From Germany to Denmark, but over America
Antonija Glavas

In the beginning of December 1995 I bought a ticket to Copenhagen where two of my girlfriends and three of my godchildren live. I wanted to celebrate my birthday there. At that time I had been living in Germany for about two years and had not seen my godchildren for more than two years. I took the train to Hamburg and another one to Copenhagen. But at the border, where our train should have been put on the ferry, my journey ended. The border guard found out that I did not have a visa. So I would have to go back to Hamburg to the Danish consulate to get one.

I explained to the lady who was sitting with me on the train what my girlfriend looked like and asked her to give her a message about what was going on with me. She was supposed to be waiting for me at the station. I was a little bit scared but I knew that I would come again, of course with a visa.

People at the ferry were very kind and the captain, after he heard my problem said to me: "I would not let you go to Hamburg at night, the consulate is closed. You will stay on the ship and in the morning you can go to Hamburg."

He gave me a cabin, woke me up in the morning and shared his first coffee with me. Of course I called my girlfriend from the ship and laughingly explained everything and told her: "Don't worry I am coming but over America."

The ship was all night long on the journey from Denmark's to Germany's coast and back. I was on time at the embassy and after I explained what I wanted the lady who was working there said to me: "It is ok, you can have a visa next week."