Another Morning, Another Hostel!

Yes, I’m traveling again! This time, I went by bus over night from Oslo, over to Sweden, and then, at 7am this morning, I found myself in Copenhagen!

It’s been a little while since the last time I visited Copenhagen, and this time around I’m just here for two days. I basically came here for two things;

The Jason Mraz concert and to get a new tattoo!

And I’m very excited about both! I will also try to get quite a bit of writing done too. Arriving here so early gives me a good amount of hours to write and film some here in the city.

I love coming back to Copenhagen. Just like London and Amsterdam, it has such a wonderful atmosphere! First time I’ve traveled here by bus though, and I have mixed feelings about it.

I had reserved the front, single seat on the second floor, which gave me quite the view. The price was really good as well!

Now let me share some of the things I learned for future long distance bus rides:

☀️ Bring a pair of extra warm socks. You’ll want to take of your shoes, and your feet will get cold, which makes it hard to fall asleep, and just uncomfortable.

☀️ Wear a coat or bring a blanket. Again, it can get really cold!

☀️ Travel pillow!! I considered bringing mine, decided not to, and regretted that decision! I think my neck is bitter as hell because of it too.

☀️ You know those rude people that insist on talking extremely loud on their phone? Well, they will do the exact same thing, even when it’s in the middle of the night. Bring a headset, preferably those fancy ones with noise cancellation! The regular Apple headset worked to block out the worst for me.

☀️ Wear comfortable clothes! You’ll be sleeping, or just sitting, in a somewhat seated position for many hours. Make sure you’ll be as comfortable as possible. Those skinny jeans that feels like they’re hugging your calves, after a few hours of sitting in them, it will feel like they’re trying to squeeze the life out of you! Bring them wit you instead. I went for some flared, stretchy pants which made it possible to try to fold myself into in unnatural positions to try yo get comfortable 😜

So, now I’m having my morning coffee at the Hostel of this trip, and I feel ever so much wiser after 8 hours on a bus. Let’s see how much of my new wisdom will be put to use on my way home. I’m buying warm socks though, that’s for sure!

My dear lovelies, I wish you all a wonderful day! I’m about to finish my coffee and then head out into a city I know somewhat, to act like a proper tourist and get to know it even better!

If you want to follow me around in Copenhagen then add me on Instagram! I will be posting throughout the trip, as I always do😊 You can click on the picture above to get to my Instagram👆🏻

Where Are You Christmas?

Christmas is the most magical time of the year, or so I used to think.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a crazy amount of Christmas spirit. Starting to watch Christmas movies and listen to Christmas music in October, unable to wait for December to arrive to decorate my apartment, having the most fun wrapping gifts and effortlessly spreading as much Christmas joy as I could.

Something changed. I’m not sure exactly when, but this is the third year that the Christmas spirit I used to feel so strongly has been completed absent. No warm fuzzy feeling, no extra joy over all the things I used to love about this time of year, but instead I have an urgent wish to get away. All I’ve wanted for the past two holidays has been to cancel Christmas and leave. To go to some beach and just sit with my feet in the sand with a drink in my hand.

So, where did all that Christmas spirit go? Have I lost it completely? Or did I just come to realize how commercial and shallow this holiday really is?

I’m still trying to watch Christmas movies, listen to the music, hoping that it comes alive again, but I’m not sure what I’m doing for Christmas this year.

I don’t have the budget for a tropical holiday, and I’m not sure if I even want to celebrate this year. One part of me is tempted to stay at home, lock the door and just have a cozy lonely night. Another part of me wants to spend time with the family.

We’re already in November and I don’t know what I’m going to do. I really don’t know…

I think I’m broken…

If you asked anyone in my closest group of friends to point out which one of us that has the most “Christmas Spirit”, I’m pretty sure all fingers would point in my direction. I’m the kind of person that usually starts to listen to Christmas music and watch Christmas movies in October. The Christmas tree and most of the decorations are already in place in good time before December has even started. Walking through the Winter Wonderland they set up in central Oslo usually makes me all giddy and have me walking around with a big smile on my face. I love Christmas. Always have.

This year though, something is different. We just passed midnight here in Norway and it is now officially December 1st.

Have I watched a single Christmas movie?

Nope

Do I play my Christmas list on Spotify every day and sing along?

Nope

Is there a single piece of Christmas decoration up in my apartment? Come on! There must be!?

The answer is…

No….

I walked through Winter Wonderland a couple of days ago, waiting for that warm, fuzzy and giddy feeling to come over me, but it was nowhere to be found.

What I’m about to tell you is something that I don’t like to admit, but here it goes:

For the first time EVER, I’m not excited about Christmas.

Don’t get me wrong, I do look forward to spending time with my family. It’s all of the other stuff that I just can’t seem to get excited about this year. This is not a feeling that I like. I want to feel the joy of it. To have fun making meaningful presents and decorating my home. Maybe the reason why I miss it so much is the fact that it’s such a well known part of my personality. It’s a part of who I’ve always been.

I think my Christmas Spirit might be broken..

I’m not giving up just yet though. I’ve promised myself to take me out on a Christmas date soon. And when I’m done wining and dining myself, I will take me home and cuddle up on the couch with something hot in my cup and then I’m going to bring out the big guns.

We’re talking Home Alone, The Grinch that Stole Christmas, Elf and The Polar Express.

If that doesn’t do it, then I’m not sure what will!

Wish me luck 🙈

2017 Vlog 5 – Vacation Time

Taking a Break

When it comes to the summer holiday I don’t really have to go far away to get in the holiday mode at all. I just need to go home, home to my hometown.

Leander and me will be spending some time in Tønsberg/Nøtterøy and have some quality time with our family. And it feels so good to just take a break from our home and go to visit another one of our homes.

You all know how much I enjoy my travelling, and crave that feeling of jumping on a plane and going off on a new adventure, but sometimes it just feels good to go back to places you know and love.

I’m pretty sure I’ve written a post every summer about how wonderful Tønsberg is in the summer time, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a similar post ends up here this year as well.

So right now I’m taking a break. Not from writing, reading and filming, but a break from everyday life. And a much needed one at that!

Hope you’re all having a wonderful summer so far!

If you want to know what I’m up to, then follow me on snapchat: featherpen87

 

Dear British Airways

Our relationship started a short while back and I had to say that when we first met, Friday a week ago, I was very pleasantly surprised. You made everything so easy and comfortable for me, and when it was time for food, you were thoughtful about my preferences. I was met with smiles and good fun, and I thought to myself that this could be the start of a long lasting relationship.

I even missed you when I had to get a ride from your friend American Airlines for the majority of my way back home yesterday. When I got to Heathrow though, I could see that we were scheduled to be reunited once more, if only for the couple of hours it would take me to get from London to Oslo. I was looking forward to it, I really was!

Then you stood me up. I waited and waited. For hours I sat around, just hoping to at least hear from you. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I had to hear from a third party that you were delayed because of some technical issues. That’s okay, shit happens! So I settled myself with a coffee and my book, and kept on waiting. The rumours started spreading throughout Terminal 5 about you standing us up completely, so after reading a couple of chapters I went looking for someone who could give me more information.

It took a while to even find anyone who could actually answer my questions, but when I found that person, I was told that things were very uncertain. The only thing she could tell me for sure was that our date was definitely cancelled. After seven hours of waiting I got in the line (that hardly moved) to get help from your coworkers. I knew that the chances of getting a ride home that day wasn’t going to happen, but at least they would have to help me find a place to sleep, right?

After standing in line for an hour and a half though, a female friend of yours came up to us and told us that standing in that line wouldn’t do any good. All they could do when one got up to the counter was answering questions about rebooking and reimbursement. We would all have to stand in a new looooong line just to be able to get out of the airport, then we’d have to find a place to sleep and try to get in touch with you the next morning.

I was overwhelmed, jet lagged and utterly exhausted. I ended up calling my mom in tears, telling her that I had no idea how or when I would be able to get home to Norway, and even worse I struggled to just find a place to spend the night. I had a mini-breakdown right there in Terminal 5, because I felt so stood up and left out to dry.

You weren’t there and I felt like event though we’d spent some good times together, I no longer mattered to you.

That being said, the friends of yours that I did get in touch with at the airport they tried the best they could to lift my spirit. They gave me the help they could, even though it wasn’t much. And I feel bad for all of them, as well as all of us travellers.

When all of this is settled, I think I’m going to have to reconsider our future relationship.

The fact of the matter is this:

I’m angry and very disappointed. Not for the fact that some power surge ended up with me being stranded in London for who knows how long. Not for the fact that I’m here, and I have no idea where my luggage is. The reason why this is getting to me is the utter and complete lack of communication. There were children all over the airport crying and asking about when they would be able to go on their long awaited holiday. People who’d been away from their family and friends for months, just trying to get home. Old people who couldn’t stand in line for hours just to get information.

I looked around and saw plenty of speakers throughout the airport. Why on earth were we not given any kind of general information through those? Why did we all have to seek out airport staff to get the minimal amount of information that they had been given? Like I said; Shit happens! I get it! You can’t be prepared for everything, but at least help us out when you screw up. Give some kind of information so that people know what they should be doing.

So, what now?

I honestly don’t know much. I stranded in London. Luckily there was an available private room at St. Christopher’s Inn (the hostel I stayed in last time I was in London), so I have a place to stay. They won’t let me get my luggage, so now I have to go and get some clothes and toiletries for today and tomorrow. I can’t get through to British Airways’ customer service line, and they’ve told us to not show up at the airport. The only thing I know is that I won’t get home until earliest tomorrow, but I might have to stay here until Tuesday.

So I’m pretty much stranded, but at least I’m in one of my favorite citys. The sun is out and life is too short to stay mope around, so I’m going to go and lay down with a book in Hyde Park, keep trying to get a hold of British Airways on the phone, and pretend that I’m just still on holiday.

Life is a journey, not a destination, and sometimes the journey takes us on completely different paths than what you expected.

Hope you’re all having a wonderful Sunday!

Christmas Time! (Poem)

Time for more smiles and laughter 

Time for snow angels and hot coco after

*

More time with family and friends

Time for old traditions and new trends

*

When so many try a little more

To be better than what they were before

*

Cookies, cakes, candy and food 

Wonderful tastes that put you in a good mood

*

Decorating lights are everywhere 

To brighten up the darkest time of year

*

Yes, it is all of the things above

But most of all, Christmas is the time of love

*

©Christina de Vries – Geek Heaven

To Get You Into The Christmas Spirit

Just a little something to get you a little more into the Christmas spirit!

Enjoy 🙂

Insomnia

We’ve all been there, right? You know that you have to sleep. There are few hours left of the night before you have to get up to school or to work. You’re lying in bed, tossing and turning, closing your eyes and trying to sleep. You close your eyes and hope that you’ll fade into the land of dreams, but no can do.
For some reason you are wide awake.
I’n having one of those nights right now. It’s now 4.20 am in this writing moment. I have to get up at around six am and I’ve been trying to sleep since the timer passed one am. About 30 minutes ago I passed the point where I wanted to try any longer and I got up and am mentally prepared for a night without any sleep.
So whats keeping me up at night? I’m not really sure at this moment. Tomorrow is my first day back at work after the Christmas holiday and I can’t say I’m looking forward to it. We open the store at seven am which I find just absurd! Who has the need to go out shopping that early??
And of course my body has gotten used to having a few days off work. Being able to completely relax and not having to worry about anything and I’m so not ready to get back to reality just yet.
Luckily I only have two days of work before I have four days off again. My whole body and soul aches for those days! I need a break! I need time to focus my body and mind on the things that really matter!

And to be honest, my job now a days are showing me none of that. The Christmas consumerism is off the charts! People are using insanely amounts of money on gifts that aren’t personal at all. It just keeps getting worse and worse. I’m not saying that it’s true for everyone. I see some costumers who’s thought there gifts through and really want to put smiles on friends/families faces. But there are a lot more of meaningless exchange of money these days, unfortunately.
Maybe I just get extra depressed and negative about all of this because I work in a shop. The one work place where you really see all this and I don’t see all the other things that they do. And maybe I’m just too darn negative because I’m exhausted and didn’t get recharged as much the last few days as I was hoping for. No matter the reason, I’m stuck here in the kitchen wide awake writing about it and imagining how it would be to lie on a beach somewhere warm and quiet. To be able to work on my writing and to have fun with my son and my boyfriend.

Enough with the long face here.. I’m going to dive into my Stephen King book and forget the world around me until my alarm goes of and I have to get ready for work. I’ll put a smile on my face and do what I always do on a bad day; I’ll pretend that it’s the best day ever 🙂

I wish you all a wonderful day and night! And I promise to be in a more positive mood next time my fingers find their way to the keys.