Backpacking through Europe in 1994

Day 73 • November 18, 1994
Traveling from Turku, Finland to Oslo, Norway

By this point in the trip, I was ready to slow down and be done with long, complicated travel days. On November 18, I had a full 24 hours of traveling ahead of me — a ferry from Turku back to Stockholm, followed by an overnight train across Sweden into Norway. I was heading to Oslo to finally meet up with Katrine, another exchange student friend from my year in Australia.

On the ferry, I met a guy named Kris who had been an exchange student in Alabama a few years earlier. He was friendly and offered to take me out in Stockholm that night — he’d pay for everything, show me around some clubs, and let me crash at his place. A few weeks earlier, I probably would have jumped at the offer. But after everything that had gone wrong for me in Sweden on the way to Finland, I was feeling cautious. I politely declined and decided to stay on the ferry until it was time to catch my night train.

I was tired. I was ready to get to Oslo. And more than anything, I was looking forward to seeing Katrine again.

DAY 73 / 11-18-94
Traveling from Turku, Finland to Oslo, Norway

My ferry left this morning at 10:00, and it was nice to make it on time for once.

Siru & I said our goodbyes, and once on board I met this guy named Kris. He had been an exchange student to Alabama a few years back, & I spent most of the trip talking to him. He seemed nice enough, bought me a few beers throughout the day, but I declined his offer to party with him that night in Stockholm. Had I been at the beginning of my trip I’m sure I would’ve. He offered to pay for everything, take me out to some hot clubs, and let me crash at his place.

But I’m tired, and I decided not to press my luck any further in Sweden, where nothing has seemed to go my way.

On the night train to Oslo later, I was sure I had made the right decision. I couldn’t wait to see Katrine, & I wanted to be done traveling.

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