Farewell, Denmark. You’ve been Spectacular. Hello, Norway 🇳🇴

August 19, 2023. Travel Adventure Log: Woke at 5AM, after having had drinks with friends at PRIDE and then back at the hostel, until 2:30AM. Running on very little sleep, I made my way on foot from the hostel to Central Station. About a 1.2km, 16 minute hike. Roughly just over a mile. Dead tired, heavy luggage, and if you know me I’m NOT a morning person. Once I reached Central Station, I was just aimlessly trying to figure out which train would get me to the Copenhagen airport for my 8:40AM Norwegian Air flight to Oslo, Norway. That was such a treat. Good thing I was early because after an hour of translating every station and stop into English via Google, I figured out what ticket and train terminal was the one needed. The train only took 12 minutes to reach the airport. The real fun began once arriving, as the lines to check my one bag and then get through security took another hour. At this point, I was wishing for cortisol injections in my feet. Like no joke, my god damn feet were throbbing and standing in lines was legit torture. This is why I hate theme parks… Anyway, I made it through security without anything other than a full body pat down, super glad I had showered and prepared for that. Minus the sweat that had already accumulated during the journey to that point. Found my gate. My flight was on time. Was a bit sad to be leaving Denmark, it’s fascinating and wonderful. But I’m simultaneously excited for this next part of the adventure- like, how many people do you know that can say they’ve been to Norway?! Psyched.

These memories I’ve made thus far in both Sweden and Denmark, they’re incredible. I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I made my own ‘schedule’, which was basically not having a ‘schedule’ and saw and experienced even more than anticipated. Not to mention, to be in such an open and diverse country during PRIDE WEEK, that just made me feel so full of love and joy for humanity.

Wish me luck getting from the Oslo airport to my hostel, K7. As there were no Ubers in Denmark due to their sustainability and carbon consciousness- I have no idea what to expect when it comes to travel modes in Norway. We shall see…

Ok. They have Uber here. But holy hell is it beyond reasonably priced. The trek via Uber was asking NOK 869 (roughly US$82). The taxis, even worse. They START at NOK 1555 (US$146). Being a reasonable person, at times, I could not justify the cost. So I went another route- finding an Express Train, going from the airport into the downtown Oslo vicinity where my targeted destination is. Having no idea what I was doing, yet again, I purchased a Norwegian ticket via a kiosk at the airport. I then translated signs and found that there were escalators going underground, I figured that must mean TRAIN. Not to brag or anything, but I was totally on point and found the right track the first try. I ended up purchasing the train ticket for NOK 230 (a very logical, US$22). The train will take me to ‘National Theatret’ on a 26 minute ride- the endpoint destination is approximately 1km from where I need to be. So yet again, I have a 15 minute walk with the damn luggage.

Sweet baby Jesus that took everything in me. EXHAUSTED is simply not a sufficient enough explanation of how I feel- my entire body is just aching and throbbing. You don’t realize it as it’s happening, it’s a wonder really. You just, keep going. Maybe it’s the adrenaline of the new experiences and the adventure of it all? Whatever it is, I’m still full steam ahead and intend to spend every waking hour chasing that adventure while exploring. For now, it’s time to take a seat and have a well deserved AUTHENTIC fish fry and 1887 Irish (‘copied’ by the English) hard cider at the Irish pub directly across the street from my hostel- ‘The Dubliner Folk Pub’. Man oh man, I can’t wait to get over to Ireland in person, they do fish and chips better than the Brits! 🤫

I’m sitting here, making talk with the Irish bartender, who’s a gem of a young woman. And the phenomenal chef, a Zimbabwean, as well as a regular patron who moves around from country to country working for various jobs that allows the country hopping- his legal nationality though, is British. All while, I have my laundry being washed across the street at my hostel. Check-in is not until 4PM (I arrived just after 12PM). But after flirting with the beautiful receptionist she let me into the laundry room- killing several birdies with a small stone. Multitasking is definitely a hard strength (remember to add that to resume). This beauty also suggested some gay bars/clubs for tonight, as it’s going to be a ‘hopping’ Saturday night. Apparently, it’s advised to arrive to the locations around 10:30PM for the start of the ‘prime action’. Which now means…it’s beyond time for a cold shower, and a NAP. 😮‍💨🥱