Sean Maddison

The trip now seems like it lasted for years, and was ages ago! Can’t wait to set off somewhere again, thinking South America for the next long trip…

What a mess! The full details of my train fuck-up this morning are too tedious to recite. Interrail is great value but they need to really sort out the seat reservations process as it’s very clunky and easy to mess up.

So then, having been unable to get my Eurostar (mostly my own fault) I book a lunch-time flight to East Midlands Airport with Flybe. (I. Hate. Flying. More on this some other day)

The flight was delayed by around five hours argh! I eventually got back to East Midlands airport around 19:30 and then a quick Skylink bus to home. Not so bad in the end, just lots of time in an airport is bad for the soul.

This was the final day of my travels for this year! ?

We got up a little before lunch time went out to get something to eat. A short ferry hop to Pllek, like a bar / restaurant through an abandoned-looking shipyard.

Then off to find a smoke, followed by a visit to Fabrique des Lumieres–a cool light show arty exhibition. Lots of chilling time and spacing out ? then beers n snacks afterwards

Felt very rough this morning after partying on the ship all night, oops.

First a few trains to get me from the port in Eemshaven over to Amsterdam Centraal.

I checked into the hostel and met up with Vlada, we had a great evening walking around the city. We had some food and lots of Glühwein by the Christmas ice skating drink!

Then we hit up an awesome gay club called something like 3xNyx? Really cool neon graffiti interior, great music, lots of dancing and making friends with the locals.

Then Delon, one of the Dutch boys from Nice (we were there only three months ago, feels like years though!) came and met us and we had a very late one.

Morning hike in the woods

Through a stunning park right next to town!

The ship across the North Sea

Aboard the Romantika for an overnight trip, another first for me. It’s delayed a little bit due to weather, but that’s probably normal out here.

Far to much to drink, had a blast in the nightclub on board though; live music, bingo & partying!

A few travel-heavy days coming up. By bus, boat and train!

Today is a 4 hour bus ride to Kristiansand on the south coast of Norway, to stay for the night and have a rest day before the long boat trip to The Netherlands on the 18th.

Through gorgeous Norwegian countryside, lots of snow ?

Got to the hotel, and I’d booked the wrong bloody date! Lots of dates on this trip, it’s the first time I’ve messed up so I’m not too fussed about it. Luckily the hotel had rooms for today too.

Took a metro ride a long way out to Holmenkollen, beautiful views but the ski museum was closed argh. Lots of walking in the woods and around the little town areas. It started snowing, which I was really hoping for 😀

After that a long walk back to the city centre to grab some lunch. Then off to the other side of town to check out the saunas, opera house and Munch gallery.

Final night here so I spent it at the Christmas Market and got ready for my bus ride tomorrow

The Sculpture Park

Proper cold weather this morning, even a few flakes of snow as I walked by the harbour. Its the first day I’ve worn my hat, scarf + gloves this year.

I spent most of the morning walking around Vigelandsparken (via tube and tram) checking out all of the sculptures there.

Had a smashing chicken burrito at Freddy Fuego’s nearby, then headed back into town.

The National Museum

Thanks to our Tiff, I hit up the Museum to check out the Grayson Perry exhibit and all the other art. Munch’s The Scream was in there too, along with Rodin’s Thinker!

Oslo Street Food

Finished the day up with drinks and food at this place, recommended by one of the vendors at the winter Market. Had some great duck, some empanadas and a few cocktails :p

I took a nice 2 hour boat tour around the Oslo bay area this morning, freezing cold & gorgeous.

After that a tram ride across town to Haralds Vaffles, as recommended by Geir the other day: very good waffles indeed.

Spent most of the afternoon in the Christmas Market, drinking glögg and taking a spin on the ferris wheel.

4.5 hours on a comfy Norwegian train. The countryside we went through in Sweden and here was gorgeous, even with the bare trees and fog.

Checked into the hostel, K7, and had some pizza whilst I sorted my laundry out then off for a night time wander around the city.

I’ve booked an Oslofjord boat tour tomorrow, then I’ll be checking out the Christmas fair in town.