Sitting on the thorns

And then the moment arrives: the departure day, May 15, 2026. As often, I’ve miscalculated how much time various tasks will take, and it turns out to be stressful after all. I’ll probably never learn, because besides getting lost, I have another core quality: procrastinating annoying tasks. So here I am again sitting on the thorns, this time on the night bus to Flensburg. This is where my life as a wandering and writing nomad begins, with a journey across Jutland along the Hærvejen.

Playing poker and ‘Ausweis bitte’ in the middle of the night

After a difficult farewell to my father and aunt at Alkmaar Noord station, but I keep my composure, I really am leaving. Well in advance, because you never know, I arrive at Amsterdam Sloterdijk station. There, my FlixBus to Hamburg departs, with a connection to Flensburg, at the southern border of Denmark.

Next to me sits a hefty Russian, but fortunately, the bus is quiet and as soon as we drive off, he moves to a seat a row in front of me. Through the gap between the seats, I see him playing poker on his phone half the night and losing a lot of money. Well, to each their own hobby.

At 2:10 AM, suddenly all the lights go on: passport control. A woman at the front of the bus seems to be in trouble. She’s screaming and cursing loudly but is taken off the bus by two customs officers. I can’t understand her; she speaks incomprehensible German. It feels awkward. At first, there’s a polite ‘Ausweis bitte’, then curt: ‘Mitkommen’. I’ve heard these words too often in films about other times. Aside from this, the trip goes well for me. I barely sleep, but I feel like I’m resting nonetheless.

The melting pot of Hamburg

Hamburg is an experience in itself. The bus station, where I have to wait for an hour, seems like a melting pot of unusual characters: homeless people, begging disabled individuals, addicts, and the occasional early bird. I don’t feel particularly unsafe, but I stay alert. I really want to move on.

Received with blossoms

The station coffee for €1.50, where can you still find that? It’s delightful and gives me a boost. After nearly three more hours, with some catnaps in between, I arrive. I’m welcomed with flowers. Bursting blossoms. It’s as if they say: Marnix, this is your path.