Copin' in Copenhagen

This week I am in Copenhagen for the 8th World Choral Symposium. My mate Art, who is teaching in Egypt, is coming too, so as I haven't seen him for about 3 years, it will be a nice opportunity to catch up. Anyway, I arrived late on Friday night after literally rushing from school (they were still in the middle of the farewell speeches but I had to go or I would miss my plane!). I am sooo excited, I have been sooo looking forward to this conference, and finally its here!

Anyway, it didn't exactly get off to a rosy start though. My flight with Sterling Airlines, a Scandinavian company I think, was uneventful but unfortunately a little delayed. So by the time I cleared customs, figured out how to get the train to Københavns Hovedbanegård (that's Copenhagen Central to me and you), and then worked out how to use the ticket vending machine and actually get the train - it was pretty late. The trains were very quick though, and very clean - so that was a pleasant surprise after the joys of London's trains.

The directions for the hostel, though, were not very good - just said to catch the bus 5A and get off at Ravnsborggade. Of course, no bus at anytime of the day is going to accept a 100 Kr note for a 20kr fare... so I had to try to get some change. Also, I didn't know if you can buy your ticket on the bus or if you have to buy it in advance at a kiosk like in some other countries (Czech Republic, Spain, most European countries) so I tried to ask someone but turns out he didn't know either. Eventually I managed to negotiate the bus system and arrived at Ravnsborggade at just after midnight. Now can I point out that this part of town is not the nicest part, and at midnight on a Friday night its full of drunks and party revellers. And here I am pulling along a wheelie duffel bag trying to find a hostel... I had to eventually call them, I couldn't find it - and once I got there, I wished I hadn't.

The hostel is the Sleep-In Green, and the sister hostel to Sleep-In Heaven. I think a more appropriate name for this hostel would be Sleep-In Hell. The first thing that greets you on your way to reception is a stairwell full of graffiti, which you pass for 2 flights, until you get to the reception, manned by a hippy dude with several piercings. There you receive your door code for your room, which changes every day (so you always have to go up there to get the new code) - and then you receive your bed in the dingiest, most minging 20 odd bed dorm. The dorm is divided into cubicles of 4 beds in each, but there are no doors, no curtains, and the exit lights and so on are on 24 hours a day so its never completely dark. Put it this way, unlike in other hostels, where you have to faff around with a torch if the others in your room are sleeping and you need stuff from you bag, here, you can just look in your bag by the light of the exit lights.

But the most galling thing, in this day and age, is that the cubicle we're in doesn't have a power socket. So no recharging of mobile phones, mp3 players, no drying of hair (and definitely no straightening!)... and I'm going on a professional conference for a week! How on earth am I to manage?

So I had a poor night's sleep, and then the next day asked for a cubicle with a power point, which fortunately they found.

I am coping, but only just... bring on the conference though!