Highlights and lowlights.

I like making lists. Here are two, of highlights and lowlights (in no particular order) of my InterRail escapade through Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Czech Republic, and the Friends of the Earth Big Happening in Chotilsko, Czech Republic, at the end of October. 

Highlights of the trip.

1. Seeing the windmills off the coast of Denmark. They look incredibly beautiful and in addition to being an affirmation of a brighter future they have a meditative serenity about them. Breath-taking.
2. Getting the sleeper train compartment all to myself. This was thanks to the lovely ticket inspector at Nurnberg, who thought that since I was travelling alone, I’d appreciate the security and privacy, rather than being woken up at three in the morning in Hamburg to a drunken stag party invading the compartment. Spot on.
3. Dancing and singing ’clowns on my left, jokers to my right’ at the closing party. Chilling after an intense four days of conferencing rocked, not in the least due to pitchers of wine, wasabi nuts, Czech beer, good people and a diverse set of Djs with seriously eclectic music sets.
4. The ’yes we can’ attitude of the Big Happening. If this doesn’t inspire you to save the world, I don’t know what will. Personally, I’m taking a lot back with me in terms of thoughts, energy and inspiration.
5. Having a great soundtrack on my iPod for the brilliant autumn scenery flashing past my train window. It’s like those cinematic moments when you gaze at strange lands and unfamiliar people, and the evening light washes everything in a soft glow and you feel like you’re right where you’re supposed to be at that point. And all the while your favourite music plays.
6. A total feeling of being out of normal time and place. All that mark their passing is the arrivals and departures of trains and the onset or waning of light. Feels really good to disconnect and just enjoy the ride.
7. Tree walking. Is that even what it’s called? A cross between mountaineering and monkeying in the forest canopy, this was a delightful new experience. Wonder if you can do this in Finland somewhere?
8. Loads of time to think. Really ponder. Like deep, meaningful, life-altering conversations with yourself.
9. Looking like a hobo. After a day in Prague, a six hour train journey, followed by a night train, followed by hauling backpack around dressed in an old German army jacket, muddy converse trainers and a superbly comfy woolly hat, seeing yourself in the mirror is brilliant. No wonder the passers-by throw change at you while you try to nap at the train station.
10. Spending Halloween on the Finland-Sweden ferryboat. Enough said.

Lowlights of the trip.

1. Potatoes. This is a relationship that has suffered considerable damage and needs to be carefully nurtured back to life, although right now it seems as if we might part ways for a good while.
2. Garlic. Which was EVERYWHERE. On your breakfast plate, in your potato chips, the exclusive ingredient of your lunch soup, in the tap water. Okay, maybe not the water, but everywhere else. For real. On the flipside, keeps the vampires at bay.
3. Mystery illness. I managed to avoid this, but my travel company was struck down by a mysterious case of flu/food poisoning/plague, which called for him to fly back and leave me in charge of the railroad escapade.
4. Not being able to be on the road for longer. Apologies go out to London, Glasgow, Brussels, Rotterdam and Frankfurt for not being able to wreak havoc in your neck of the woods and crash on your couch in a drunken stupor. Got you on my list for next time. Xxx
5. Spending Halloween on the Finland-Sweden ferryboat. Enough said.