AUTOBAHN / the photo journal
Sunday - June 1st, 2008 We woke up early on Sunday morning because the boat to Sweden was departing at 8:45 am so we had to be there at 7:45, even though we were at bit late, 8:00, we were in time to check-in and drive into the boat on time. This was my first time i was the driver on a boat trip so i was a bit sacred to park my car into this crowded car deck, but everything went well, so far. When got onboard we went to sleep pretty quick and woke up at around 3pm, walked around the deck a while and then went to the restaurant to have some meatballs with mashed potatoes, the best. Some hours later we headed down to the car deck to be prepared to get out. We had trouble finding the right door to the car deck and in the last minute we luckily found our car. It was very tight and hard to get inside the car, before we knew, a big truck next to us started driving out, nearly taking our right back door with it, but messed it up good, good enough making us unable to close the door. The truck drove away from the scene and we had to drive out with Melanie holding the door closed, from the front seat. Later we also found out that our car had hit the car in front on the car deck and the front license plates had fell off. In the harbour we asked for some numbers we could call to get help. Anywhere i tried to call they either didn't know anything or directed my call forward, again to someone who had no idea, not even Stockholm's police. So there we were, a bit outside of the centre of Stockholm, with a car we couldn't continue our trip with. Luckily after a long discussion with a local woman who directed us to a gas station with a repair shop. Well we arrived there but ofcourse because it was Sunday, the repair was closed. But a man sitting there enjoying his hot-dog overheard my conversation with the sales clerk offered to help and had us drive our car in the back. He took some tools and started banging our door with a rubber hammer and used some various tools, i wish i had gotten the beating on video, unfortunately i didn't. Amazingly enough he got the door straightened enough for us to close it and lock the car. So a big thanks to the man with the hot-dog, you saved our day and the trip. After this we started driving down to Rödby (Denmark) which was in total of 848 kilometres. In Malmö we drove over the big bridge, Öresundsbron, to get over to Denmark. We arrived to our camping place in Rödby called Lystskov at 7am and waited one hour in my car for it to open and so we could sign in. We did that and started to put up our tent when we realized that we had forgot the matress back home in Finland, luckily we got two good ones rented from the camping place, even better one that we had in Finland so. We slept in a hot tent some hours and at 1.30pm we continued our drive to the harbour in Rödby to go over to Germany. After arriving to Puttgarden we continued our drive Melanie's friend, Babette, who lives in a little village called Heudeber. But first we had to take the ferry from Rödby over to Puttgarden (Germany). No problems on the car deck this time, luckily. We arrived to Puttgarden safely and started a 410 kilometer drive and arrived to Heudeber in the evening, at around 9pm i believe it was. Had a little snack and an well-deserved shower, boy that really made me feel alive again. Not shortly after this we went to sleep, nice sleep.
Tuesday - June 3rd, 2008 Woke up with a very sore back, but got eventlually a bit better. We drove off to the nearby city of Wernigerode with Babette and her boyfriend Michael. There we took a horsecarriage-ride up to the a big hill and to an very nice castle, great views down to the city, and the castle wasn't all that bad either, hehe. We walked down from there to the city and went to an ice-cream bar and had some delicious ice-cream. When we got back to Heudeber we had a nice barbeque with Babette, Michael and Babette's parents, whom we were staying at. We had some BBQ and when we had survived that, we drove back to Wernigerode for some bowling, three rounds to be excact, and so much about the score that Finland defeated Germany with great numbers. After bowling we went back to get sleep...
Got ready to drive on to Elshof, to Melanie's friend Leeny whom we would later meet up with in Cologne. We packed our bags and car. Before we left we had to get a green sticker for our car, a permit to drive the car in Cologne. They have green, yellow and red areas in the city, depending on how much your car pollutes. With the green one you could drive anywhere in Cologne, the yellow one a bit outside the centre and the red even further out. We went to a car repair shop in Wernigerode, but aparently something was missing from my car registration so they couldn't go on with the measuring. Great! Well despite this we started to drive to Elshoff and got there around 6.30pm and were there for couple of hours before continuing the drive to Mel's parents in Borken. Before the drive i searched for the nearest McDonald's on the GPS and we had a little eat there before the actual drive. We arrived to an warm, rainy and extremely humid Borken at around 1am. Went straight to sleep, even though i didn't get much of that. The drive from Heudeber to Borken through Elshoff was a total of 582 kilometers.
When i woke up at around 10:15am i had a quick shower after which i had breakfast with Melanie. Not long after that i met Melanies mom, Heike. Nice to finally meet her after all this long waiting. A bit later, Melanie's brother, Marcel, came home from school so i got to meet him too for the first time. We went with Marcel to the city for Melanie to change her address officially to Finland. When we got back we sat out in the backyard, in the warm summer air and talked with Marcel and Mel's mom. Melanie's dad, Ludger, came home a while after this and again, was nice to meet him too. We soon had barbeque, again. Lots of meat and sausages and good sallad and ice tea, great times. We all sat out in the backyard until 10 pm before heading to bed. A nice day it was.
We got up early to go to another car repair shop Melanie's father called the day before and recommended to get that darn green sticker and this time we had no problem getting it, so we were ready for Cologne! Later we went to the city to meet up with Melanie's friend, Melanie. We went to an ice-cream bar, i'm really bummed out that we don't have these in Finland, because they rock. Anyway, we had some ice cream. After this me and Mel went to some stores before returning back to her parents place, where we hung out the rest of the day. Sat out late in the backyard with Mel's dad talking, luckily his english was good enough for conversation, whereas Mel's mom didn't speak english.
Got up early and started driving to Cologne at 6 am, destined to be at the Cologne airport at 8 to pick up the first of Melanie's friends to join us at a camping adventure in Cologne. We arrived to the airport (210 km) a bit before 8 and after a while of searching we found the right place to be, where to pick up her friend, Lisi (aka Lisa if im not totally wrong). We went to the city and searched a while for a good place to park and after a while we found a somewhat good one and headed into the city for breakfast, to this little place called Merzenich. After breakfast we searched for the allmighty music store, which i was (and still am) very interested in, and we did find it, but i couldn't go in yet. We went back to my car and drove to the camping place and figured we'd leave the car there and take the bus into town and get the rest of the gang there, but we ended up getting my car again to get to the centre. Driving in Cologne (even with GPS) isn't so fun and easy, not looking forward to that anytime soon. We went to the train station to pick up Mööpi (whos real name i can't get into my little head at this point) and Kitti (aka Melina). I met them two last time i was in Germany last summer too. We went to a LIDL in Cologne to get some barbeque stuff: sausages, meet, toast and some soda to wash all down with. Mööpi got some mini-salami which were really great. Last up to meet was Leeny (aka Eileen), who we had visited some days earlier in her home in Elshof. After a long and painful effort to find parking, with Leeny also being with her car. We drove both cars to the parking house at the Music Store. I went up to look at drums and whatnot and the rest of the girls went somewhere else, not really sure where but. I had a great time at the music store, jammed on some electronic drums, tried out the little gadget by Roland i've been wanting to have for a long time. First time i actually played on it, and i want it - too bad it's quite expensive, maybe some day, for those who are more interested, it's an Roland SPD-20 multieffect drumpad. When i was done i met up with the girls and we drove off to the Camping place. Arrived there and found a place to set up our two tents. Had small comlications with that but we got it after a while. Then as we had accomplished the tent mission, we got a new challenge; the grill. Me and Mel had brought our electronic grill with us but it kept burning fuses so we didn't get it to work in other words. But the kind neighbours of ours lent us their coal grill which was still hot and gave some extra coal to us so we could barbeque. So thanks to you. We had such a great time that evening. After all barbeque and crazy-ness we slowly went to sleep in our tents.
We woke up at the camping place around noon, i believe it was. We (minus Kitti) went to look for some place to eat in a village near the camping place, but none to be found, so i searched for McD's on my GPS and voilá, we got there in some time. After delicious fries and cola (healthy breakfast). Then we had to say goodbye. to my new friends. Hope to meet them soon again, either they come here or we go back to Germany, i had such a blast that weekend. Thank you! We headed to Mel's aunt after our goodbyes in Cologne. She lived in Merkel (i believe it was) which is about 35 km from Borken. We arrived there at around 5pm i believe it was. There awaited Mel's Aunt (dad's sister), uncle Uwe (dad's brother) and his wife and one cousin, really bad with remembering names, sorry about that). There we were, once again having barbeque, but i was on vacation so it's ok. After a nice barbeque we headed back to Borken where i watched football with Mel's dad, the european championships started and we watched Germany's debut game, against Poland, which Germany naturally one with 2-0.
Woke up at some time, can't remember. Went into the town with Mel to get postcards and medecine for my allergie, was having lots of allergic "stuff" going on almost the entire trip. Went also to LIDL to get some energy drinks for the drive home, we would face some days later. We also picked up some shaked for me, Mel and Mel's parents from our good friend Ronald McDonald. I had strawberry, naturally. Later that evening we packed my car full of Mel's moving stuff, we had the whole trunk and backseat full with stuff for the way home. After this we had to say goodbye to Mel's mom, since we wouldn't see her in the next morning before we would start driving. Sad moment.
Woke up early, at around 6 am or so. Packed the last of our stuff into the car. Said farewell to Mel's dad and brother, before heading towards Stockholm, the longest drive i've ever done. Was sad to leave Borken, hopefully we can come back soon. We started driving at around 7.15 am and drove all day. Can't remember what time we were where. We safely made it to Denmark with the ferry from Puttgarden and through Denmark. Whenwe came to Sweden we stopped near Malmö for some shakes at McD and stopped by an Lidl and bought some german sausages, yum. Continued driving... Monday - June 11th, 2008 At around 1am i was feeling very tired, about 200 km before Stockholm, i was seriously tired so i had to have a break. Visited a gas station, bought a sandwitch and some orange juice plus some fresh air from outside. I got enough energy from this to do the final kilometres to Stockholm. We arrived at 3am and drove to the Harbour and parked in the check-in line at 3.15 and slept in the car until they started to check-in, which was at about 6.45. We drove on board and went to our economy cabins where we had to make our own beds and had to use public bathrooms, none in the cabins. But we got to sleep finally and when we woke up we had some lunch, yet again meatballs with mashed potatoes. Really love that food on the boat. Hung around until we were in Turku at 8pm local time. Drove quickly home and finally we were home, 1.400 kilometres later. This was the journey in its entirety, sorry if its a bit messy and rushed at some point, quite tired while writing this. I hope you read it and found it interesting. The trip in itself was amazing, minus the last driving stretch from Borken to Stockholm. Thank you to all who i had the chance to meet and get to know on this trip, hopefully we'll see you soon again. Take care and *big hug* peace love and understanding, |
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