Day One

Oslo to Copenhagen

It has been quite some time since I have been nervous about a journey. Maybe because this one indeed is a journey and not just some trip. Off into the uncertain, not really knowing what to expect, what to threat, and what to look forward to.

The first leg, at least, is rather well planned. After the usual last minute packing I make my way to the Vippetangen ferry terminal and on board M/V Crown of Scandinavia. A walk around the ship reveals that she has quite a lot of outside area available for passengers. The only drawback: Almost none of it is forward looking, only two small gaps below the bridge which are excellent wind tunnels.

On time at 1700 hours marching music is played over the P.A. system and we take off. Since this is November at 60° North, it is almost dark. And although 8 °C may feel warm in the city, at sea it's a different matter. I walk back to my cabin and fetch the second sweater and a pair of warm socks. Equipped with that and some prepared dinner I retire to a dark corner at the stern. Sitting their in an almost full moon, the lights of the towns on the Oslofjord slowly passing by, I watch the afternoon flights from and to Oslo airport above. Thirty-two inches seat pitch and newly introduced liquid bans. I have my feet on the rails and an ample supply of Frydenlund fatøl at my disposal. When we pass Drøbak ninety minutes into the trip, I am a bit drunk. (For those readers that are not familiar with the Norwegian passtime of 'taking the boat to Denmark' it may be worth mentioning that DFDS, the name of the ferry company, is said to stand for Drita Før Drøbak-Sundet, ie., wasted before reaching the Drøbak Sound.)

Another two hours later we leave the calm Oslofjord. The wind starts singing in the Christmas tree imitation the crew built out of wires around a mast on the top deck. With the wind come the waves and the ship starts her nightly dance.