This tale is told, the chapter closed
When all is said and done
Only stars are left
Telling secrets of what’s been and yet to be bestowed
What a journey! Summary of my trip around Europe with Interrail in 2024.
Inspiration, initial itineraries, as well as plotted data of expenses, accommodations or people I’ve met over the course of travel.
All alone in
Lover’s city
Of Lights
And shadows
After last night of not sleeping, I finally managed to get some rest at last. I was woken up by someone’s alarm at at like 8 am. That didn’t mean I stayed up. Back to slumber I go until my alarm wakes me up. Or a few of them.
Initially I thought about getting up before 9 am, but ultimately, I slept til 9:20. I did book breakfast at the hostel, which was serving up until 10, so I had to get up finally. I mean, getting that breakfast might be useful for a day, considering the costs and everything.
No rest
I’m awake awake awake
Wake me up
I’m awake awake awake
I don’t think I slept at all before arrival at around 6:40 am. I pulled myself together and exited the train once it reached the platform in Lille. On the platform, I was a bit sleepy as I didn’t get to sleep much, a few short and interuptted naps at best. It was also still chilly outside. I looked around and went toward the main area looking for ticket office to purchase reservation for train to Paris.
No sleep
Train to train
City to city
No rest for the wicked
After sleeping for barely 1.5h, woke up half past 7am, packed and set off for breakfast in the city. During check-out, receptionist asked me what did I like the most about my stay in Amsterdam.
I didn’t quite compose myself together yet, after such short sleep and my answer was rather simple: “Not sleeping”. Oh, so did I go somewhere and partied much? Not really, just hanged out with people. To which she replied that it’s alright too.
Restful night
Yet no rest for the wicked
Fellow travellers
Yet no respite from the rain
Second day in Amsterdam! Plan for today? A breakfast at the hostel, and off to the train after 11 am. Walking tour, stroopwaffle workshop and a museum of House music.
Fellow travellers
Similar destinations
Late nights, Late trains
Little rest for weary travellers
While waiting on a train from Copenhagen at 1 am, few other people were also awaiting. Among them? Two other young people, one with a red hoodie, headphones and a suitcase and another with a sombrero-like straw hat.
I’ve approached the hat-wearing one, and asked if by any chance he was interrailing as well.
How to spot an interrailer 101? Backpack, waiting for a train, late at night.
I’m crazy but I feel amazing
Even when rhymes
Drops like rain drops
Rainy day, crazy day
After roughly 2.5h of sleep, wake up at 3:20 am to catch the train to Copenhagen with multiple transfers at 4:36.
Met a few not-so-chatty travelers that were taking similar routes to mine. Very cool and cozy train wagons, just your regular police check, some moderately sketchy traveler with a passport sleeping off and sleeping past his alarm. Nothing to worry about.
Wasted in the morning
Cloudy day
Crossed out plans
Rainbow still shines through
Bit less than 4h of sleep, and the fact that I was beat after yesterday didn’t quite help me with waking up. Eh, what a great way to start third day…
After I somehow brought myself to a usable state, I was greeted with homemade croissants my host has made. Delicious! Okay, they brighten up the day a little. Now we are ready to roll. Or to attempt some balancing on a tightrope, courtesy of my host.
Cozy coach
No plan
Lost as ever
Wasting like it’s nothing
Woke up something around 9am, and then took a walk around a nearby lake with my host towards the train station. There, got a croissant with marzipan from Le Crobag (freaking good one too! Or I was simply too hungry to tell) for breakfast and… 4h after waking up, and something like 2h after arriving at the station, finally boarded train to Central Station slightly before 13.
Worries overflow
Restless sleep
Needless troubles
Yet still on track
Before going to sleep night before, I’ve purchased Interrail pass and tried to buy “mandatory” seat reservation between Warsaw and Berlin… but as it turned out, they were all sold out. Last minute huh?
That was at 3am, and I woke up at 7am with a train at 8am. Cutting it very short from the get go. On my way from the house I also grabbed a hoodie as an absolutely last-second thing to pack into the backpack on the train. I was totally prepared. Trust. That’s being Prepared 101.