Up early and at the station on edge always nervous with a bike as it complicates where on the train you go etc Stood at the departure board for what seemed an age beside two other bike folks a husband and wife who also were going to Hamburg to pick up their car and drive home He spoke no English but she was fluent. Train 1 Copenhagen to Fredericia no problem we found the car for bikes ok and helpful guard got us all sorted Was a bit worried as we only had 6 minutes to change at next stop but turned out train was on next platform and we had 8 minutes too ! Only 2 carriages and bike area had fold down seats with people sitting I them so I followed the German couple and we propped them up in the aisle at the end and they went off and I settled down only to be confronted by 5ft 0 conductress with attitude who made me move my bike to where the fold up seats were and shoed all the people out of the way move move he's booked she shouted in Danish and they did ! So all very accommodating and great . Zen vee got to Deutchland and boy did things change! Much checking of papers on the platform we must go on wagon 4 the lady says train pulls in and the first wagon is for bikes as she stated and its number 4 ( how does that work ?) 10 bike racks and I push mine into the corner.,. Oh oh big no no must go on the allocated rack number, but there are only 4 bikes does it matter??? Much jostling about and moving bikes each rack has a 4 digit number ( what's wrong with 1 to 10 ) then the fat controller arrives ! He's trouble lady says I'll come with you turns out he speaks English turns out I have a passport form German railways and have paid a fee to transfer from Denmark through Germany to Holland but I have no reservation form but it seems I'm listed on the controllers list of 8 bikes in total for the whole trip the train is going on to cologne from Hamburg another person arrives and I have to move my bike again. At the next station two more get on and more needing to move at which point I said it doesn't matter there are 8 bikes 10 spaces and I left them to it Then I was rebuked for not moving my bike and a man moved it so he could have his allocated slot. Then in an empty carriage with 24 seats and three of us I have to move as I have sat In the allocated seat just unbelievable and I said to my lady friend you're all living up your stereotypes here She said it's sad and no need for it but it's how they are she said Mad just mad no wonder there have been wars with a mentality like that roll on Holland and home just bung it on the train! Then with the couple of hours I had walked out the 25mins to see he world's largest miniature railway worth the trek fascinating place and then walk back pick up a bite to eat at the station then back to the hotel lobby to find some more people being put through the German mindset... These are the rules for you it's had your key in if you leave you are given this card with your number you must show it on your return to regaini your key do not Ioose it check out must be by 11 or you will be charged blah blah in and on do this do that rules that must be obeyed !!!! Any way hopefully be on ferry for the next update!
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