Friday is when the weekend starts, so it was also the day when the InterScandi hash event started! That meant I had to get a train to Oslo first, and to then kick it off with a little pub crawl.
While I was having breakfast in the SJ Lounge in Stockholm Central, the platform number for my train disappeared off the screen. That didn’t bode well… My SJ 3000 to Oslo eventually departed with a thirty minutes delay, which grew to almost an hour during the six hour long ride. Unfortunately this type of train doesn’t have any solo seats, but the seats were wide enough to be comfortable and not in anyone’s way.
SJ Lounge Stockholm. No, not the McDonald’s, above it!SJ Lounge StockholmBreakfast in the SJ Lounge StockholmBreakfast in the SJ Lounge Stockholm
After arrival in Oslo, it was just a short bus ride—I didn’t feel like lugging my bag around town—to the Crow Bar & Bryggeri, where Interscandi officially started with a checkin and bag drop, and the first beer of the pub crawl. Loads of familiar faces, from Brussels and elsewhere…
Oslo! Not actually the train station, but it’s the building I came out of…Crow Bar & Bryggeri. Full of hashers…Crow Bar & Bryggeri. The ‘bryggeri’ part…Crow Bar & BryggeriCrow Bar & Bryggeri
The pub crawl was actually just a list of suggestions, half of which were on my to-do list anyway. My first stop was at Henry & Sally’s, Mikkeller’s bar in Oslo. Unlike yesterday, I actually bought my MikkellerPassport and had it stamped.
My second stop was at Oslo Street Food, where I got myself the Gangnam Chicken from Tunco.
Oslo Street FoodTunco at Oslo Street FoodGangnam Chicken by Tunco at Oslo Street Food
After that I headed to Crafty Dog, once Oslo’s BrewDog bar, and it still shows. No tattoo or EFP discounts, though!
Crafty DogCrafty DogCrafty Dog
I then still had time for a last beer at Café Sara, before a bus would take us to our accommodation for the weekend, Rønningen Folkehøgskole.
Café SaraCafé SaraInterScandi: Rønningen Folkehøgskole, our home base for the weekendCoolers with beer, a familiar sight…Local beers at InterScandiMy room in the Rønningen Folkehøgskole
A new day in a city I have only hashed and drunk in so far, that means museum time! And of course the ongoing quest to try national dishes and as many local beers and bars as possible…
Sleeping anywhere but home is always a challenge, but after a shaky night on a sleeper train, a night in a completely dark, immovable bed at Citybox Stockholm was pure bliss…
After I finally got out of bed, I went for breakfast at Greasy Spoon: a Classic Benedict, and a coffee by local roastery Lykke.
Breakfast as Greasy Spoon. Yes, it says “Butter me up, maple me down” on her shirt…Lykke coffee at Greasy Spoon
Time for the educational part of the day: the Nordiska museet! For once, a museum that didn’t start in the Stone Age, but in the 15th century. Still, there was plenty of history to cover.
Nordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska MuseetNordiska Museet. Graduation cap with wine stains. Unlike those way-too-white caps I’ve seen in the streets here…
Just around the corner was the Vasa Museum, the perfect example of what happens if you prioritise the customer’s wishes over common sense…Still, a beautiful ship!
For lunch I went to Östermalms Saluhall. After some browsing, I had the roastbeef smörgås at Nybroe.
Tram 7Östermalms SaluhallÖstermalms SaluhallÖstermalms SaluhallNybroe in Östermalms SaluhallRoast beef smörgås at Nybroe in Östermalms Saluhall
After easing into beer yesterday, I decided to start a bit earlier today, at Omnipollos Kyrka. A high-roofed building like that seems to be made for brewing!
Kungsträdgården underground stationOmnipollos KyrkaOmnipollos KyrkaOmnipollos KyrkaOmnipollos KyrkaOmnipollos Kyrka
Quite a bit smaller was Ölkemi—I didn’t find the actual brewery—where I soon dominated the Untapped menu screens…
ÖlkemiÖlkemiÖlkemi
After so many hours without caffeine, it was time for coffee and an almond croissant at Café Pascal.
Café Pascal
The next beer bar on my list was UDDA.
UDDA
At Mikkeller Södermalm they were unable to scan any QR codes, but happy to believe I’m a Mikkeller Running Club member… Oh, and I had the ‘traditional’ Swedish pizza kebab there.
Mikkeller SödermalmMikkeller SödermalmPizza Kebab at Mikkeller Södermalm. Is it Italian? Is it Turkish? No, it’s Swedish!
Both Bar Kaja and Oliver Twist celebrated the launch of Repslagargrannar – Sola I Karlstad, but I had it in the first of the two.
Bar KajaBar KajaBar KajaBar KajaTap trees at Oliver TwistOliver Twist
The last bar of the night for me was Stigbergets Fot, where I had the Dirty Tots to soak up some alcohol, and a couple of lovely beers.
Stigbergets FotStigbergets FotStigbergets FotDirty tots at Stigbergets Fot
A new country, a new city, and a newfound appreciation for beer! First impressions of Sweden were great, and as expected, the hashers in Stockholm very welcoming.
A hot shower to start the day in sunny Sweden. Well, it was sunny for about five minutes after I opened the window blinds of my compartment… It was just enough though to enjoy my boxed breakfast in the sun. In the end, the train was even fifteen minutes ahead on schedule, allowing me some extra time—and snacks—in the SJ Lounge at Göteborg Central. Any other week I would not have needed to stop at Göteborg, but track works—announced well in advance—necessitated a transfer there.
Showering on my SJ EuroNight… and it was hot!Breakfast box on my SJ EuroNightArrival of the SJ EuroNight in Göteborg CentralThe SJ Lounge in Göteborg CentralThe SJ Lounge in Göteborg CentralThe SJ Lounge in Göteborg Central
After queuing for a bit to get on the SJ X 2000, I found my extremely roomy seat and I was on my way to Stockholm, the original destination of my sleeper. Within minutes a train attendant came to confirm my lunch order, and then later served at my seat at the requested time.
Views from my SJ X 2000 trainMy preordered lunch served at my seat on the SJ X 2000No need to go thirsty on the SJ X 2000My seat and table—yes, all of it—on the SJ X 2000Arrival in Stockholm
After arrival, and a short metro ride, I was able to check-in to my hotel: Citybox Stockholm. No people involved, I was able to sort it out with just the consoles.
T14 undergroundReception of Citybox StockholmMy room in Citybox Stockholm
Then it was time for my first proper coffee since Monday, at Drop Coffee, with some pastry from Svedjan Bageri.
Coffee and pastry at Drop Coffee
But then it was time for a big moment: my first alcoholic beer in a month! In case you missed it: after my birthday brewery crawl, I gave alcohol a rest for a month, so my first proper beer was in Stockholm, in Akkurat, to be accurate. And boy, did it taste good!
I also had some homemade köttbullar there, served with cream sauce, pickled cucumber, lingonberries & mashed potatoes.
My first alcoholic beer in a month, at AkkuratAkkuratAkkuratSwedish meatballs and mash at Akkurat
But a new city usually also means a new hash, so I went back to the hotel to change, and was off to Fruängen—with the underground—for Stockholm Underground H3 #1656 – The Hot Dog Run. A sudden downpour just before the run was about to start, meant not all markings were as legible as intended… We found the drink stop, though!
Big turnout at the Stockholm Underground H3 #1656 – The Hot Dog RunChalk Talk at the Stockholm Underground H3 #1656 – The Hot Dog RunStockholm Underground H3 #1656 – The Hot Dog RunStockholm Underground H3 #1656 – The Hot Dog RunStockholm Underground H3 #1656 – The Hot Dog RunDrink Stop at the Stockholm Underground H3 #1656 – The Hot Dog RunDrink Stop at the Stockholm Underground H3 #1656 – The Hot Dog Run
After circle I headed back to the centre, for the Fjäderholmarnas Bryggeri tap takeover at The Mad Hatter.
The Mad HatterA Fjäderholmarnase Bryggeri tap takeover at The Mad Hatter
To finish the night, I went to Omnipollos Hatt, for some IPAs, and of course a slushie…
Omnipollos HattOmnipollos HattOmnipollos HattYou can’t go to Omnipollo without having a slushie…Omnipollos HattOmnipollos Hatt
All packed again, and back on the rails, all the way up North to Scandinavia this time! To get there would take me two Deutsche BahnICEs—what could possibly go wrong?—and for the very first time an SJ EuroNight sleeper train.
As often before, the ICE 15 from Brussels-Midi to Köln Hbf was already waiting at the platform by the time I arrived in the station. While the DB app warned me about border checks, in the end there weren’t any, or at least not in my carriage.
My ICE for Köln already waiting at the platform in Brussels-MidiHuge bag, but it still fits behind my seat… Choose your seat wisely!Tea time on board of the ICE to Köln. In proper crockery, of course!
Nevertheless, we still arrived in Köln ten minutes late. However, my connection left twenty minutes late, so I had plenty of time to take a seat at the Heberer bakery in the station for my classic Schnitzelbrötchen lunch with an Apfelschorle.
Köln Hbf! With the Dom towering in the background.The classic Schnitzelbrötchen & Apfelschorle for lunch, at Heberer.My ICE to Hamburg, arriving in Köln, late…
The second ICE couldn’t quite make up for the lost time, so I arrived in Hamburg Hbf behind schedule. Luckily I had the foresight to leave plenty of time before my sleeper train departure, so after dropping off my bag at a Nannybag location—the station lockers would be closed by the time I’d come back—I had time for dinner at Im Sprinkenhof: a Hamburger Schnitzel mit Bratkartoffeln, one local specialty I hadn’t had yet.
Rathaus HamburgHamburgHamburger Schnitzel mit Bratkartoffeln at I’m SprinkenhofHamburg Hbf
Then it was about time to retrieve my bag and head back to the station, for the SJ EuroNight 344 to Göteborg. That’s actually not my final destination for this leg of the trip, but more about that tomorrow. Meanwhile, time to enjoy my private, first class sleeping compartment, read a bit, and go to bed, to hopefully wake up in Sweden… Goodnight!
The SJ EuroNigh, exceptionally to GöteborgMy room on the SJ EuroNightMy room on the SJ EuroNightToilet and shower in my room on the SJ EuroNight
When I just had my Brussels breweries tattoo in 2022, featuring my seven favourite local breweries, I celebrated the occasion by visiting them all in one epic taproom crawl… It became an annual event, and since I was turning 50 years old this year—and apparently that is significant—I did the fifth edition of my Brussels Breweries Tattoo Tour a bit earlier than usual, actually on my birthday, on the 9th of May!
The visited breweries were—as always—Cantillon, L’Ermitage, Mazette, La Mule, La Senne, La Source, and Surréaliste. Seven breweries, seventy minutes in each taproom, and at least one birthday beer in each…
