Denmark > The Danish Sønderborg Castle

It is five o’clock in the morning. The alarm goes off. Still a bit sleepy, we get up. We pack our things into the car and drive to the ferry. The streets in Kristiansand are still quiet. At the terminal, it is busier. Although it is not yet six o’clock, most cars are already loaded. Because we have a tent on the car, we fall under “high transport.” This means we are parked together with campers and vans. A girl on a bicycle gestures for us to follow. She leads us to the ferry. There, we have to wait again. Campers in front of us must reverse onto the loading ramp. But it looks like no more cars can fit there. The people in vests responsible for loading count the cars and frown. Will it fit? Passenger cars are allowed to go first. Eventually, we also get the signal to drive onto the ferry. It turns out that all the low cars must board first before the last higher vehicles can be placed. All cars are parked at odd angles. Probably the most practical. We are fine with it. We go to the upper deck and find two free seats. By the time we get upstairs, the ferry has already departed. The crossing with Fjordline is on a fast ferry and takes just over two hours. Outside, water splashes against the windows. It is also cloudy. There is not much to see of the Skagerrak passage. In the small restaurant, we order two coffees.

Denmark - Sonderborg Castle in Denmark

Prices are in Danish kroner. We have no idea what the price is exactly. The cashier clarifies: eight euros for two coffees. When the coast comes into view, everyone is asked to return to their vehicles. Driving off goes surprisingly smoothly, except for a German van. Their car won’t start. They push it out. As it rolls down, the engine starts. We drive onto the Danish roads, following a good highway. We have not driven a hundred in a long time. After half an hour, we stop at a parking area. We haven’t had breakfast yet. We unfold our chairs and eat crackers and bread. Today we will drive across Jutland from north to south. Near the border with Germany, we plan to visit Sønderborg Castle. On the way, it starts to rain. From the look of the sky, it does not seem like a short shower. Around one o’clock, we enter Sønderborg. It is still raining. We drive to the castle. Right in front of the entrance, a parking spot is free. There is no payment machine in sight. A bit skeptically, we ask at the ticket office if we may park here. “No problem! Even if you stay all day.” Sønderborg Castle dates back to the Middle Ages but was extensively expanded in the 16th century into a Renaissance castle. Highlights include the castle church and the large Knights’ Hall. We walk through the rooms. The castle itself is beautiful, but the collection mainly focuses on Jutland. Different themes in different rooms. On the bank of the Alssund River, under a small shelter, we order lunch. From Sønderborg, it is still eighty kilometers to our overnight stay just across the German border. With the windshield wipers on, we drive the last stretch for today. When the navigation indicates that we must turn onto a narrow road, we do so. We have already been on some unusual roads during the trip. The paved road with potholes turns into an unpaved path. We’ll see where it leads. Brutus certainly doesn’t mind the rough surface. At the end of the road, someone holds up a stop sign. We have to stop. We are at the entrance of a military training area. The lady says, “Navigation, right?” She points out how we can drive around the area. A little later, we arrive at our hotel. A neat but somewhat strange room. The toilet is in the hallway, but in our room there is a shower tray screened off by a curtain. Who comes up with such a design?