Trip to Berlin by #ComfortJet. Step one: the ComfortJet is cancelled, take any train.
&@£#!ffs
This was predicted last evening. And you'd think DSB, which has spare rolling stock, would put another train in that time slot. Nope: two departures of 500+ person trains just cancelled.
Anyway. Toddler and I found some seat reservations on the ONE reasonable alternative (can't make the earlier one, can't leave too late due to toddler being two #sleeptime).
Not a fun start.
And this was today's second "comfort jet".
Neither of them had functional toilets. The DSB IC3 due to a technical issue: seems truly a case of bad luck and not something I've encountered before.
The DB double-decker as it was so incredibly full with people sitting and standing in the corridors that toddler and I could not reach one.
Now in Hamburg waiting for an ICE with reserved seats in the child department. It'll be bliss.
Now this is traveling: the Bahn-small-child-vip-lounge. Excellent. And right next to the restaurant.
Time for quick toilet-break, maybe a fresh drink and then a two hour nap.
DB does amazing children departments in their long and longer distance trains. Like, enough to make you contemplate to at least borrow a child.
In this one there's a funny quirk: a changing table above seat 97. It's probably a good thing most parents don't realise it's there.
Fun fact: Danish DSB took the ICE children department concept as inspiration for their own long distance trains, the Talgo 230, and then successfully flipped it 180degrees.
Happily in Berlin after both toddler and adult had an excellent two hour nap in the onboard ICE VIP lounge.
Tip for parents: you can get a free mini-train-with-face toy from the DB bistro. There's a variety of designs. Toddler got the DB-doesn't-do-nighttrains-but-to-children-pretends-they-do one. It's a success.
Showing the little hobbit some of the sights. Here's the HQ of some car company I think.
Or: OMG DAD, DANDELION!
Nice thing of a city trip with a two year old is that you're out & about at around.. six.
At least it's not that warm yet. Right now it's 18 degrees. Later in the day it'll be closer to 30. 😐
We're in central station to visit a supermarket. Berlin Hauptbahnhof reminds me Germany can have massive train-stations where passengers don't feel the need to get a tetanus vaccination. Subtweeting Hamburg specifically..
Oddly enough I do find Hamburg Hbf a friendlier place to be. People are rude here.
#Berlin tourism tip: an extended visit to the Bundestag is very much recommended. Massive complex of connected buildings that ooze that democratic wholesomeness of "free stuff!".
We received pens, a first aid kit, air conditioned playgrounds and encountered lots of interesting and friendly people.
There was also the AFD offering free hotdogs, which we denied as a nazi hotdog is as good as no hotdog. The Greens compensated with vegan curry wurst.
CDU offered crayons, which seems on brand.
Pepijn
Simon dē Gulielmō 🐧
Peter Brown