Season 2 - Day 2 - The weird one

And here I am on my first winter day in Reykjavik. I woke up as usual around 8 but it was still dark...

and it started getting brighter grey around 10am

I headed down at the hostel's restaurant for a healthy breakfast...

...and after relaxing and doing some reading...

i headed downtown. Of course my first stops where....

and Harpa

Then I walked in the city and the flea market. The city looks very abandoned for a usual meditrranean man. No sun so I guess family stays home.

Anyway i headed to the public open air thermal pool (Laugardakskaug). Of course i knew that when you hit the showers before the pool you have to shower naked, then wear your swimsuit. The weird one today was that if a father brought his children (no matter gender) they would just join you in the change room....

Lets pass that and tell you that the temperature was 1oC and i was trying to find my way around (outside) with just a swimsuit on and all the signs were in Icelandic. Hehe, It was nice though

Then i headed up in the rain (English type of rain you don't even notice) to Austurvollur square by the parliament for a weird event. The event said that it was the closing ceremony of the winter games (a four day event with all the public museums, galleries and even swimming pools having event from morning till midnight for free). At this event there was a marching band, some adults with special needs wearing angel wings and giving to people hand painted hearts. Then a lady on the stage was talking in Icelandic and then people either raised their hands and laughed or gave group hugs and laugh. After that fire torched were given to people (and me) and the parade started. We walked 100 meters and stopped at the lake next to the municipality. We were offered hot chocolate and then a chorus started singing songs. And their voices were amazing. A lady was also giving free hugs.
It sound crazy but they told me that they say goodbye to winter and laugh because they made it through the darkness (some people get depressed during winter). It was fun though.

It also looks like it is still Christmas

After that i went for a nice coffee at Stofan cafe and at 8pm i had the rescheduled northern lights tour. And we went, almost 350 people driving over 100km to see these lights. And here we are waiting for them to appear...

At the horizon all the clouds had gone away and an amazing starry sky was above us, shooting stars and everything was perfect. Except the lights. At north there was something like either a white cloud, or smoke, or when you get to see the clouds being lit by the moons light, but this night no moon was around. We set our cameras with a 15 sec exposure and something magic appeared in front of me.....
Yes it was magical, or i would say an illusion. This white bow was getting brighter but we did not get to see it by our eyes. The tour ended around 1.30am and they said that during the next 2 years we can have more tours for free until we see them.


And here i am sitting at the lobby of KEX Hostel and suddenly a girl rushes in and shouts that outside on the sea side there are northern lights!! And yes they were amazing, Still whitish but at some points greenish moving along the horizon. Not as it is supposed to be but i now know what to look for.

Northern lights photos tomorrow.....Its too late


That was another wonderful day in the astonishing Iceland.

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

...and off I go..

These past few weeks and even last night have been very stressful. Too much work, obligations but the worst part is counting on other peoples contribution. After over 20 hours of continuous work infront of a PC, I unsuccessfully tried to get some sleep and managed to pack my luggage in less than an hour.

But no matter what, I always think positive. I got really nice jobs, I got friends (which i have to meet more often) and everyone around me is well.So that why we have to be grateful and never complain.

In less than 24 hours i will be landing in Reykjavik after almost 190 days. The feeling is the same as also the excitement.I cant really realise that i am returning back to a place that i have so close to my heart.

And of course after my arrival at 16.00 on Saturday, i have to leave KEX Hostel at 19.30 to go for northern lights hunting. I have book from www.tinyiceland.com through Iceland excursions this tour. The also inform the participants that in case that they dont see the lights, another free tour is offered to them. The reason why someone might not see them is due to cloudness.


So lets keep our fingers crossed.

At the moment a scout friend who is traveling to Athens might make it to meet for coffee.
As for me i am heading to London for a quick stop over and tomrrow the flight of Icelandair deparst to Reykjavik at 13.00.

So everyone stay tuned and amazingly simple Icelandic photos will be shared soon!
Saying bye with some Summer photos from Reykjavik

 

6 Days to go......will i make it?

Less than a week to go back home and i haven't had time to prepare for anything....
These past two weeks have been crazy with work with late hours and i fell so lost and tired
Weekend was full with scout program and this new week seems also mad.
I need to find time to get informational material from Cyprus PIO, then prepare the menu for the international night event, book accommodation and airport transportation.

The good news is that we will be staying at the amazingly looking KEX Hostel.
The Sonar Reykjavik program has been released and it feels that its gonna be amazing.
Also i have found the booking details for the Northern lights hunt.
Last but not least i have to book Blue Lagoon once more.

These are the plans at the moment.
And of course somehow i will manage once again :)

Best song for these days, the amazing Ólafur Arnalds Hægt, kemur ljósið 

First plans

Happy New Year everybody.

Less than two months to go, with a really tight and busy schedule but stealing time to blog and plan for my next trip. These past few days i have become familiar with Icelanders love for fireworks! Each house has its own fireworks!! 30 minutes of continues fireworks all over Reykjavik for the celebration of the New Year. 

Fortunately I have become friends with a few people through instagram and we have arranged a meeting. You can always follow me on http://instagram.com/nature_n_rocks/

Now the next booking is about Sónar Reykjavik.

Sónar is the International Festival of Advanced Music and New Media Art created in 1994, which is held in Barcelona for three days every June.The festival has regularly travelled beyond Spain's frontiers since 2002, with more than 30 events in different places around the world, adapting the Sónar philosophy to unique venues and environments, and highlighting the most interesting homegrown talent and the scene in the city where it takes place. Sónar organizes festivals every year in other cities, including São Paulo and Tokyo.In previous years, it has travelled to Buenos Aires, New York, London, Frankfurt, Seoul, Lisboa, Lyon, Hamburg, Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Boston, Denver, Oakland and Los Ángeles, among many other destinations around the world.

Sónar Reykjavik takes place on four stages with the total capacity of 3500 guests. Beside the two main stages a part of the concert halls underground parking will be changed in to a nightclub were local and international DJ´s will perform during the festival. A scenic part of the concert house will also be changed into a stage. The line up will include around 15 international acts including DJ´s and some 30 Icelandic bands and DJ´s.

Some great examples are the following great songs. British artist James Blake and Olaruf Arnalds from Iceland.

 

Just to keep you on track, next plans include a Blue Lagoon visit and of course a Northern Light tour. Maybe meeting with my summer hosts!

Another task is what kinf of food will i take with me from Cyprus through London for an overnight and to Iceland that i will be allow to carry with me.

Talk to you soon 

TT 

The return

I did not expect either be writting so soon in here and neither visiting "home" so soon!

But maybe as Paolo Coelho says:
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it"

And here i am!

Today i have purchased my ticket to Iceland. A second trip which will mainly be my participation to a Youth Exchange seminar in Reykjavik. Of course when i read about the seminar last September i was just hoping. Finally on Tuesday i received the notification and here i am today with a ticket already in hand!!

During this period (August-December) i met a lot of crazy-Iceland-homesick people like me on Instagram and we are planning for a meetting there.

I also purchased a ticket for Sonar Reykjavik music festival that will be in Harpa for two days with more than 50 singers and Djs

I am also planning my Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) night tour!!

The best Christmas present I could ask for. Now i have to get an Icelandic woolen jumper!!

I will keep you posted!

Icelanders

1. Looking and talking with these people you can change the way you live.
2. They are shy with tourists but really express themselves when they are with friends.
3. They don't want a big house or a lot of money. They know how much they cam spend and try to manage.
4. Clothes are just to have some. Not buy all the time. And as for all these expensive wool jackets and jumpers, they make their own (and even sell them to you).
5. After the crisis some had to find another way to earn money, so they started studying technical studies (electricians, plumbers, tailors).
6. They love their country. No fancy Attractions. Just a rope and a iron pole, or just some rocks lined up and there you have a pathway.
7. In the cities children go for a morning walk and they clean their city (and get paid from the municipality).
8. They eat at home and not to fancy restaurants.
9. They drink before they go out since it is so expensive. And they start dancing when they go to the bar (alcohol has started working from before).
10. They really like coffee and they brew it with love.

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.....