Gepubliceerd: 19.04.2023
New day, new luck. I have until 11:00 to check out, then I have to kill time until the next check-in at 17:00. So I'll start by getting something at the omnipresent 'Paris Baguette'. I already checked out 'Oma's Brötchen' last night. Checking out 'German Bakery' was enough. Any German grandmother would turn faster in her grave than a washing machine drum if she saw that. The highest delicacy are milk rolls.
Arriving at the destination station, I look for a coin locker. Well, it's an app locker. I can't go any further with coins. So I download, click through and pay. Yup, the first card doesn't work. Good thing I have both, because one always acts up in this country. I can't even say why.
It's Monday afternoon, there are a lot of young couples hanging out on the windy beach. I sit under one of the umbrellas and unpack my food. The sun feels good, I stretch out in the sun. The usually soothing sound of the waves is annoying today.
Suddenly I notice a scene in front of me that, to put it mildly, seems totally crazy to me. Two girls, about 14 years old, are taking photos by the water. The photographer changes, the girl who just took the photos goes to the water. She quickly puts on her mask to have the photos taken. After the photos are taken, she takes off her mask again. A picture pops into my head.
Shaking my head, I get up barefoot, roll up my pants and walk through the water and along the beach.
While strolling and observing the area, I think that Asians are the perfect victims for Crocs. When entering houses, furniture or apartments, they famously take off their shoes and replace them with slippers. Here I often see people walking around in slippers on the street. The worst part is that they can't lift their feet off the ground and make that noise all the time. 🙄
After the walk on the beach, I sit down at Starbucks. It's still four hours until I can check in at 17:00. I might as well work.
On the first floor, I sit at the table overlooking the view, between a mother and a couple in their early 40s. I have to hold back; he talks all the time, she sends him life signals with the most bored 'mhmm' I've ever heard.
After working a little, I feel better. It has a bit of a feeling of having cried it out. Relief mixed with a little confidence. Is it the sun? The sand from the beach that peeled my feet? The matcha latte? All things are reason enough to feel better. 😊
After I eventually got the access data for my Airbnb, I read the further message a little puzzled. I should be prepared for a visit and not react to it. I research, but can't figure it out. Did I get an illegal Airbnb?
Off to the 'Coin' locker. I have to pay again to open it, so I enter my credit card information again in the app. It worked before, not now. *sigh* The second time it works. Well, at least...
With my luggage, I move on. After I finally found the right access to the apartment, I enter it. It's a nice Airbnb on the 13th floor. The view is convincing, overlooking the bay and the bridge. If I had had this from the beginning, I could have watched the drone show from here.
When I open the window, the sound of water greets me. I will leave these windows open for the rest of my stay.
When I take off my clothes, I notice that my Mala is broken. *sigh*
Frustrated, I go down to the 7-Eleven, maybe they have fruit. I find a bowl of mandarins, I'm pleased. I notice that they seem to be in liquid. Nice! After opening the lid, I realize that they are in jelly. 😓
Well, then I'll just work until late, at least something reasonable will come out of it.