Riding back from #Copenhagen to #Berlin. #DSB managed to create great confusion by updating the coach numbers only shortly before setting off. By that time several bicycles had been loaded into our coach & people with lots of luggage had installed themselves in what they thought were their seats. Lots of confusion & frantic schlepping of suitcases ensued.
On the way out we had a similar confusion, the #DB reservation had coach numbers that didn't exist on the #DSB train.
Any #UX or #Communication designers - if you want to see what doesn't work, please go to the public toilets in #Copenhagen train station & observe how the supposed self-explaining payment booth causes long queues. Once inside, the #signs are far from clear, lots of people queue before less than half of the available toilet compartments & most men don't even realise that pissoirs are also available.
Lots of X with very little U!
Last holiday evening, dinner at the hotel. An English ex-pat couple (formerly with a restaurant in #Helsingør) have taken it over Thur - Sun. They specialize in fish & #seafood. Service is very personal & lovely in a very British way.
Tomorrow we'll be heading home. Finally figured out how to get to the regional train by local bus 388 that leaves from outside the hotel once an hour. Walking the 1.4 km to #Snekkersten station felt a bit too far & steep with our luggage.
A day trip to #Louisiana museum in #Humlebæk. After we tried the rental #bikes in our otherwise very nice & well equipped family-run hotel yesterday for a spin to #Snekkersten harbour, we decided against using them for 12 km trip to the museum. They were slightly worn city bikes with a very different geometry to the ones we normally ride.
And since I caught something (cough & running nose), my energy is kind of low anyway. Spent the day #masking again on train & in museum.
One of our travel group is on their way back to Berlin already, we remaining 2 have until Monday. After a morning migraine, we changed the program for today. The visit to #Louisiana is postponed to Sunday.
We checked into the sweetest privately run hotel, #VillaBrinkly in #Skotterup next to #Snekkersten, run by Anette & Erik with much love. The walk from the train station was a bit long & hot, but we were greeted with homemade lemonade & water melon.
https://www.villabrinkly.dk
Next step on the return from #Finland, taking the packed #oresundsTag from #Malmö to #Copenhagen. Looking forward to the #CrossBorderRail part in a few minutes, the tunnel and bridge across the Öresund. Not sure we will see much though, as the train is too stuffed with people and luggage.
Heading to #Humlebaek and #Snekkersten until Monday, to visit the #Louisiana museum.
On the way back we stopped in #Malmö for the night. The whole city is out & about for the last evening of #MalmoFestivalen. It's a huge event, with several stages with free concerts, all kinds of rides and a very big street food market. Being a bit overwhelmed by the long queues we opted for a small Indian restaurant instead, #UrbanTurban.
3/x
Best cheesy entertainment:
The best feature of #EckeroLine was the steward who accompanied his #bingo session with songs by legendary Finnish #humppa band #Eläkeläiset. When it was his turn to moderate the #karaoke session, he tried to encourage & animate the crowd by singing some songs himself, quite decently.
2/x
Ship experience:
The clear winner is Silja Serenade by operator #TallinkSilja. It was the only ship that allowed a complete walk-around on the sun deck, so we could observe the departure from all possible angles. The smoker in our group was pleased that there was a good choice of different spaces indoors & outdoors for them.
The different bars & clubs were far enough apart that the sound didn't bleed over. They have fridge lockers if you transport perishable goods.
After using 3 different ferry operators between #Sweden, #Finland and #Estonia, here is my verdict:
Food buffet:
#VikingLine is the surprise winner here. They had the most interesting #vegan selection & choice of vegetable dishes. The layout of their buffet ensures smooth serving. Runner-up is #TallinkSilja for their clear labelling for allergens. Choice looks big, but lots of starch & not enough veg. Maybe the #VeganCaviar wasn't ideally placed between the real caviar 🙄.
Oskar im Keller