Travelling Fletchers

So long Copenhagen.
What a delightful, clean city full of charm and charisma.

This was the start of our return journey – leaving Copenhagen train station to head for Berlin, then picking up the sleeper train to Brussels and arriving just in time to take the Eurostar back to the UK. The journey from Copenhagen went via Hamburg, giving us one last chance to watch the scenery change as we crossed back through Germany. And all trains through Germany went smoothly – leaving us with just the final UK leg to complete.

Reflections on a final day…
If you’d asked me a year ago what I would find so exciting about this trip, I don’t think I could ever have anticipated the answer. The planning became half the fun – sketching out routes, waiting for booking dates to open, and securing our trains. That sense of anticipation carried us right through to the moment we set off.

Leaving on that very first day, I wasn’t sure how things would pan out – but I was truly excited for the journey ahead. We’ve seen and done so much, and soon came to realise that travelling by train was as much a part of the adventure as the places themselves – offering moments of rest, reflection and watching the world roll by.

We sat to chat amongst the four of us about our favourite day or places during our trip. I think it’s safe to say that the answer was that we didn’t have one particular moment that jumped out. Each day has been so different in its own way that we don’t have a favourite.

We have stayed in four apartments, each with their own character and charm – from the clean, modern lines in Berlin to the hikers’ cabin complete with a mixed set of crockery, from managing with a composting toilet to the luxury of two bathrooms. We also stayed in one hotel – a rescue from a near disaster, made easier by the effortless cancellation of our booked accommodation.

Each city carried its own character too, shaped by time and history. It reminded me that I am not just one person from one place, but part of something bigger – as humans we come from all over, sharing the same history. We should remember the horrors, celebrate the successes, and work towards living more sustainably together.

We’ve carried four backpacks and used or worn every item we brought with us – with the single exception of our waterproof trousers. I would never recommend leaving them behind though. If that was the only thing we didn’t use, then I’d call it a good insurance policy and well worth the little bit of extra space.

We have been away celebrating an 18th birthday, our 25th wedding anniversary, and my upcoming 50th for 18 days. During this time we’ve covered 2,730 miles by train, 570 nautical miles by sea, and driven 225 miles – and we’ve lost count of how many buses, trams and tubes or even steps that we’ve taken.

That’s 413 hours away – and WE. ENJOYED. EVERY. SINGLE. MINUTE. OF. IT. All 24,780 of them.