“I think instantaneous sleep is my most useful travel skill. And I’d like to practice it far more often.” -Old Sean
An Instant of Denmark
I’ve finally entered Denmark, a tiny nation comprised of a penninsula and hundreds of north-sea islands.
Here, there are pristine skies, lush lands and towers of sturdy, white windmills rotating across the sea, stone and grass. Everywhere, idyllic blue waterways are ruffled by gentles winds.
Denmark is pretty. Unbelievably pretty and kind to the eyes and lungs. Even the seagulls (which I consider a persistent plague on humanity brought on by some unforgivable sin in antiquity) are spread out in respectable, peaceful flocks, rather than their usual cawing mobs.
Seagulls are not serene creatures. This has been causing me severe cognitive dissonance during my entire visit.
The only point against Denmark is a powerful one. It is provokingly expensive to do anything in this country. Food costs a minor fortune, even when cooking for one’s self. Lodging is nearly four times whatever I was paying for in Germany. And transportation costs accumulate like crazy. It’s a bit humorous considering how miniscule the country is.
Currently, my company is paying for my transportation expenses. However, I’m prescribed a monthly budget to operate. With the cost of a day in Denmark being nearly four times the cost of Germany, my company has only allocated a small amount of time to visit the country.
Speed Run
As such, my time in Denmark was always going to be short. I purposely rushed things to cut down on general expenses. Many of my stops and destinations weren’t full-day visits, but instead half-day intermissions.
My first destination involved visiting Kolding.
The onset of “Constitution Day” made it exceptionally difficult to find lodging. The vast majority of services were closed.
My original intent was to find a cheap place to overnight, but attempts to book a hotel failed splendidly. The place I managed to short-term book online costed a bundle and, since it was a government holiday, I learned that the building was shuttered upon my arrival.
I couldn’t get the room I paid for, though I was reimbursed after the holiday was over.
Undaunted, I managed to find some WIFI at a closed café while seeking out other accommodations. I eventually settled on camping, instead of trying another hotel or hostel.
Fortunately, Denmark is beyond gorgeous, and that beauty extends to the weather. I settled for a bit of guerrilla camping in the nearby countryside.
Camping in Denmark
Camping directly in the town seemed unwise, so I took a bus and then hiked along Kolding Fjord until I found an appropriate place. I’m not entirely certain, but I think I stayed around Stenderup Skovene National Forest that evening.
I ended up throwing up a tarp, laying out a jacket-pillow and settling back on a microfiber-towel for a fine night of camping. Though I generally prefer having a roof over my head, I’m equipped for camping most nights. I travel with an ultralight yoga mat which doubles as a sleeping pad and a ultralight trekking quilt to stave off minor chills.
Luckily for my toes and other extremities, it stayed warm through the night.
A Morning in Kolding
The following morning, I explored as much as I could while visiting Kolding with what limited time I had. I swung through Geografisk Have Botanical Gardens early in the morning and hiked back towards the town’s interior from there.
In the Old Town portion of Kolding, I visited the brightly colored and oddly patterned Helligkorsgade 18, the oldest house in Kolding. This museum/building is part of the Helligkorsgade shopping strip and sit nearby the city’s small canals and a series of cafés.
From here, I walked towards Kolding‘s tiny lake district. Overall, Kolding is pretty, has a great central lake and low castle scenery. Slotsø Lake creates a serene picture and Koldinghus reflects itself in the calm waters with nary a waver.
The rest of the small city is laced with waterways, very soft inclines and tiny, low brick buildings, especially along waterways. I got myself a small breakfast and then hopped on my next bus at 10 AM.
MY time visiting Kolding was brief but pleasant visit. It would have been refreshing if I hadn’t been so rushed. However, as entries into a new country go, Kolding was kind and represented Denmark well.
For now, I’m back on a bus.
Best regards and excellent trails,
Old Sean
Written June 6th, 2018
Read more about visiting Kolding and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Destination Information.
Affiliate Disclosure: Leftfade Trails contains affiliate links, so using services or products through these links supports the website, at no extra cost to the user. All links are to tested services and products designed to aid travelers on their journeys. Some links specifically connect to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate this website earns from qualifying purchases.
Sometimes, when traveling, I don’t have a dedicated workspace. But the iClever Remote Keyboard solved this for me. The remote, folding keyboard is light and compact, allowing me to type on any surface to any device. It’s instrumental in operating this site.
