The One that was Not Solo
So far everything has gone to plan. Well-aside from the minor issue of a train being cancelled due to unexpected “road” work—you can imagine my surprise that the train ever came at all.
It all started with the idea of joining a friend of a friend in the Netherlands for New Years Eve. I did not know this person but hey-who am I to pass up on an adventure?
We did end up meeting up two days before the big adventures began; which was a great start to what would soon be travelling across the country together. Ironically, we would be travelling to nearly where I had been two weeks prior.
Anyway, the time came—it surely did. What time, you may ask? Why a very pleasant 4am train.
If you know anything about me then you know a 4am wake up call means no chance for sleep.
I had done this quite a few times before (because I seemingly love to torture my body and mind). What I also did was ignore a perfectly good offer of a drive from where I was lying in bed to the train station—not only for the sake of adventure—but also to not add unnecessary steps for my new friend (or new friend’s brother who was driving her to the station for that time).
Anyway! No big deal. Just one short 25 minute walk to the station later and BAM I was there, the clickity clacking of my heeled boots echoing throughout the dark and empty streets all the way to the station.
It was nice and mild out; I was also carrying considerably less stuff.
"The Bag Lady” I was no longer!
We boarded that 4am train right on time—all was “in ordnung” (in order) for the first time in a long while, and we took our seats and ate the Subway I bought the previous night and brought with me knowing of our impending hunger.
The delicious sub, a tad smooshed from backpack
We then made it to the super fun Stuttgart station. Spaß (fun) because recently they have introduced a super enjoyable, especially when solo carrying too many bags, 15-20 minute walk from one end of the station to the other end where the local trains are stationed.
And it is all outside so if you are lucky enough to get to experience it in the pouring rain then you are really sure to have a good time.
All was fine and dandy with the train—at least until it arrived late at our next station almost causing me to miss the connection because for some reason I was not able to find out anywhere online how to buy the ticket.
Like, take my money!
We almost just decided to stay on the current express train as it was also going to the same place—but the train inspector came by right close to where we were due to get off and looked at our tickets.
So we got off and ran down this winding pathway that felt like it kept going on forever until I found a ticket machine and my friend helped me buy the appropriate ticket.
Luckily I did not do the “assume it’s free when no price-tag is seen attached” thing and get on without paying, because no more than two minutes after boarding another ticket inspector came and gave me a little hole punch.
Apparently it’s a €60 fine if you do not have a ticket or the full ticket—and today was no day I wanted to be playing with the train days.
Later that night my friend and I had a pleasant journey to Oldenburg—a small city about an hour away from the border of the Netherlands.
We made it to the student dorms where her old housemates lived. I met her Brazilian friend who was great to talk to—not only a funny guy but a great break from the German conversations, or attempts at understanding, more likely on my part.
Since it was New Year’s Eve, or “Silvester” in Germany, we made our way to a party neither one of us were invited to—so we brought tons of snacks and drinks for everyone.
The legendary sack of goods
I even brought some chocolate covered maple sugar treats—hopefully someone got to enjoy them!
We ate food, played drinking games (which I never fully understood but were fun anyway), and hung out inside an apartment until it was almost midnight. Then, we all went outside to the street and lit off fireworks and also watched as others did the same.
Following the aftermath of the fireworks we had tickets to go to a club in the city.
Since Oldenburg is so close to the Netherlands, biking as a mode of transport is quite popular. I, being a visitor, however, did not have a bike.
To my complete shock we went to a large bike storage room and my new Brazilian friend said to take one.
I thought he was joking but he did say that in this particular unit many bikes that are not locked and look quite used are not belonging to anyone anymore and are basically free to use.
I am still not sure to this day if that was in fact true—and if it was me who ‘temporarily’ borrowed your bike on New Year’s Eve, I’m very sorry!
We did return it to just outside the main storage area so hopefully if it did belong to someone it was not too missed or hard to find.
Good times!
The club was interesting in that it wasn’t so much dancing that we were doing but playing games of foosball. That’s right—smack in the middle of this club were multiple foosball tables and intensely competitive matches going on.
It was a lot of fun!
All’s well that end’s well—aside from the lost bank card incident that probably occurred during the bike ride. Still a successful chronicle in the first chapter of 2023, I’d say.
Until next time,
Christina
Groningen, Netherlands
