I switched to a ferry for the journey to Helsinki.
An issue with not knowing the city and the language is an over reliance on apps. Using the Viking Line app I located what I thought was the terminal by pressing a link, but I was directed to the wrong terminal. I realised just in time to be able to dash to the correct terminal arriving 20 minutes before departure. The app said arrive no later than 20 minutes before departure. That was a close call.
The Cinderella- Viking Line
Getting on the boat I was well looked after, sent to a lift where I descended into the depths of the boat. However the cabin was nice and I had it all to myself.
The cabinThe bathroom The decks
I am on deck two, below the waterline.
Stockholm catching the last rays.
As we were leaving at 1630 the sun was setting leading to a beautiful view of Stockholm from ship.
LeavingBirds on the ice
Lots of videos of the boat so slipping through the water. Listen to the sound.
Prins Eugene Wsldmarsudde
Ice
Kapellskär 2015The sun is above the horizon 0818Breakfast with a view
Pancake iceLand
Helsinki looking a bit grey
Ice porridge.
Ice patterns on tunnelAt Katajanokan terminal
Arrived at Helsinki just after 1000. This was a wonderful journey.
Had a little wander through Stockholm which is based on a series of islands.
St Clara church Looking across Ladugårddlandsviken
Looking from SkeppsholmbronKarl 12 and St Jacob’s Church
Decided to drop off my luggage at the hotel.
St Georgios ChurchMy hotel
And continue exploring on buses.
A bendy busPanghus
It got very cold once the sun went down, sub 10 degrees centigrade. I looked for an underground station and really struggled to find the entrance despite using the SL app. I didn’t quite know what I was looking for, eventually found a very inconspicuous entrance.
The underground is modern and efficient.Adolf Fredrik ChurchTegnérgatanCinnamon bun with coffeeLots of sculptures There is some industry about.View from Sussen
I purchased a 24 hour ticket for the public transport which I made good use of. The SL app was useful for navigation and buying tickets.
We crossed the divide between the Binnen Alster and the Außen Alster.
The train set off late evening? Travelling through Denmark in the early hours.
Just after crossing the border into Denmark- snow.
The train was a bit dated with a seventies vibe,
One of the toilets,Sweden is snowy
The train was sending clouds of snow into the air.Snowy village of FrinnarydHorses feeding on hay with a large barn behind.There was a bit snow ingress through the window.And between carriages.
Beginning to snow- LinköpingA bit rockier-Gläntan
Now getting close to Stockholm,
HallsfjardenÅrstavikenFrozen enough to skateRiddarfjarden
Skating and walking on the RiddarfjardenVery close to the Central Station Arrived at Stockholm Central 77 minutes late.
It’s an early start to catch the 0816 Eurostar to Brussels. The ticket tells me to turn up at 0701.
It’s still dark at St Pancras
Not off to a good start, there is a 24 minute delay. But this should not be a problem as there is plenty of time for the connection at Brussels,
Boarding at St Pancras
We travel through Kent.
Near AshfordNear Stanford- curious shaped hill.
Difficult to get decent photos from the train in Kent.
In France, near Lille
Struggled getting decent photos in France too.
Near Halle-Belgium Coming into Brussels Arrived at Brussels Midi only 12 minutes late.
I checked the notice board for the train to Cologne. Spotted that there was an issue, it looked like the train was delayed and was leaving from a different station, Brussels-Nord. I confirmed this, and was told what train to catch.
Bonus train at Brussels-MidiTravelling two stops in Brussels Waiting for the train to CologneLeaving Brussels-North- late uInteresting bridge at Liège.Liège station is an interesting building Leaving LiègeAachenArrived in Köln a bit lateThe cathedral
The next leg is to Hamburg. This train is also delayed, by maintenance work on the track.
Crossing the RhineThe train is traveling a long distance.Düsseldorf-its raining Essen Dortmund Dortmund-Ems canal near MünsterComing into Hamburg about ten minutes late.Hamburg StationHotel View from room
A bit of a walk from the station, I could have got a bus, but all good.
Room looks nice enough.View from the window not the best.
However two problems with the room. Firstly, the knob on the plunger to switch between the bath tap and the shower was missing. Second, after five minutes of being on the TV started glitching. But too late to get a change on the first night.
I found the knob the next day fixing the bath/shower issue. But the TV still was not working. I spoke to a very helpful member of the Premier Inn team and I swapped rooms.
New room was smaller but had a proper shower, so a win. The TV works.
A February far flung journey, starting in the north,
To the platform Train arriving and it’s getting dark.Windows are a big dirty Thurso river near Halkirk
The downside to travelling this time of year is that it is dark for most of the journey, so not many views.
Disembarked at a dark Inverness The waiting Caledonian Sleeper service
I had a really good nights sleep, waking up for breakfast in the buffet car.
Birmingham Airport
Caledonian sleeper have added a new stop at Birmingham International. This looks potentially very useful. I saw the airport just after sitting down for breakfast.
Breakfast Euston
No bike with me this time. I had an appointment in London within walking distance. The time to get there was pretty similar either by foot or public transport, so off I walked.
Then it was off to Marylebone Station, for my first ever visit. Also by foot.
All Souls Church The BBC
Also first time I had seen the BBC buildings.
Marylebone Station
Things went a bit awry at this point. A goods train had broken down so the route was blocked.
The notice board with the delays.
Take a picture or filming shows how much the boards must flicker.
The intention is to get to Oxford to change trains. Eventually a train is provided with loads of carriages to enable taking all the passengers from the cancelled trains. The route to avoid the blockage involved travelling to Princess Risborough, the train then reversed heading to Bicester Village, where again it reversed, eventually arriving in Oxford.
Oxford Station
At Oxford some of the tracks are sectioned off. There are no trains to Didcot, only rail replacement buses. This is why I went via Marylebone rather than Paddington.
The train arrives
Smooth onward journey to Moreton-in-Marsh.
There is a lot of surface water.
After my appointment in Moreton-in-Marsh it’s back to Oxford in the dark.
Moreton-in-Marsh stationLots of work going near Oxford station
The Thames at Osney Bridge is fast flowing.Finally arrived at the Premier Inn
Insight 