Trains, Trains and more Trains

 One of the goals of this trip was to do as much travel by train as possible. Most of our time was going to be spent in the heart of big cities and we wanted to see the countryside as well.

I'm a crafty person, and I usually have a project handy for any time I have a moment to sit. With several 6-8 hour journeys, I thought I would get all sorts of things done. Turns out that I couldn't tear my eyes away from the window.

For most trips between cities you can reserve seats. This is handy, as a lot of locals are also using these trains to commute for work, school and shopping between towns. So if you happen upon a busy route during a busy time, there is no guarantee of a seat otherwise. 

There are some that have four seats facing each other with a table in between and some that are like airplane seats, two together with trays that flip down. If we both wanted a window seat, it meant that one of us had to travel backwards, which I don't mind.

There was often wifi (or claims to having wifi - it was sketchy) and there are charging ports at each seat. Some you needed a block, some were USB ports. Service varies. In Italy we got coffee and snacks, just like on a flight. There was also a dining car where you could buy sandwiches and such. Scandinavian trains had no service of any kind, but they were much roomier and more comfortable. And, very importantly - trains have free bathrooms!!!!

Luggage generally went on a rack above your seat. There is no assistance of any kind, so you have to be able to wrangle your own bags. There is no kind of security check you have to go through. Amounts of liquids and such don't matter like on a flight. In fact, travelling from Denmark, through Sweden (where we could get off and explore) to Norway, we didn't even have to show anyone our passports.

One of the trips we were really excited about was the night train from Oslo to Bergen. We had a cabin booked with beds and were going to sleep on the train, just like in the movies! It also made practical sense too. We didn't need a hotel for the night, we got a full day in Oslo and a full day in Bergen. 

The cabin was tiny, with bunk beds and a little sink, and we had chocolates on our pillows. The beds were comfortable enough, but I found that every time the train slowed down or stopped, I woke up. It was an interesting experience, and I don't regret doing it. Without a good night's sleep, and not getting to see the views, I don't know if I would do it again.

All in all, I really loved traveling by train. It's simple and comfortable. You don't have to sit around or go through security like an airport and you get to see so much of the beautiful countryside.