Every travel blog needs a quick note about the transportation of the area. In some cases the ways of getting around are not that new or exciting, but each journey has its unique moments, even on the “regular” commute.
Yesterday I rode the SJ train from Stockholm to Gothenburg. The 4.5-hour commute took us through many farming areas and wide open fields. Apart from the Chunnel that crosses the English Channel, I haven’t been on a train since I was 6 and asleep. Thus this trip was special…and smelly. I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but multiple dogs climbed on board. Some were big huskies but most were little lap dogs, or as the ones in my car looked, mops. Somehow they survived holding in any waste that could have escaped due to nature’s call or total terror of this moving box. But dogs smell like dogs and so do their breath. On top of that, the brakes smell awful the half dozen times the train screeched to a halt to pick up more passengers. Really, I don’t have any complaints. I arrived safe and sound, had a very pleasant ride as I wrote postcards, read and slept, and had plenty of room to put my feet up and relax.
Scandinavia ought to be called the bike capital of the world. No matter what the weather, people commute via bicycle. Rarely does one see a mountain bike. Instead people ride simple bikes with a basket on the front and a bell to warn pedestrians. Only bike parking lots exist unless of course one discovers a tiny underground lot, so small one has to hold his breath in order to make the car fit. Cars of course are quite small, they all look the same and they zoom in and out of traffic with owners playing James Bond with the manual transmission. The only car of color I saw was behind windows in a Ferrari dealership.
Ferries are also quite popular in this area. Sweden is surround by little islands on the east and west coasts so ferries help locals and tourists visit the little spots of paradise. Ferries run as frequently as the metro that makes commuting across the water so feasible. Of course, many sailors and paddle-boaters alike have found other means, but such activities distract me from taking pictures.
Finally: the feet. Mine are up as I write because no matter how much public transport I use, I still end up walking miles. If I could do anything again, it would be to wear a pedometer while I was here. I love visiting a city by foot and there’s no better way to rationalize an extra piece of strawberry cake than another journey to the metro station. While tourists can have the weirdest choice in footwear, I’m happy to report no outlandish styles required ridiculous footwear. I rarely saw stilettos and the weather is too warm for tall boots. Canvas shoes are all the rage, so while they don’t provide a great deal of support, they do allow one’s feet to get a massage on the cobblestone.
No comments:
Post a Comment