Day 05: From Padborg to Flensburg

Date	06 Dec 2025 (Saturday)
Today's Distance:	5 mi
Total Jutlandica:	5 mi
Total Germany 2025
Total Spain 2025	245 miles.
Total All Caminos:	2358 miles
Lodging:	Jugendherberge Flensburg  @ 96 € for 2 nights
Total Lodging:	$ 229
Airplane(s):
Total Airplane(s) / Insurance:	$ 1020 / $ 132
Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides:	€ 12 Denmark / Flensburg
Total Transportation:	$ 94
Food:	€ 10 Weinachtsfest
Total Food:	$ 122

On the Road

Continuing to build confidence in my understanding of the bus system. Got downtown seamlessly and at the central bus location, quickly located my bus stop for the trip to Padborg.

Crossing from Germany into Denmark.

Meaningful Moment

Uneventful hike

I guess so far I would have to say today's hike was pretty minimal by the usual standards. Walked from the Danish city of Padborg inside Denmark thru two small and unremarkable towns for a little bit.

Then turned right to head back into Germany and returned to Flensburg. 

An old style mini border crossing checkpoint. No longer in use of course since Germany and Denmark are in the Schengen Zone. 

Just a reminder of the old days of older Europe.

Got a humility check. 

Was following the GPX trace that I have and when I got into this little town, there were nicely placed Camino markers on the street light poles. 

I assumed that I would be taken care of in the town town, as regards to Camino markers. 

Well I either missed the 4th marker or there wasn't one. I did not check the GPX trace when I left the town but I should have. 

When I finally did, I was far down the wrong road. It wasn't a big deal. I just kept on going on the street I was on. 

But it was the lesson to never be overconfident.

Like I said, I should have paid more attention to monitoring the the GPX trace.

Where I'm going from here

I decided to hike the Baltic Sea Coast as opposed to following the Via Jutlandica. The route along the Baltic cost is called the Fördesteig.

Over breakfast this morning with one of my roommates, she highly recommended this route. She said it was very beautiful. 

So I've made two reservations to make sure that prices don't get out of control for lodging.

Random Thought of the Day

I continue to take every advantage to practice my German. 

For example, I asked the driver to Padborg if the bus goes to the border, already knowing the answer was yes. But you can't get enough practice, because understanding the answer after a question is 3/4 of the battle. 

Understanding a language is more than just knowing words and grammar. Much of communication comes from the culture and local knowledge. 

For example, taking the bus or the subway requires one to know where you want to get off and on, and where the bus or subway ends so that you know which side of the street or tracks to be on. 

To know that you want to take the L1 line to the stadium is pretty useless unless you know what the terminal destination of the transport system is. And you also need to know at which exit you're going to get off.

Anyway, I don't think one can be truly conversant in a language until one has lived in the place for some time to pick up on the peculiarities of the culture, especially the entertainment part, and the lifestyle.

My first opportunity to be away from the hustle and rush of urban Germany and crowded Germany.