The first step: starting my sabbatical

Great stories start with a salad
Saturday, July 25, 2015 to Sunday, August 9, 2015

Introduction: great stories start with a salad

The decision to travel to the north fell a few months prior. After a though squash game with my quasi stepsister, we ate some salad together. She explained to me why she had to abandon her trip to Denmarkinfo-icon. I was still in the process of finding a worthy start of my sabbatical. And then the decision was made - over a salad or two! Of course it took another few evenings and a lot of research to fix the route. My focus lied on urban places, whereas she found great spots in nature. In the end we could agree on a balanced mix. The final trip would cross several countries: Franceinfo-icon, Luxembourginfo-icon, Germanyinfo-icon, Denmark, Norwayinfo-icon and Swedeninfo-icon.

Continental: Luxembourg and Germany

On the first day we drove on the French highway to Luxembourg. Soon we learned that in this small country three languages are spoken: German, French and Luxembourgish. Confusing is just that they frequently switch while speaking to each other. Nevertheless our path continued along beautiful landscapes and picturesque townships. Since this nation is so small, we did not even realise when we crossed the border. Suddenly we were in Germany on the way to a friend of my stepsister. He and his family warmly received us and guided us through Hanover and its surroundings. Over delicious homemade terrine and jam we discussed politics. A fresh fish sandwich in Flensburg completed the first episode.

In between: Denmark and its islands

In Denmark we encountered the worst and the best weather. It began moderate and cloudy in the Legoland. It is amazing what you can do with a bunch of small blocks. The Danish west coast with its sandy beaches ought to be one of the most beautiful places. But not when you are on a small Island and a storm is raging. Add a tide combined with a full moon and you are cut off from mainland. Luckily the weather changed again, so we could enjoy a short wade in the sea. By the time we reached Copenhagen, the sun was shining in its full glory. This allowed us to stroll through its wide avenues and visit all the royal spots. In the free town of Christiania we found the ironic clash of a liberal society. Openly yet anonymously selling cannabis clones to tourists.

Scandinavia: Sweden and Norway

The Scandinavian geology is absolutely fascinating. While Denmark is flat and sandy, Sweden is flat and rocky with wast forests and countless lakes. Norway on the other hand claimed all the mountainous land. On the Swedish west coast we encountered ancient stone carvings and remains of the vikings. We enjoyed the pure nature and saw moose eating by the roadside. In Vänersborg we watched a peaceful immigrants football match, probably Syria against Somalia. In Oslo we made full use of the tourism card by visiting 6 different museums. The Scandinavians truly know how to create an interesting and interactive museum. The road from Oslo to Stockholm leads through more forests and lakes. They offer the perfect ground to observe flora and fauna, like on a moose safari. In the deep shafts of a silver mine we saw the human struggle with nature.

Summary: a diversified experience

On our journey to Scandinavia, I experienced many positive surprises. The route we have decided on, turned out to be a great success. We saw many animals and peaceful as well as wild nature. We met warm people, had deep conversations and a lot of fun together. It was a truly great start into my sabbatical adventures. With all its beautiful facets, it only strengthened my wanderlust. The transition between a normal two weeks holiday and a longterm travel experience is quite vague. It felt weird, dropping my first travel buddy at the airport. And yet it was only the first step into a much bigger adventure.

My special thanks goes to my stepsister, she was the perfect company to start.

My waypoints on this journey

Luxembourg - a small country in the heart of Europe, my very first stop on my sabbatical
a small country in the heart of Europe, my very first stop on my sabbatical
Bourscheid - climbing the first castle on my sabbatical journey in Luxembourg
climbing the first castle on my sabbatical journey in Luxembourg
Hanover - staying with a friend and getting a private tour through the city center
staying with a friend and getting a private tour through the city center
Flensburg - having the best fish bread (sandwich) at the old harbor picked by a dove
having the best fish bread (sandwich) at the old harbor picked by a dove
Legoland - spending one full day in the theme park dedicated to my childhood's dream
spending one full day in the theme park dedicated to my childhood's dream
Mandø - hiking on a small and rainy island in the Wadden Sea of Denmark
hiking on a small and rainy island in the Wadden Sea of Denmark
Nyborg Tombs -
hiking to megalithic stone age graves in the heart of Denmark
Ribe - walking through the oldest city of Denmark, once a flourishing trade outpost
walking through the oldest city of Denmark, once a flourishing trade outpost
Freetown Christiania - enjoying colorful street art in the anarchical district of Copenhagen
enjoying colorful street art in the anarchical district of Copenhagen
Copenhagen - riding the bicycle from the little mermaid across town to christiania
riding the bicycle from the little mermaid across town to christiania
Malmö - making my first Swedish friends at the yacht harbor festival
making my first Swedish friends at the yacht harbor festival
Fotevikens Viking Town - learning about ordinary life and crafts of the wild nordic tribes
learning about ordinary life and crafts of the wild nordic tribes
Tanum Rock Carvings - exploring an area with highly concentrated prehistoric rock carvings
exploring an area with highly concentrated prehistoric rock carvings
Gothenburg - walking through Sweden's second largest city by day and by night
walking through Sweden's second largest city by day and by night
Hållö - exploring the small island and then swimming in the cold sea water
exploring the small island and then swimming in the cold sea water
Hunneberg Nationalpark - hiking through the forest on a hill near Vänern, Sweden's largest lake
hiking through the forest on a hill near Vänern, Sweden's largest lake
Kosterhavets Nationalpark - hiking along the scenic shore of Sweden's oldest national marine park
hiking along the scenic shore of Sweden's oldest national marine park
Oslo - visiting 6 museums in one day (and they were all great!)
visiting 6 great museums in one day in the beautiful capital of Norway
Fram Museum Oslo - famous expedition ship to the Arctic and Antarctic from the 19th century
famous expedition ship to the Arctic and Antarctic from the 19th century
Kon-Tiki Museum Oslo - one man to sail the Pacific Ocean on a simple raft from Peru to Polynesia
one man to sail the Pacific Ocean on a simple raft from Peru to Polynesia
Vigeland Museum Oslo - admiring some of the most creative and expressionist scupltures
admiring some of the most creative and expressionist scupltures
Vikingskipshuset Oslo - Museum to show the Viking traditions and ship burial of Norsemen on sea
Museum to show the Viking traditions and ship burial of Norsemen on sea
Moose Safari - the most expensive diner - at least at a great place
the most expensive diner - at least at a great place
Sala Silvergruva - learning about mining techniques in the tunnels of a former silver mine
learning about mining techniques in the tunnels of a former silver mine
Stockholm - reaching the first milestone on my journey
reaching the first milestone on my journey, the capital of Sweden