Day 8: Copenhagen/Stockholm - Goodbye & Hello!
After 2.5 days in Denmark, it is time to leave for my next destination - Stockholm! Although I had a Scandinavian rail pass, I nearly missed the requirement to reserve seats for all high-speed intercity trains. Thankfully, I asked at the Central Station the day before and had a seat reserved.
Goodbye CPH Downtown Hostel!
The 8.28am train left promptly. The ride was comfortable, and there was free wifi on the train. What I really like about Scandinavia so far is that everything works here. It is such a joy for the travellers - need to store luggage? Yep, you have it at the train station. Speak English only? No problem. Hygiene issues? No problems at all. Tap water is perfectly safe to drink. Need to get around? Sure - everything from bus, trams, metro, trains, flights - the system works and is always on time.
There wasn't much scenery to enjoy on the train as it was raining nearly the entire journey. Instead, I spent some while catching up with friends from home on the wifi.
After 5 hours, I arrived at the Stockholm central station to marginally better weather. The Queen's Hotel is about 10 minutes walk from the station. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the hotel is situated on one end of a busy shopping street. There was a book fair going on that day. The entire street down to Gamla Stan (Old Town) was lined with book stalls. As it was only 2pm, I could not check-in until 3pm. I decided to take a stroll down to Gamla Stan.
More locks?!
My first impression was that Stockholm IS a beautiful city, yet it doesn't overwhelm you with its beauty. I like the city colours and the city plan seems well laid out. You can find many photo opportunity at nearly every turn and corner. Stockholm is self assured in its beauty and you get the sense that she doesn't try too hard. In contrast, Copenhagen may not be as beautiful, but she is confident and unassuming in her many fascinating church steeples, Slots, and H.C. Andersen's fame.
I decided to call it a short day today and returned to check-in at the hotel later in the evening. The Queen's Hotel is lovely indeed. The old fashioned lift was very charming, and the lobby and rooms were decorated with good taste. However, there was no kettle for boiling water and making coffee although they provide this at the lobby.
The 8.28am train left promptly. The ride was comfortable, and there was free wifi on the train. What I really like about Scandinavia so far is that everything works here. It is such a joy for the travellers - need to store luggage? Yep, you have it at the train station. Speak English only? No problem. Hygiene issues? No problems at all. Tap water is perfectly safe to drink. Need to get around? Sure - everything from bus, trams, metro, trains, flights - the system works and is always on time.
There wasn't much scenery to enjoy on the train as it was raining nearly the entire journey. Instead, I spent some while catching up with friends from home on the wifi.
After 5 hours, I arrived at the Stockholm central station to marginally better weather. The Queen's Hotel is about 10 minutes walk from the station. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the hotel is situated on one end of a busy shopping street. There was a book fair going on that day. The entire street down to Gamla Stan (Old Town) was lined with book stalls. As it was only 2pm, I could not check-in until 3pm. I decided to take a stroll down to Gamla Stan.
More locks?!
My first impression was that Stockholm IS a beautiful city, yet it doesn't overwhelm you with its beauty. I like the city colours and the city plan seems well laid out. You can find many photo opportunity at nearly every turn and corner. Stockholm is self assured in its beauty and you get the sense that she doesn't try too hard. In contrast, Copenhagen may not be as beautiful, but she is confident and unassuming in her many fascinating church steeples, Slots, and H.C. Andersen's fame.
I decided to call it a short day today and returned to check-in at the hotel later in the evening. The Queen's Hotel is lovely indeed. The old fashioned lift was very charming, and the lobby and rooms were decorated with good taste. However, there was no kettle for boiling water and making coffee although they provide this at the lobby.
posted by Lonoxon at 9:15 pm
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