Woke up to glorious sunshine and the most delightful surprise. Niki had resigned herself to purselessness, but when we checked out of the hostel, there it was! On a shelf at the back of the hostel office! She just screamed. Every blessed thing was intact, right down to the last Deutschmark. It sure restored our faith in human nature. My guess was it was the hostel card inside that hinted where we were staying, but what impossible luck!
It was a lighthearted day despite having to lug around our bags. When we got to our evening train, in lots of time, we were thrilled to find an empty couchette, but just as we settled down an impatient German conductor chased us out. We found another one with two guys in it. Niki was keen but I put my foot down. Sleeping in a train with two strange men was just too worrying. I’m learning that if I pick my moments to say ‘no’ it’s more powerful and Niki has no problem with it at all, merely shrugging her shoulders. And I know she’s not so stupid as to have sex at any cost. After wandering down long aisles with our bulging packs mashing through narrow doors, we found another couchette with a young couple in it. They seemed really pleasant. When the same conductor came by he scowled at us and said some things which I’m sure weren’t very nice, but the couple spoke back and he left with a stormy look. I got the feeling the couple didn’t think much of him either.
They are brother and sister on their way back home to Copenhagen. What a coincidence, that’s where we’re going! As soon as Niki found out they weren’t married, she got her glittery lion love eyes on and chatted almost exclusively with the guy, Jens. I wasn’t sure about him yet – he had a tattoo, an earring and a distant attitude, but his sister Ana was friendly in a forceful kind of way. The first thing she said to me was my handshake was too limp and I’d better learn how to do it properly or I’ll never get ahead in the world. I am a little cowed by Ana. We thanked them for their help and took the top bunks, lying in hot, airless discomfort, but at least we were horizontal and safe from marauders.
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