2 January
So I didn't really sleep in as much as I thought I would. In fact, I kind of took my time packing up my things. But that wasn't what made us late for the train. It was the fact that we were both fairly sleepy and just moving at a slow pace. Hanne was nice enough to offer her food up for a packed lunch. I made a sandwich of bread and meat and cheese and cucumbers and moisted the bread with butter. It was good sandwich when I got around to eating it. But once that was all set, we headed off for the station.
Hanne asked if I could manage on my own without her being there. There wasn't enough time to park and find the platform and the spaces in front of the station were for drop offs and pick ups and not for parking and showing friends the way. But she left the car anyway to show me the screens that listed the correct platforms. We said our good-byes, I thanked her for everything she did, and off I went. The train was on time and kind of empty. I sat in an area with four seats facing each other. I was alone for a few stops before an old man came by and sat opposite me. I continued to look out the window because I liked the scenery.
It was kind of difficult listening to the Danish over the PA system. I couldn't always understand the name of the next station until I saw it written on a board as we pulled into the actual station. I hoped this wouldn't be a problem later on. But I knew the station at Coppenhagen when we got there because it was the end of the line and everyone was getting ready to leave. I swung my backpack on my shoulders and my duffel over just one shoulder, and I was off to locate the train to Oslo.
I knew it left several minutes after this one arrived, but I couldn't find it on the screens. Not knowing what to do, I went and asked the guy at the information desk where the Oslo train was. He kindly informed me of the platform and what time it was leaving. I thanked him and went out to the platform and got on the train.
It was during this train that I wrote the next chapters of My Idea, but I didn't shoot any pictures. Because I felt weird taking pictures of toys on a train. So I just sat and listened to music and watched the scenery and eventually figured out that I was probably in Sweden and not Norway yet. Once again, I couldn't fully understand the name of the next station until I saw it written somewhere. When people started getting ready for the next stop, I asked the guy in front of me which stop this was. He said it was the last one, don't worry. We spoke a bit and I said that I was bound for Oslo, he asked what I was doing in the south of Sweden, I said I just came from Denmark, actually. I couldn't understand his accent very well, so I kept asking him to repeat what he said. That's annoying for the both of us, so we were kind of glad to part on the platform.
I found the train I needed, then I saw that the seats were numbered on the side of the train. I knew some trains required a reservation of some sort before you could board, so I went to ask information if this was one such train. It was a close call because I couldn't find the information desk right away and then I had to pick a number, you know, like from one of those machines and the cashiers call up the next number as they like. I was impatient, but I got a cashier and I asked if I had to reserve a seat on the train to Oslo. No, I did not, hurry up or you'll miss it. Thank you very much! And off I ran. Really, ran. I wasn't missing that train!
Entered the first carriage I could and wandered about three other carriages until I found an empty seat. That train was very full. Really. I thought I wouldn't have a seat and then I wondered what I would do (until I saw a small group of girls eating Subway on the floor together like they do that every day. Saw people sitting like that in German trains too, so I guess if you have a ticket, you're on the train). But I found a seat by a woman who eventually got off at the next stop. I thought I would be facing forward in the seat, but that wasn't the case. I was going backwards. It bugged me for maybe three minutes until we really got going. Then I didn't mind.
Across the aisle was a little boy who noticed me about the same time I noticed him. At first, I didn't do anything thinking that his mom wouldn't like a complete stranger interacting with her very young son. He couldn't have been older than two the way he wasn't talking but he could walk very well. After locking eyes with him a few other times, I finally waved. Innocent stranger action. When the woman beside me left, I took her seat because it kind of had a window view. The window as really for the seat in front of us, but I could see the trees passing by.
A thing to note about this little boy and his parents . . . I think both women with him were his parents. He referred to each of them as "mama" on separate instances, and they both treated him like their own, so I only assume they were a homosexual couple with a young son. I thought it cute, though.
I waved once or twice more, and then I played peek-a-boo from behind his mother that took the seat I vacated. There was one time where he waved at me instead of me waving at him. I liked that. Also attempted a one-handed peek-a-boo game with him that probably wasn't very successful. The other hand had a sanwich in it. They left before we got to Oslo, though. He was such a cute child.
Took a small nap as the sun set, so it was dark when we pulled into Oslo. I thought it was the wrong station, but everyone was getting up. I saw a sign for Oslo S, which was my stop, so off I got. The goal was to maybe find a snack or something. A lot of the places in the station were closed because it was kind of late. Only around six or so, but it was also a Sunday, so that's understandable. Bought a snack in the form of clementimes and a drink in the form of two bottles of Fanta (2 for 40NOK; $1 = ~5NOK I think). So, in retrospect, it was kind of expensive, but it was worth it. Meanwhile, I attempted to getsome cash from a cash machine. Here's the story.
There was a series of cash machines in a corner. Some of them had various flags above them. Naturally, I was attracted to the one with the American flag over it. So when I asked for $100, I thought I would get the equivalent in Norwegian Crowns. Not the case. I got two $50 bills and no currency exchange open in the station. So I waited in line again and went to the cash machine with a Norwegian flag above it. Withdrew what turned out to be $70 worth of NOK. Which I was fine with. It got me two Fantas and a pack of clementimes.
Waited outside on the platform for the train (along with two other smokers, but they weren't next to me). Boarded when the train arrived and this time I had the two seats to myself. That was nice. Spent the time listening to music. Once again, I thought I got a seat that would be facing forward, but that wasn't the case again. My trains through Norway had me going backwards the whole way. But that was alright. I didn't get motion sickness anyway.
On this train, I noticed a kid who couldn't have been more than twelve or thirteen on his own. I wondered what his story was and made up one about him going from one parent's house to the other. Who knows? He left about halfway to Lillehammer and his seats were then occupied by teenaged twins. Those guys had to have been about sixteen or seventeen, and they had the same haircut and the same jacket and they both looked like they were going snowboarding. I wouldn't be surprised if they had the same kind of snowboard. Really, how do you tell them apart? Can identical twins switch names for a day and see if anyone notices? If I had an identical twin, would we pull that sort of antics?
Arrived in Lillehammer at the scheduled time. I felt like it was late because the sun had been down for a few hours, but it was only about 8pm. I knew my hostel was right inside or above or very very close to the train station, so I went looking for it. Found the sign right away upon exiting the station. So I followed it to the reception which was the first floor above the station. I checked in and smiled at the key to my room being connected to a Brio engine. It was cute. After dropping off my stuff, I asked the guy behind the counter if there were any restaurants in the area still open. Lucky for me, he pointed one out that was only about two blocks away. Yay! So I gathered up my valuables and set off for the restuarant.
Walking through the town, which was more empty than I was used to, I was strongly reminded of going up north in Wisconsin to ski. It had the feel of a small town that didn't see many strangers in the summer and only saw people in winter because it's a prime skiing area. No one went out because there wasn't much to do once out. No clubs, just a few corner pubs maybe. I didn't see any pubs, though. The restuarant reminded me of the Bell Chalet, which is a restaurant often ventured by skiers in northern Wisconsin. Although this place was a lot more smooth and polished wood than the Bell Chalet, it still served pizza and it was open late. Everyone at tables were talking with people and I was the only one by herself. I waited patiently and busted out the old iPod to play a game on. No music, though. I liked listening to the conversations of everyone.
I actually got tap water at this place. That gave it another plus. Free tap water that even came with a small pitcher for when I run out. How nice. I ordered a Hawaiian flavor pizza because it was the only thing I could read on the Norwegian menu. I could have maybe figured out hamburger, but I would have wanted cheese on that. Besides, I felt like pizza, so pizza it was. Could only eat half of it, though, so I saved the other half for later. I figured I would need it eventually.
Back at the hostel, my room was a private with two twin beds. I stole the comforter off the second twin and used it for myself. Also stole the second pillow. Blogged a bit. Talked to my parents on the phone. When I called, I got the answering machine at first, but then Mom picked up and immediately informed that Mrs. Bowen and Mrs. Lewis were with her so she's putting me on speaker. It was a nice conversation between us and Dad (assumably in the other room with Mr. Lewis and Mr. Bowen watching the game). And I fell asleep with happy thoughts in my head.
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