweden  seems the least smoky country.The one thing that did surprise me was that a packet of 20 is still only £5-50.You’d think they’d be much dearer…. 

Anyway Gothenburg is a cool city,go visit and if you do stop in or around the Linnéplatsen area( anywhere within three tram stops either side)it’s a good area..,

Sorry this one is so short,I’m shattered and having written this three times already I’m pretty sick of it to be honest….

Laters all…