Last day of hitch-hiking, but not an easy one. I had to travel around 475 km before System Of a Down start its concert. I had around 12 hours time but I already had the ticket so it was necessary to be there on time.. but also awake! Hitching is a tiring activity sometimes.
For the first time during the trip, I had an alarm for morning, that I would succeed on my effort. I woke up 7 am, sun shined. Went straight to the petrol station looking for lift. I met two German hitch-hikers. They were just starting their trip. The boy even gave me a sandwich :). I asked for a lift around 1½ hours, until a young woman came to me and said she could drive me to Bremen. Wow! Young women rarely do that. It was nice talking with her. With her sport car, I got quickly to Bremen. She left me to a big petrol station. I went to look for a lift to Osnabrück, my next destination.
After 1 hour, a big truck stopped there. It was loaded with pigs, probably going to a slaughterhouse. It was easy to notice them due to the noises. I went to see them. There were so many of them. I wanted to cheer them up a bit. Only thing which came to my mind was that I gave the rest of the raisins to them I had with me, so they could chew something sweet and tasty before getting slaughtered.
Finally, I got a lift from 3 elder people. They haven't ever took a hitch-hiker before. They were going to Osnabrück, to see their relative's newborn child. One of their children liked Finland a lot. They took plenty of pictures of me, because it was such a unique experience for them. I asked them to send those pictures to me but they never did, unfortunately :/.
Immediately after the lift, I spotted a car with the Netherlands-registration plate. This could go to right direction. There was a middle-aged woman filling that car. She was suspicious at first but accepted to take me when I said I'm from Finland. It was also the first time for her to take a hitch-hiker. She laughed to herself that her daughter will be shocked about this. She was clever and analytical. It was inspiring to talk with her. She drove me to Enschede, to a petrol station. She really gave me a good mood.
After 10 min, I got a lift from a Danish truck driver. He couldn't speak English very well and wasn't very talkative, so I slept most of the time. He drove me to 10 km from Amsterdam. I thanked him a lot. After 5 min, I got a lift from a young guy who drove to Amsterdam city centre. He worked at Amnesty International and had done lots of things with the alternative music scene in Amsterdam. He said the atmosphere in there is going stricter. Local government isn't that liberal anymore and doesn't give space for alternative people to arrange events. He was cool.
Then, finally, I got to Amsterdam. Last destination reached, very smoothly. And it was only 2 pm.
Distance traveled for the day: 475km
Writing platforms can be found anywhere!
Manifesting depths on mud
maanantai 21. lokakuuta 2013
sunnuntai 13. lokakuuta 2013
Tuesday 20.8 (Day 20) Billund- Hamburg
I spent my night in Zadar airport. During security check, I had to give away my little Swiss knife, which had been traveling with me the last 10 years. It had come very handy in every situation. I should have known that this might happen but.. no can do.
Therefore, I got a bit sad. I started to make a hitching sign while waiting for the flight. One young guy noticed this and came talking with me. He was boheme, liberal, from Copenhagen and had also done hitch-hiking. We came along well. He was coming from the Rainbow-gathering. He said his father could give me a short lift from Billund airport, which was a positive surprise. We talked about structural flaws in society and democracy :). Pretty high-flown.
After arrival in Billund, we met a young nice group also coming from Lost Theory. A bit later I found out that my new friend's father wasn't able to give me a lift, but fortunately, the group we met were so kind to give me a lift to a petrol station near Vejle. It was along the highway, so I could easily get a lift towards south.
However, it wasn't as easy as I thought. I had to ask from many trucks and cars, lasting around 1½ hours. There was even one truck with Finnish registration sign!!
Finally, I got a ride from a car. He was a middle-aged man, and had given lifts before. I travelled around 40 km to south, to Kolding. There I got almost immediately a 10 km lift. They left me to a break spot for cars. After an hour of searching, Romanian truck driver drove me near to Germany border. He was funny and smart fellow. It's always interesting to hear critical thinking of one's home countries, this time Romania. The thing is interesting there. They have such a beautiful landscape, lots of natural resources, potential for tourism, but still the country's not doing very well. Of course heritage from Cold War and Ceausescu (the dictator) still effects.
The driver had this funny cigarette-making machine, which I hadn't ever used before. He didn't think he would return to Romania for a while. He lives in Germany, tries to search a fine lady and drives a truck around the neighbor countries. He had a dream of traveling around places and searching for old castles.
He left me next to truck toll, where the trucks continue their destination. I got a lift almost immediately. He was going to Hamburg but because of strict working hour-agreements, he couldn't continue any further because his daily working hours were finished. So he had to left me to break spot, about 70 km from Hamburg to north. I thanked him very much and he felt a bit sad because he couldn't drive me any further. I didn't expect this to happen but decided to continue because there was still light. However, there wasn't many cars at the break spot, which whom to ask.
I asked from an elder couple. First they were a bit suspicious but then they were able to help me. However, at the same time, another car stopped. I went to ask from the driver and he said he was able to drive me near Hamburg. I thanked the elder couple and jumped in to the car. He couldn't speak well English but I found out he was a car mechanic. He was extremely helpful. As we stopped to a petrol station around 10km from Hamburg, he came with me to search for a lift, but I said he doesn't need to do that. I thanked him and went to look for a lift to Bremen. It was already dark, so it's harder to find one. People think me as more suspicious (than normally).
One driver first said they were going to a different direction, but as we looked at the map, we found out his direction is even better than my route. He thought for a second and finally said the car is full....
I mean, why didn't he say that in the beginning? He gave me hope and then smashed it. Well, I just said how unfortunate and continued hitching for few minutes but got tired and motivation was also gone. I went to look for a place to sleep, and found one behind the petrol station, in a little forest. First it was very pleasant but later I found out I should have used wool socks, because the night was already a bit cold
Distance travelled for the day: 286 km
Therefore, I got a bit sad. I started to make a hitching sign while waiting for the flight. One young guy noticed this and came talking with me. He was boheme, liberal, from Copenhagen and had also done hitch-hiking. We came along well. He was coming from the Rainbow-gathering. He said his father could give me a short lift from Billund airport, which was a positive surprise. We talked about structural flaws in society and democracy :). Pretty high-flown.
After arrival in Billund, we met a young nice group also coming from Lost Theory. A bit later I found out that my new friend's father wasn't able to give me a lift, but fortunately, the group we met were so kind to give me a lift to a petrol station near Vejle. It was along the highway, so I could easily get a lift towards south.
However, it wasn't as easy as I thought. I had to ask from many trucks and cars, lasting around 1½ hours. There was even one truck with Finnish registration sign!!
Finally, I got a ride from a car. He was a middle-aged man, and had given lifts before. I travelled around 40 km to south, to Kolding. There I got almost immediately a 10 km lift. They left me to a break spot for cars. After an hour of searching, Romanian truck driver drove me near to Germany border. He was funny and smart fellow. It's always interesting to hear critical thinking of one's home countries, this time Romania. The thing is interesting there. They have such a beautiful landscape, lots of natural resources, potential for tourism, but still the country's not doing very well. Of course heritage from Cold War and Ceausescu (the dictator) still effects.
The driver had this funny cigarette-making machine, which I hadn't ever used before. He didn't think he would return to Romania for a while. He lives in Germany, tries to search a fine lady and drives a truck around the neighbor countries. He had a dream of traveling around places and searching for old castles.
He left me next to truck toll, where the trucks continue their destination. I got a lift almost immediately. He was going to Hamburg but because of strict working hour-agreements, he couldn't continue any further because his daily working hours were finished. So he had to left me to break spot, about 70 km from Hamburg to north. I thanked him very much and he felt a bit sad because he couldn't drive me any further. I didn't expect this to happen but decided to continue because there was still light. However, there wasn't many cars at the break spot, which whom to ask.
I asked from an elder couple. First they were a bit suspicious but then they were able to help me. However, at the same time, another car stopped. I went to ask from the driver and he said he was able to drive me near Hamburg. I thanked the elder couple and jumped in to the car. He couldn't speak well English but I found out he was a car mechanic. He was extremely helpful. As we stopped to a petrol station around 10km from Hamburg, he came with me to search for a lift, but I said he doesn't need to do that. I thanked him and went to look for a lift to Bremen. It was already dark, so it's harder to find one. People think me as more suspicious (than normally).
One driver first said they were going to a different direction, but as we looked at the map, we found out his direction is even better than my route. He thought for a second and finally said the car is full....
I mean, why didn't he say that in the beginning? He gave me hope and then smashed it. Well, I just said how unfortunate and continued hitching for few minutes but got tired and motivation was also gone. I went to look for a place to sleep, and found one behind the petrol station, in a little forest. First it was very pleasant but later I found out I should have used wool socks, because the night was already a bit cold
Distance travelled for the day: 286 km
maanantai 7. lokakuuta 2013
Friday 16th- Monday 19th (Days 16-19) Festival life + Deringaj- Zadar
Lost Theory- festival life:
I won't depict details of my festival life, but I say some general and interesting events.
Festival area was a broad valley, surrounded by mountains covered by forest. There ran a river just next the festival area. It was part of a nature protection area. It was allowed to swim in the river, and the water was very refreshing under a hot climate. Nights were cold, though.
Music was mostly psychedelic music, techno, house, minimal end experimental. And decoration was mind-blowing, especially during the night. Imaginary shapes pointed at the trees with using lights and different materials, with the music sounds. Rather surrealistic. And then all the people wandering around the area, dancing like beasts in their own flow throughout the night, chilling around. It was easy to meet new people and the atmosphere was international.
Afterwards I heard all the electricity was generated through aggregates. It was a big negative side, because the festival wanted to market itself as environmentally friendly.
I had some sketchy meetings with people in weird environments. Well, they improved my self-consciousness and I could learn new things about myself, but one certain amazing event happened.
During the last night, I couldn't dance anymore, it was around 4 am. First I thought of going to sleep, but instead, I started walking to the river, in the dark, with my head lamp. As I thought, there was a campfire, other side of the river. I walked over the dam with my barefoot, because the dam was underwater. I went next to the campfire. There were some French people, which couldn't speak English very well, and then a Bosnian guy. Others went sleeping and I kept on talking with the Bosnian guy. He loved the area, and nature in there. He had been there for ages and wanted to keep it pure and clean. Apparently, there was some debate that the area will be sold to someone, who would block open access to the place. We stayed awake till the sun rose, talking philosophical things, praising women (especially our mother's) and drinking beer. I went swimming to the cold river. It was magical cos' no one was around and fog rose from water. I heard only the sound of river rapids. I could even warm myself with the campfire. I said goodbye to the Bosnian guy and went sleeping.
On Monday, Lost Theory was over, and I had to get to Zadar somehow, cos' my flight was about to leave there on next day. I said goodbye to all nice people I had met there and headed for the parking area. I asked for a lift and had a sign. After a while, however, I decided to take a minibus there. I was very tired so it was an easy choice. There was also few other people in the bus. I slept almost the whole journey. After we arrived, we went to have a beer with one German guy, which was a chill thing to do. He had done WWOOFing, volunteering in an organic farm. I got interested in it and that's certainly one thing I will do in some point. I had also bought food from a shop so then I took a bus to the airport and slept my night over there. I slept on soft benches in a corner. There were also pillows. I decided to give them to other sleeping people, to make them feel a bit more comfortable.
During the last night, I couldn't dance anymore, it was around 4 am. First I thought of going to sleep, but instead, I started walking to the river, in the dark, with my head lamp. As I thought, there was a campfire, other side of the river. I walked over the dam with my barefoot, because the dam was underwater. I went next to the campfire. There were some French people, which couldn't speak English very well, and then a Bosnian guy. Others went sleeping and I kept on talking with the Bosnian guy. He loved the area, and nature in there. He had been there for ages and wanted to keep it pure and clean. Apparently, there was some debate that the area will be sold to someone, who would block open access to the place. We stayed awake till the sun rose, talking philosophical things, praising women (especially our mother's) and drinking beer. I went swimming to the cold river. It was magical cos' no one was around and fog rose from water. I heard only the sound of river rapids. I could even warm myself with the campfire. I said goodbye to the Bosnian guy and went sleeping.
On Monday, Lost Theory was over, and I had to get to Zadar somehow, cos' my flight was about to leave there on next day. I said goodbye to all nice people I had met there and headed for the parking area. I asked for a lift and had a sign. After a while, however, I decided to take a minibus there. I was very tired so it was an easy choice. There was also few other people in the bus. I slept almost the whole journey. After we arrived, we went to have a beer with one German guy, which was a chill thing to do. He had done WWOOFing, volunteering in an organic farm. I got interested in it and that's certainly one thing I will do in some point. I had also bought food from a shop so then I took a bus to the airport and slept my night over there. I slept on soft benches in a corner. There were also pillows. I decided to give them to other sleeping people, to make them feel a bit more comfortable.
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