Argh this had been on the list for too long

So here I go on to end this blog about my trip.

I had written this when I was still on the ferry back home.

4.9.2010
Getting near home post.

Looking forward to seeing my friends and getting back home. Have been missing you all!

Even though I had a really good time in Europe too and made some new friends. There always is one more "home" to go to.

Thanks goes to all the people that made my trip possible! Thanks also to my bank in Finland for awesome credit. ;) Thanks for a great time together and your help in making this trip a great warm and lasting memory for me.

2.11.2010
Well I could have posted that a while ago.

But now I am ending this by posting a link to my picasa WebAlbums where I finally uploaded the rest of the pictures taken during the trip.

My web albums

No offence meant by making the pics public. If there is a problem about a pic send a mail to me and I will remove it.

Hope you enjoyed some of my posts and maybe my next trip will also be made into a story but we will see.

Just crossed over to Swedish airspace

When I started writing this. :)

The last morning in Rome was quite hectic. I had been out partying the last evening with my friends from the train. I slept only something like two hours before packing and heading out to the airport. And I woke up a bit late as usual for me. Tried to be as silent as I could as my hosts were still ofcourse sleeping. But just before heading out I had to wake her as I wanted to say thank you. We said good bye and I headed to the bus stop.

Tired face.


I had planned to take the bus to termini and the airport shuttle bus to the airport. I got to the stop and there was a bus there already. Sadly that one didn't go to termini or the locals said to wait for bus 90 thats express to termini. It came after a while but I was getting a bit anxious as the flight info said that the boarding gate closes 30 min before and the luggage drop 40 min before take off. I had only an hour when I got on the bus and the airport was far to the south of Rome.


On the bus I started asking for information on the shuttle bus. And I heard that it leaves one blog away from Termini. There was a language barrier but I understood that there is a construction site between termini and the bus. Got out and started looking for a construction site, saw it and headed to go around it while asking people for directions. I started realizing that timing is going to be really tight. Of course one lady gave wrong directions and I had to head back one blog. Frustration.

Finally I found the busses and asked the driver for the next to Ciampino. He said that the next leaves after half an hour. So I would not make it in time with the bus. So only chance was to get a Taxi. I went to a taxi post and asked the drivers for a ride to Ciampino and told the time requirement. A few drivers didn't even think of trying to make it. Luckily I found one that said he is going to do his best to get through the city in time.


We flyed through the city jumped a few red lights and honked the horn a few times.

We finally got to the highway and there was still like 15 minutes until the baggage drop closes. He said that it lookes like we are going to make it. :) Like he didn't even believe it himself when we started the ride near Termini.

Well after a few moments he dropped me of outside Ciampino airport. I ran to the baggage drop. Told the people in que that I have a flight that leaves in a few minutes. They let me go first and I realized I had made it. Got through the security and to the boardign gate. Even had to wait in line for a while.


I was so tired that I could not sleep. My mind was just going a hundred kilometers an hour but body needed sleep.


So I watched the sceneries. And it was great the sky was clear enough until we got to swedish airspace. Mountains, sea, coastline, boats other planes.


Landing went fine. And the Ryanair fanfar played as they were on schedule. Some aplauses and a laughter later we got out and were met with cold air. The Italian family, that sat next to me, started laughing about the temperature. It was sunny but cold I was still okay in my shorts though. It was my first time in Skavska and I wa a bit surprized. The terminal was really small and the plane parked next to a door to walk in.

Got my baggage and a ticket to the bus to Stockholm. It was a bit crowded on the bus platform. There was only one bus in the area so people were anxiously trying to get to the front of the line. I tried to explain that there must be more busses coming.


After the first bus took in people the rest of the busses started arriving.

Great. Now of to Stockholm Central station. And I hope to find internet somewhere so I can book a "man place" for the boat online. Its usually somewhat cheaper online. But it should be like 15€ to get to Turku.

Damn it was not that cheap on the weekends. Though I got a discount from my interrail pass. So 40€ for a man place on the evening boat. I am going to be so tired that I will propably just sleep onboard. Got a message to Mauri and he promised to pick me up at the harbour. Thanks mate!

I headed out to eat and found a great place at Kungshallen. It served steaks and ribs and pork in a combo for 14,40€ thats a deal. Mmm.
Have to suggest to you to it try if you get hungry in the center of Stockholm.

Home is near but I still got a few stories untold. Maybe i will have time to update a few while waiting for the boat.

I got to Rome on the evening of the first of September

And thanks to Rachele I got a place to stay for the two nights here. I met her in the restaurant car on the train from Bari to Rome. Good thing that we started talking. I had already sent a few couchrequests for Rome. But it seemed that the town was full of CSers. The replies were negative mostly because their couches had inhabitants already. :)

So we agreed with Rachele that I could stay in their student apartment for a night or two if I didn't get other accommodation. I was a bit relieved since budget had gone over already so nights at a hostel would just set me back more.

Even more great is the fact that now she is going to join couchsurfing community. :) So I am her first guest.

Her boyfriend Masimiato was coming to meet her on the trainstation to help her with the luggage. Our train was there around 18:00. So we went together to her place. The elevator was a bit small for us and the luggage but we managed to squese in.


I started checking if I had got a couch and sending still a few requests. No couch till 22:00 so we decided to go out for pizza and some night sights.
My hosts.


They took me to a really nice pizzeria and I got a real Italian Pizza.


We also went to see the Castel di Angelo by night wich was quite nice. So this one is for Tiina as I promised. Sending also some scrachings to Taisto and Tyyne. :)

The angels on the street heading to the castel.

To make some contrast there was Party boats next to it on the River. We clould hear the music while watching the angels.

Had a quick look to the road leading to Vatican. Have to say it was quite impressive.


I was already waiting for tomorrow to see some more Rome. And to head to Vatican. We went back home with a taxi as it was too late for busses all the way we could get on a bus halfway through though. Went to sleep and woke up many hours later. I spend the mornign writing and trying to get some idea of what to see for the day trip to Rome.

Now (13:00 on the 2.9) we are heading out with Rachele to see some sights and get lunch \ breakfest. :)

Got on the boat to Pireaus on time

I had almost ten minutes of time when I got to the boat. Easy.



Got in to the boat and was really tired so I tried to look for a place to sleep. I thought that I would sleep outside this time. I had bought a sleeping bag and carried a tent matress all way through Europe so time to use them.


There were a lot of other people also sleeping on the top decks of the ship. But they also might have had a nice surprise wake up at some point.


As you see I am under a staircase to be out of direct rain but of course there was a drainage spill from the upper floor a few meters next to me. It had slowly wet the floor an my stuff and me.

Well I was laughing as I knew that something just had to happen.

Well I went back inside to the restaurant I slept last time and got to the floor to sleep. Woke up in Pireaus and will now head to Athens to see the train schedules.

What happens in krete stays in krete

No no just joking. I 'll try to make another post about what happened in Krete. With some nice pictures. But now I am getting out of Crete with the ferry to Athens from Souda. This time they didn't give me the student discount darn. They said it is only for greek students. Well the ticket was 28€ while the ticket to get here was only 16€. I got the ticket and went to take some stuff for Elisa to her friends at her work. She was in a bit of a hurry as she took the plane back to Finland today.

I got to her work place and talked a while with Emmi and another worker there. Gave them the things and headed to get some food.

Just now I am sitting here at Soulaki Art and eating gyros a local kebab with Mythos. I have to say the local beer fits my taste. :) I am also in hurry as the Boat leaves at 21 and I have to take a bus to the harbour.

So will see if I make it as I have to pick up my stuff from the apartment and return the keys and get to the right bus stop. Whew.

Ok didn't make it to the bus so its going to be close. The bus takes 30 min and leaves 20:30 for souda harbour. There my boat leaves 2100...

The boat to Chania.

Day in Pireaus.

A late update as I didn't have Internet for a while.

Whew nice weather and warm people over here. I was a bit tired after the train trip. I decided to just go to a nearby beach and hang around over there. The locals said that they wouldn't go swimming there. Too dirty water I heard. Well I have been swimming in Turku Aurajoki when I was a bit younger and it didn't harm me too much. I decided to take a dip here also. But first I ate at some local restaurant by the harbour. I asked them to surprise me with local tastes. And took a local beer Mythos also. Well spicy meatballs with rice not that original. But that filled me up.

Then I was able to search for the beach.

Got there by local bus. Traffic was riduculous no one abides by the rules and everybody seemed to think that honking the horn gives you free passage. There were police on every corner even though there were traffic lights also.


Got out on the beach as the nice driver assisted me.

Yeah nice enough for me and free so good for the budget also.


After a few hours of mixed swimming and sleeping I was hungry. So what better way to crown a day than to eat like a bum also.

Outside with the street dogs restling for a bit on my breads.

Dessert yammyy.

It was getting near my time to board. So I headed back with the bus and got to the harbour.

Was talking to local police while they had a break from traffic control. They said that its so hectic because there is so many people in the same harbour.



Leaving the Port



Then it was time to say bye to Pireaus. On the boat I had some trouble with the service. Might be just because I was a tired and a backbager. I didn't find the showers or actually when I finally found them there was a guy there that told me: "You mustend go there"! I was: how come? He went for the wallet and showed the Police badge. I was: ok but still why? Him sorry can't tell you. But access is forbidden now.

I got to sleep in the restaurant couch. Woke up when the boat was at the harbour on Chania or actually Souda at 6:00. Going to find my way to Elisa's couch to get some more sleep.

I will update a bit more about the past day maybe later on.

Thessaloniki to Athens, trains were sold out

Damn I waited too long. The other trains were sold out. I had to get on the first one. It was a bit expencive too 28€ for a seat. Well I am going to be in Athens around noon so I will have time to see some of it though.

I didn't have time to see Thessaloniki at all. Only one pic putside of the station.

I had already got some nice advice on where to go over here and was looking forward to it. I got it from a couchsurfer that I got in contact with. Well maybe next time I get there I wont have to leave so soon. Thank you and sorry for the trouble Lia.

I got on the train to Athens just on the last minute. The conductor was going in and I screamed wait for me. He did and showed me to my seat.

And another morning in the train started. Though this was a nice one with airconditioning etc.



I was sitting with two ladies from Thessaloniki. Anastacia spoke some english and she interpreted for Sofia.


The sceneries were quite nice. On the left side you could see the mediterranian sea and on the right side the mountains. We will also pass the mount Olympus, Sofia told me. I hope the gods aren't angry on my comments on religion on the last conversation with Thomas day before. :)

On the train opposite to me and Sofia and Anastacia there were a family sitting. They had a son and a daughter around 5 and 3 years who were behaving really cutely. The daughter got my hello kitty pillow and slept with it for the morning. Again I got Finland some points by being a gentleman.


I texted with Elisa about my timing and the boat schedules to Chania. It seems I will have about six hours of time in Athens. But I will ask for boats to Souda in the harbour first and then go to see the city when I know I really have the time.

There was no electrisity in the restaurant car so I spent rest of the trip loading my cell in the toilet. Darn battery. Should get another one at some point. Well I tried to look for some info and maps for how to get to Pireas harbour from the train station while in the toilet. But I hadn't downloaded the maps when I had the change because I thought I would have time in Thessaloniki. Well tourist maps are propably enough so will get one from the station.

Phuuh. I got out of the train and I was met with a wall of dry heat. Welcome to the mediterranian atmosphere. :) I got to the station and got a ticket to Pireaus for one euro. The train would leave from platform 2 line 3. Got there and started waiting. The shadows were already fully booked so I stood in the sun. Not complaining as propably back home in Finland theres already rain and bad weather waiting for me.


Well the suburban train was quite full with soldiers. Maybe getting back home for weekend leaves. Got to pireaus but didn't notice to validate the ticket. Well luckily no inspector...

Found the boats when I got out of the suburban trainstation. Well lets search for a place that sells tickets...


Got it the ticket was really cheap and I used my student card so only 16 €. Boat will leave at 22:00 so I have more time than what I expected. Now heading out to find something to eat and to deside what to do during the day.

And they even got internet in the harbour so uploading content. :)