Tag Archives: Europe train

Jul25

The train from Prague to Vienna

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Saturday, 29-June-2024


I arrived at the train station in Prague a bit early – enough time to do a little bit of sightseeing of the outside of the glorious baroque train station that I found myself in. I look photos, oogled the detail and gilding of the exterior, then made my way inside to appreciate the air conditioning and people watching that the gallery / mall / station offered.

It’s been really neat, seeing so many Liminal Spaces – those places and areas that aren’t really a destination on their own, but are instead an interstitial place, an area to be between areas. Which feels strange, in context of train stations like this, since they’re so absolutely beautiful! They don’t fit that 2019-era “hotel hallway” aesthetic of a liminal space… but are still a location that isn’t really a destination of its own.

I’ve enjoyed my time in these spaces throughout my adventure. I have a great habit of arriving with time to spare – in the case in Prague, I arrived about 90min early… with a full 60min before the train’s platform was even assigned. That gives a sense of calm that I really enjoy – I can’t rush, because I’m simply waiting. I can read, people watch, or simply sip coffee and nibble at a pastry like I did in Prague.



Soon enough, though, I was on the train and being whisked onward to my Maternal Grandfather’s boyhood home. The city that had spurned him, but had welcomed me back with open arms.

Vienna awaited.

Jun17

The train from Oslo to Stockholm

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Sunday, 26-May-2024


Ohh my lord, trains make me nauseous.

I was not aware of this fact, prior to the train departing from Oslo toward Stockholm. I’d taken an electric scooter to the central terminal, arrived a bit early, and relaxed while reading my book for a lovely and quiet hour… Not thinking that I’d be desperately staring at the horizon and willing my head to remain attached to my shoulders in a short hour or two.

I have Dramamine, of course, in preparation for some upcoming ferry rides… but I hadn’t expected to need it on this beautiful Sunday and so it was packed down somewhere in my luggage.


Stepping back.

I got to the train station about two hours ahead of time… a bit above the hour and a half that the information person had recommended to me the day before when I scouted out the route from my apartment to the station. I’d had some light breakfast; a cup of coffee and a pastry, if I recall, and was feeling good.

The train arrived, I boarded, and then we were off about 15min later. As the train left, I realized (belatedly) that my seat was facing backwards… not ideal, but I didn’t think too much of it for the first minute or so… after which, I quickly realized just how closely the rocking of the train resembled the rocking of a ship at sea.

My ears couldn’t tell the difference. I quickly moved to an open front-facing seat, but by that point the damage was done and there was no going back. I focused on the horizon out of the window, and set my mind to keeping breakfast where it was. Once it was sufficiently tamed, and my hunger was starting to pique, I made my way to the food car in search of ginger ale and food… I found pepsi and spaghetti, which… sort of worked? The pepsi was cold, at least, and holding it to my head and neck did some good for my sanity.

I survived, though the ride wasn’t nearly as enjoyable as I’d hoped and the amount of blog / photo work I got done was basically nonexistent, occurring in quick snips while the train was stopped at a station. I survived, though, and was able to take some pictures out the window as we rushed part the staggeringly beautiful Norwegian / Swedish countryside at nearly 200km/hr.