Travel

Hamburg-Far North Scotland via Cologne, Brussels, London and Inverness.

I was fit to travel the next day. Decided to reduce the odds of missing connections by catching an early train than planned.

I was traveling to Cologne, we were told there had been a problem with the staff arriving from a previous train. The train departed 40 minutes late. Following the announcements was interesting, as one train to München leapfrogged the other. They were going different routes.

Leaving Hamburg.
It’s flat near Diepholz
Arrived in Köln 35 minutes late.

Had time to stroll to the cathedral.

And watch aircraft flying by.

Back to the next delayed train, again 40 minutes and a platform change. Now heading towards Brussels.

Interesting clouds near Liège.
Heading into Brussels.

The lateness of the train meant that the comfortable cushion to get through border control was disappearing.

I discovered another issue. Somehow the Interrail app had booked the wrong date for the Eurostar, and I had not spotted this, so no seat on the train. Thankfully the very helpful Eurostar employee got me on with a ticket, which strangely had no meal guarantee written on it. I was not sure what this meant.

Then another delay, by possibly an hour, dueto problems in the Netherlands. This would make my next connection in London very tight.

We left 44 minutes late.

I pointed out my non guarantee of meal when I received this meal.

Not very large portion but ideal as my appetite was not back.

It was now dark so no pictures.

The reduction in delay from an hour to 45 minutes meant I made the Caledonian Sleeper well on time. A quick walk from St Pancras to Euston.

And next morning in the Highlands…

Approaching Inverness.
Inverness Station

Then heading further north.

River Conon
Cromarty Bridge in the distance
Looking north from the train.

Almost home.

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