Goodbye Porto!

Ever since the unplanned hotel stay in Frankfurt two years ago it’s become a running joke: it wouldn’t be a BOBCATSSS trip without a few transport misadventures!

So, given the unusual success of our travels so far and the announcement of rail strikes throughout Germany, we met the day with a little trepidation and a variety of different alternative travel plans lined up.

A last glimpse of Porto from the plane. (Picture by Erit Grünefeld)

Despite a 20 minute delay, the flight to Amsterdam went well. There, a few of the group separated to await the overnight Flixbus, while the rest of us ventured out to catch a regional train only to be met with an ominous sign.

All trains out of Schipol Railway Station were marked as „cancelled due to a collision“. (Picture by Erit Grünefeld)

Undeterred, we went out in search of alternative routes into the city– along with every other traveller in Schipol airport. Ignoring the siren call of the taxi drivers we crammed ourselves onto a bus to Amsterdam Zuid, busily searching for the next best train connection. In the end, we made it onto a train relatively quickly, and made all our changes without problems, even managing a quick dinner or burgers and fries in Hengelo.

Hengelo station at night. (Picture by Erit Grünefeld)

We pulled into Hannover around 11pm, about 15 hours after we left our hotel in Porto, tired but glad to be home… or almost home, as some of us were heading to another hotel to take yet another train in the morning.

Almost there! (Picture by Silke Clausing)

So that’s the end of yet another BOBCATSSS for us from Hanover. With thanks to the Hochschule Hannover, who graciously provided funds for us to travel and attend the conference. See you next year in Istanbul!