Season 2 - Day 6 - The live at KEX

Thursday and the seminar has already came to an end. A lot a work in the morning with awards and evaluation of the seminar and finally the last night.

The team decided that since a live music show was going to take place at KEX hostel we should go and see it. Two popular groups Samaris and Bloodgroup gave us a wonderful night to remember. Of course the night ended with tea in the kitchen and a lot of goodbyes.

Samaris - 'Góða tungl' - Good moon

delicate lyrics by the poet Steingrímur Thorsteinsson (1831-1913).. so beautiful!
Lyrics 

Bloodgroup - My arms

Season 2 - Day 5 - The promise

Already we are half-way there. A quite busy day during the morning with partnerships being simulated and really nice conversations. After lunch though most of us headed to the public outdoor pools for some steamy socializing sessions in boiling waters (temperatures varied from 36 oC - 44 oC)

After at least two hours of relaxation and a wonderful sunny day, the sun started inviting us for some awesome photo shoots at the south part of Reykjavik.....

Dinner was served at the Italian restaurant Caruso downtown and the bravest ones ended up at a local bar drinking beers and playing dices. At that night 3 friends made a promise that next year they will meet again to celebrate new years eve at this magical place.

Of course some after night photos took place...

Season 2 - Day 4 - The magical night after the feast

After a long night with my new friends from the training course we stayed up trying to see the northern lights until 2am. Finally we managed to get some photos, but again we could only see this white smoke over the city.....

So here the seminar started and i really enjoyed the energy of all the participants. With some we even got closer and hanged around although the difficulties with remembering names and the correct pronunciation :)

Anyway, after along day the international evening took place with all of us preparing all the food that we brought along. The menu included some tasty wines and drinks, cheeses, breads up to the desserts waffles, chocolates, chocolates and chocolates :)

So here we are 30 people from Cyprus, Iceland, France, Belgium, Slovenia, Poland, Slovakia, Norway, Malta, Bulgaria, UK and Germany.

The most interesting part i should say was everyone's eagerness to try the traditional rotten shark with some Brennivin and yes it smelled and tasted bad. other beautifully presented not usually digested parts of animals were also available from sour lamp, intestines and even testicles :)


Favorite Icelandinc food was the sun-air dried fish which i will take to Cyprus on my return.

The night of course continued with a Northern Light hunting with my best friends Marie and Solen. Although the night did not seem promising we gave it a try, then went for a walk around Reykjavik and ended up drinking tea and discussing about Omega-3 problems (you know)

And at 3 a magical thing happened. The girls went out for a smoke and suddenly they started shouting. I run out and the lights were above us dancing. (yes we could see them with our own eyes). Laughter, shouting, smiles, dancing and whistles followed. The experience was so magical that i did not even care for taking pictures. (OK only 3-4 from my phone, no exposure no nothing)

 

The lights had put a spell on us, they got us mesmerized, feeling that are indescribable. A line across the sky making swirls, dancing and moving with green and purplish colors. The show lasted for ten or more minutes. Maybe one of the strongest experiences in my life!

The following picture maybe displays what we saw.

And that was the end of an unbelievable night!! Oh yes!!!

Season 2 - Day 3 - The relaxed one

Three days have already gone by and time goes by wonderfully. The sun was up this day, making it a nice almost summer day. The atmosphere was clear and the mountains on the opposite Reykjavik where amazing.

My first stop was at the amazing Kaffismidja where the owner roasts the coffee in the shop. The place is cozy, relaxed and the smell of coffee is all around you.

Then a walk downtown through the shops and i ended up to my favorite "restaurant" the Seabaron. Of course the home made lobster soup was as always great.

Then a walk back to the hostel, and of course some pictures on the way.

The meeting for the training at KEX was moved forward 3 hours so i relaxed at the lobby. The library has old books and magazines. Even the National Geographic issues from the 1970!!

I also remembered bolludagur (the bun day) and KEX had an amazing bollur! Something like a profiterole bun. At the 7 the meeting will start and lets wait and see.

The training atmosphere is pretty cool and after this late session we went for a walk where the Northern lights made the appearance once again.

Season 2 - Day 1

A few hours already here and it feels sweet like home.

But lets take it from the beginning.
My flight was departing from gate 5A (Iceland Air to Reykjavik). Attached next gate, 5B Aegean was flying back home to Larnaca. What a coincidence. Me living on the most South-Eastern point of Europe and my dreamland Iceland being at the most North-Western point of Europe. The flight was full (41 rows X 6 per row)

Anyway, the flight was quite interesting (just a regular flight) with some details that uprated it. Personal touch screen TV, an amazing book about the island. Plenty of interesting quotes all over the place. In addition half of their flight shop magazine included icelandic designers.

 I also found out about their "Halloween" that takes place from 11-13 February. Have a look below.

In general except films, series, someone can see documentaries about Iceland, how Harpa conference hall was built (and that would be a nice documentary for Cyprus politicians to see how they dealt with the financial crisis). Last but no least in 2013 Icelandair will install WiFi in all its planes!!!!!

About the flight, it was sunny i must say and smooth (since you are just flying above the sea). When we started landing i noticed that after flying below the first level of clouds we were in between two different cloud levels. Interesting.

 

 

Drizzle was the major event, temperature around 8 oC but it was windy. My new coat though made it too easy to face it. The bus from the airport to the city (40 minute trip) had WiFi also.

Nice weather but not a good one for Northern lights. The tour has been cancelled for tonight and i will probably go tomorrow if the weather permits.

 

A walk down town for a hamburger and beer at Solmon (16 euro). I forgot to mention that no need for cash in Iceland. Everywhere your card is accepted.

An event is held tonight "swimming pool day" where parties and events are held until midnight for free for all citizens. I am too tired though and decided to pass and just relax at the amazing KEX Hostel. Just a photo from a part of the bar. More are soon to follow.

Its time for good night.

And if the Halloween did not surprise you, bare in mind that the main street trees, in neighborhoods and around the windows of the houses, many "Christmas" lights are still on

Reykjavik, Day 7. The end

Thursday morning found me at Stofan café enjoying a nice coffee, some clouds in the sky made me sit inside this cozy place. You should know that they do have a thermos with cafe americano where you can refill for free many times.

After that a nice lunch (lamb curry) and here I am now enjoying my last afternoon in Reykjavik under the sun. Also here they had free soup for starters

Wearing shorts (trousers and t-shirt) laying on the grass listening to nice music and drinking a beer. I should let you know that I got a suntan! A nice day for sure summarizing my trip.

I also found out a place near the airport which I will visit and add some more pictures.

And here it is.....

Stingrays drying

Fish heads drying

The sunset behind the glacier to the west

Full-moon to the east

Keflavik airport at 23.30

Leaving wonderland at 1.00 in the morning

I think that this is the time where my blog from wonderland-Iceland will have to come to an end.

A last post that I already started will be posted and that will be all from Iceland.

No conclusions, sadness, no regrets.

Just an amazing experience.

I must say that I really liked sharing these experiences with all of you and I will consider continuing my post at my next holiday in another wonderland (there is somewhere out there and i have to discover it)

Next stop??.......who knows.....