The Wedding
Trip Start
Aug 23, 1996
1
166
453
Trip End
Ongoing
Viken,
Sweden
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Wednesday
We had a plane booked from Budapest airport, so we caught a taxi out. Once through customs, we were looking at a Romanian Lonely Planet when a Japanese Englishman came up to us. I asked how he was one of thoughts and he said he was a Japanese man living in England. What does that make Lucy and me !!!!! He told us some info about the painted Monasteries we are hoping to visit, but we had to get away as he was foaming at the mouth. We were sure he was rabid !!!!! We flew, we landed at Copenhagen, bought some tickets for the train, ferry trip to Sweden, and went. Oh yeah, it was cold, and I mean brass monkeys. It was 19 and we were used to 33 !!!!! Once off of the ferry, we jumped on a bus, and made it to Viken. We found the place where we were staying, and I know the old joke about our room is so small, even the ants have hunchbacks, well this was ours for the next four days !!!! Eventually we got in touch with Tadek, and arranged to meet the next day
Thursday
Met Tadek, and he said that I was the tour leader for the day. FUCK. So I met his Father, Sister, Sister in-law and friend, and had to be at the Carlsberg Brewery for 12. He would catch up three hours later as he had wedding shit to attend to. It was 10:30, so we knew it would be a push, so we decided to take the fast train. Well, the train went slow, and we had to change as it was about to break down, and about three hours late, we arrive. In the stain at Copenhagen, we turn around and there is Tadek. Off we went, t get on another train. We jumped on, realised it was wrong, Lucy and Fran the Sister in-law stayed on. It was getting on, so we jumped on the next train to go to the brewery as it was going to close in 45 minutes. Lucy wasn't at the next station. So I awaited her return, and eventually she arrived, and we ran. We had to as we never made it the last time we were there, and I felt that this was one place we would never see. Well, we made it, cracked a deal with the guy on the front desk, in for half price with two beers thrown in. We downed them. Hooked up with some more guys and went down to the harbour where Hans Christian Anderson had a house. Bought takeaways, and got shitfaced. As you do in Copenhagen. I think around 10 or 12 beers later, plus a few roadies in my bag, we left. Went to a Middle Eastern smorgasbord, nobody would sit near us, I think it was the way we were eating, plus we were maggoted !!! Somehow, we took the slow train/ferry crossing back, and there were no buses. So we asked a few taxis, and they were all rip offs, as you would be. Using the negotiation skills I have picked up over the years, i.e. breath alcohol in his face, we got a cheap price. Pissed, the room seemed bigger and that is all I remember
Friday
Tadek was screaming for me to get up. I awoke with a sore head, and stumbled out. Problem was, that another David, who was the best man, was staying in the same place and it was him who was needed. Now Lucy and I have not really been drinking, and we both felt like shit. So, we showered, shat, but not shaved, and went for a bus/ferry to Denners as there was a castle in Helsingor. Supposedly, the real Hamlet had something to do with this place and old Will Shakespear stole the story from here !!!!! We took a tour, walked around the rest, and just hung out. It was pretty good, but it was getting late. and we wanted to buy some Guin on the boat. Well actually, Gin in the can mixed with grapefruit. Lollywater, but went down well !!!!! Once back in Helsingborg, which is Sweden, we had a look at their castle, dinnered ourselves stupid in a Thai place, then went to go back as we wanted to drink the Gin. We tried to get to the station, but we ran into these Aussies. Tony, Adam, Nat and Tim. They insisted that we have a beer with them. I think about 7 or 8 later, we ran away, but we were both beginning to really like Tadek's mates. I think it had to do with the beer. We bussed it back, had a few roadies, the Gin, made it to the hotel and there was a two piece going on, and as everyone else was getting shitfaced, we thought we would join in, so we drank more Gin. as you do !!!
Saturday
I awoke feeling bloody good. It was amazing. I think I need to drink more often !!! Dave, the best man, was trying to write his speech, and everyone else was turning up where we were staying and getting on it, so of course, I joined in. That's what good Aussies do !!! We eventually made our way up to the church. It was Lutheran, if you need to know, washed blue ceiling with boats hanging down. They were there as it was a fishing village and they needed to bless the boats. The service was being done by a woman. It was a bit weird at first as she had her back turned to us. As Tadek and Karin walked down the aisle together, she turned and spoke. Now as it was a 50/50 mix of Swedes and Aussies, she was talking in both tongues, except the songs were in Swedish, so we had no hope !!! The vows were in English to Tadek and Swedish to Karin. Then it was over. It was nice and simple, but perfect for the day, we walked out, Tadek and Karin followed, then we had to go to the reception hall for the food and drinks. Loads of meat and salad, loads of beer and wine, then the speeches came. They all went down well. During the meal, just to make the Aussies who had travelled from Australia for the wedding, Karin got up and sang Waltzing Matilda, which went down really well. After the food, the entertainment came out. First up was a West African drum band which Karin had trained with, so she got up and played. The girls certainly could move their asses !!!!! Everyone was dancing and getting into it. After they finished, A solo English guy got and played. Fran, being a Maori, and all Maoris can sin, backed him, then she did a solo Maori number. We were drinking loads, Lucy started doing shots, I was drinking Baileys and then she started making Tony do shots. He asked me to make her stop, but hey, he is a grown man and he can make his own decisions !!!!! Eventually, a lot worse for wear, we realised it was time to go back. The girl in the next room, Sarah, wanted to come with us and as she did not drink, but she did smoke all night, I asked her to look after us, as I could see the Mother of all hangovers hitting us both
Sunday
The alarm went off, I awoke, and I felt good. Quick shower, looked at Sarah, and she felt like shit. I think it was a good idea to give up smoking all those years ago !!!!! We bussed/ferry/trained it to the airport. Arrived, lined up, stood next to Tim and Justin who had been at the wedding, they flew and we were in the slow line. The woman that was serving us was going over everything. As we were on a low cost airline, we were overweight !!! Before the bags would be put on the plane, we had to pay an excess baggage charge. I kind of lost it, as to be expected of me anyway. We went to the desk to pay, and there was no one there. After ten minutes, I grabbed a Dane and said, get fucking somebody over here now, as we needed to board !!!!! I think it is called Aussie tact, as a lady came straight over. She looked at the bill, and said that the airport was to busy, the charge went in the bin !!!! Efficiency I think it is called, or maybe the odd fuck that I kept saying !!!!! Onto the plane, all sweet and then back in good ole Budapest. 33 and loving it, no more cold. Same hotel room, and we were home for the night as we are off to Romania tomorrow
And Finally
The wedding was awesome. Does not inspire me to get married, but if you ever get offered the chance to go to a Swedish wedding, with a hint of Aussie thrown in, do not turn it down
