The feeling of being stuck was my main motivation to start this blog and summon my witch, so I love to write blog posts about all of the things that I am once again able to do!
Ever since the pandemic does not have a grip around my life anymore, I can do things I dreamed of for years. Also, because I finally found the strength and confidence to meet many new adventures head on. I owe these to my witch, don’t you think?
The latest one was visiting Edinburgh!
What made us go were concert tickets my partner and I bought in a funny mood, but it had been a dream for years to visit this city. The adventurous part was being added by my unwillingness to fly these short distances. I prefer to travel slow and “green” as long as somehow possible.
So, in this post, I want to show you how that worked out! Getting from Mönchengladbach to Edinburgh and back only by ship, bus, and train. Are you ready?
First of all, we wanted to try out a new way of getting to London. We love taking the Eurostar from Brussels, also because our home is only two hours away, but it tends to be kind a pricy. So, we decided to try out a bus route.
We took the Flixbus from Düsseldorf to London. I was rather nervous, because the bus toilets aren’t as reliable as the ones on trains, and the journey would be overnight. Yes, a bit of inappropriate wichting information: Toilets are my biggest struggle when I travel.
After the first three hours on the bus, we arrived at Amsterdam Sloterdijk and had three hours waiting time, which we spent at a restaurant. Also, witching information number two, with the last safe toilets for the next few hours.
Now, at Sloterdijk, there’s only one departure point for buses. Buses from and to places all over Europe come and go, but I was still glad when I safely sat at the right one going directly to London. The bus had already started in Krakau in Poland, and was rather small and hot. Seriously, I was soaked after an hour in there, and it was going to be a long night. Sleeping was barely possible, and drinking with one toilet for all of these strangers was a struggle as well. Also, somewhere in France, about two hours from the cost, we were woken by the drivers, who needed to scan our passports again.
So, when we arrived at the ferry port in Calais at 3 in the morning, I was tired, sweaty, and dehydrated. When the UK border force interviewed us during passport check, I forgot for a second where I was going. Thankfully, I looked very innocent, because they just laughed and let me pass.
After almost entering the wrong bus, we finally sat and waited to enter the ferry to Dover for another hour. When finally boarding the ship, I can’t tell you how good it felt to breathe again! And to have usable toilets available again. That was needed! At about 4 AM (French time I think), we ate breakfast at sea, and I felt my spirit reviving. Enough at least to enjoy the white cliffs of Dova in the sunrise. Look at that!
When reentering the tiny, overheated bus, I eventually got some sleep. Out of desperation, I think. When I woke up, we were in London. We arrived at 9.30 AM local time, and had the whole day there. I would never complain about having a day in London, but describing it would be an own blog post. Just let me tell you, it was wonderful!
Our sleeper train to Edinburgh was set to leave from Euston Station in London at 11:45 at night, but we could enter a bit earlier. I am always fascinated by how much bigger train stations in the UK feel more like airports. The barriers to the platforms only open when the train is ready and there is always some personal around to show you the way even if you don’t ask. At least in my few experiences.
We had only booked seats on the train, but it was still a very comfortable experience. The seats were good for sleeping, the leg space was enough to stretch them fully, and the air conditioning was working. I fell asleep as soon as I had covered myself in my coat, and woke up shortly after six, when we were approaching our last stop before Edinburgh. The adventurous night before might have something to do with it, but I am still amazed that I booked a seat on a night train and still arrived rested!
We think it was worth it, although a day in London always turns out to cost as more than we anticipate. It’s part of the fun! And, we would, and probably will soon, do it again!
Now, our time in Edinburgh was purely magical, but I don’t feel ready to write a post about that, because I don’t know the city well enough after these few days, but it was wonderful!mAlso and especially listening to Lucy Rose at the Queen’s Hall! She seemed embarrassed that we travelled that far to see her, when we told her about that after the concert. That was just lovely. Also, I visited a witching museum, as I describe in this post!
But the way back is worth describing, because we’re trying out something new!
First, we took a train to Newcastle, where we also spent some time, and had a beautiful smoothy. From there, we were headed to the port of Tyne, to catch a ship home. Although there are shuttle busses available to DFDS-passengers, we kind a didn’t book that and had to take the tube. The day had already been kind a long, and we misread the tube plan, so that in the end, I had to run for a toilet at a Costa Coffee in the middle of nowhere before we could continue searching the port. You see a pattern in this witching issue!
We arrived good in time still, and boarded the King’s Seaways for an overnight trip back to Amsterdam. This option was a lot more pricey than the bus, but it came with a private cabin for both of us, and a large ferry to have a good time at. There were coffeeplaces, a bar, a cinema, and for me just enough outside space to enjoy being at sea, which I love very much! I can also recommend booking the buffet for dinner and breakfast!
From the port, we caught a bus back to Sloterdijk station, to then take a regional train home since, we live right across the Dutch-German border. I already miss being out at sea!
This was a bit of a different post, but as I said. Since this started out as a Dystopia diary, I want to share these things as well. Living in a world in which the aftermath of the pandemic seems to mean that people lost orientation and lost trust, and conspiracy theories are blooming, while wars erupt everywhere around us makes me want to do these things even more. I want to show that slow and environmental friendly travel is fun! I want to see the world and connect with people all over it to work against these disrupted forces we face on a daily basis. So, there will be more soon! In the mean time, have you read about my solo-slow-green-travel through Scandinavia?
The world is full of magic.
Mistress witch writes 