Amsterdam canals
Ostensibly Ireland and Britain are part of Europe but, whether because they're islands or because they're part of a larger English-speaking world, I always feel they are somewhat separate (there was supposedly a famous English newspaper headline announcing heavy fog in the English Channel - “Fog in Channel: Continent cut off” - which would suggest at least the English feel the same!). It would be churlish (as well as extremely time-consuming) of me to list all the trivial ways in which Irish and British transport could be improved, so I'll just say I was glad to board the ferry to the Netherlands! After an early ferry from Dublin to Holyhead, that depressing little ferry/train terminal, I got two trains to London, where I had dinner with my mate Greg, one of the few good things about that city, then got an evening train up to Harwich ferry port, went through an absurdly slow and incredibly ineffective security check and ticket collection process then boarded the lovely Dutch ferry. Although the ferry leaves at just before midnight, you're free to board from 7.30, so you can get on at a civilised hour and have dinner or just go to your cabin and sleep, ready for the 7.45 arrival the next morning.
Relaxing in the restaurant area in the Stena Hollandica before departure to the Hoek van Holland.
After passport formalities I hopped on a train to Rotterdam, popped out for a coffee and breakfast, then got an express to Amsterdam, where my 'back-in-Europe' bubble of smug was popped in a most convincing fashion! The train terminated in Amsterdam, where, as it was very crowded, I got out last, after packing a few things in my day pack. Well, I attempted to get out! Even though it was less than five minutes since the train had arrived, the doors were shut firm! Luckily along came a railway staff member, performing a check of the train. I asked him if he could let me out and with typically bluff Dutch friendliness he joked that he wasn't able to open the doors; I in turn joked that I'd have to go all the way back to Paris to which he replied, no, I'd have to go back to the sheds for an hour and when the train returned to the platform I'd be able to get out, by which time I realised he hadn't been joking and was actually the sort of person who makes innocent blog entries R-rated. Despite trying to reason with him he turned his back and continued walking on, ignoring my pleas. Obviously trains have emergency exits that override other systems, so I ended up breaking the emergency seal, pulling the handle, setting off the alarm, forcing the doors and getting out. I hope that created a lot more paperwork and trouble for him than just arranging someone to release the doors would have!
Anyhow, newly chastened, after getting online trying again to find an Air BnB place in Berlin, I headed out into Amsterdam, where I had five hours before the onward train to Berlin. After happening across a Chinese acupressure massage place I got a foot massage, then headed on an hour canal tour, then spent my last hour inhaling the heady aromas Amsterdam is so well known for.
Amsterdam station.
Cruising the canals.
The car park at Amsterdam station... Sorry, this is the bike parking! There are bikes - and infrastructure for bikes - everywhere!
Waiting for dinner on the Hannover.
In the mid-afternoon it was back on the train to Hannover and another to Berlin, arriving at the impressive, newly renovated main station late that evening, heading to the Air BnB place I'd finally secured during the rare snatches of slow wi-fi I'd been able to get. After yet more wi-fi dependent communication I failed to meet up with Raf, an Australian mate who was also in Berlin and had sensibly gone to sleep during one of the longer gaps in communication from me. After midnight I finally rested my weary and clouded head on a pillow and had a few hours light sleep.
It's hard to get the sense from this photo, but the Berlin main station is a wonderful, light, open example of a modernised station. The entrance is beautifully open, the platforms go down a few levels, connected by these 'tubes' (and escalators!) and there's even free music concerts (see one level down).