Hunting for the northern lights. So where is hiding this magical green light?

© triskel      PERLAN in Reykjavik, Iceland

It was  my dream since I was a child. I knew that is something very unique, special and precious and it was my utmost goal and dream to see it. As a little girl I was aware that only very positive people with brilliant souls can achieve it. Because you must to travel to a incredibly happy and distant land to admire this divine spectacle of lights :)

© triskel      dawn at Tjornin Lake in Reykjavik, Iceland

And in 6 months, counting from the beginning of my first travel to Iceland, I maneged to move here, having the certainty that this is exactly the place that I have been always dreaming of!!!








And after living in Iceland for almost 4 weeks now, I have no doubt that this is my dream land and it is far better that I had imagined it to be!!!  I just love Reykjavik, this colourful energetic town full of artistic and creative souls, surrounded by friendly elves and beautiful nature. Really love it! Ég elska þig Ísland!!! :)))

Just pure happiness, energy and calmness in one.

• I am happy to live in 101 Reykjavik
• I am happy to have cheerful and friendly flatmates
• I am happy to see mount Esja and beautiful sea bay everyday
• I am happy to be surrounded by friendly and helpful people and friends
• I am happy to walk through narrow streets of Reykjavik every day and admire cute timber houses covered with colourful corrugated iron, accompanied by small gardens or terraces
• I am happy to meet funny domestic cats on the street with thick and shinny fur
• I am happy to have so many perspectives open in front of me
• I am happy to go to  hot spots and swimming pools so often
• I am happy to sit in climatic cafes and bars while having the endless time to chat
• I am happy to meet people from all over the world (there is more than 100 nations living in Reykjavik!)
• I am happy to learn Icelandic and speak with Icelanders
• I am happy to breath Icelandic air and drink pure Icelandic water
• I am happy to have so many plans and inspiration for the nearest future 
• I am happy because I live in a place where people really trust each other



© triskel      Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík, Iceland

• I am happy to be a member of non profit association again!

 I am incredibly thankful for all these and much more!!! Of course, I keep remembering that true happiness come from our inner source. Here this source is more active inside me as I deeply feel to be in full harmony with this place. All is going well :)))

And coming back to the main subject.. Yes, I've seen the northern lights last September on the very  last day of my stay in Iceland, just few hours before my flight back to Warsaw. My Icelandic friend took  me to the mountains in the direction of tectonic rifts at Þingvellir where the probability to spot it was higher on that night and it worked out well!! Indeed, we spotted it! I could finally saw this magical phenomena!! It was like a long flickering yellow and greenish ribbon on the sky, not that much clear but visible enough to be sure that it was it!!!! :))) I didn't take any picture of it on that night thinking that there will be much more opportunities when I would move to Iceland for good.

And so here I am. Well... the solar activity was decreasing sharply last months and the weather is not that much typical for the Icelandic winter time, so in 2014 I haven't seen it yet. Even I woke up today very early at night to hunt for the northern lights. The sky was still covered with clouds so it was impossible to spot it on the sky although the solar activity was on the medium level (4 in 9-grade scale).

I was planning to tell you more about conditions to spot the northern lights but in the end I decided to leave it for the next episode. So I promise to tell you more when I finally see aurora borealis on the Icelandic sky.
I encourage you to see this short film about amazing Icelandic landscapes - Midnight sun in Iceland for a dessert and for music lovers: Bon Iver video clip for 'Holocene' that was shot in Iceland (that is indie-folk U.S. artist). Enjoy! :)

Sjáumst! (See you soon again at my blog!)
 

Bon Iver 'Holocene'

I'm already 3 weeks in Iceland! So let's talk about..

© triskel      streets of Reykjavik, Iceland

Can't believe it! 3 weeks have already past since I moved to Iceland. To be honest, I am feeling to be at home from the very first moment. Magical Iceland is my home now. But.. yes, certainly, there are some moments of loneliness and melancholy that I am going through, as the roots are growing gradually, day by day, week by week.. So it takes some time to settle down for good. It's a process that lasts in time..

© triskel    on my way to Seltjarnarnes

I've done so many things this week and met new people and started new friendships. Just a small overview:

•  meeting with Icelandic journalists that had been to Poland already, one of them was even a guest of Krytyka Polityczna in Warsaw
• shut up & write meeting for writers/people who write in general, at Loft
• first TEDx Reykjavik screening meeting
• Friday meeting of photography club 'Pozytywni'
• cooking together with new friends and going for dinners
• spontaneous Friday party at my place!
•  two concerts at KEX (seen only small part of Snorri Helgason performance). Just listen to this old Scottish song from 18th century, beautiful!!!!
• visit in 66°North outlet (this is high quality Icelandic brand. just love they woollen clothes!)
• cinema on Sunday night ('Akira', Japanese s-f cartoon) 
• going for a walk by the sea almost every day
• and many more cute things! 
• also: continuing my search for a job and all the paper issues to legalise myself here :)

© triskel      home made wafers

And now I should confess you that I've already become half-Icelandic as I bought myself beautiful second-hand Icelandic sweater made of fantastic Icelandic wool :) Icelandic sweaters are something traditional and cool here, everyone must have one! And knitting is also very popular among people in all ages! Now I'm giving you just small insight about it. For sure I'll come back to this topic one day.


Ah, speaking about it, just forgot to tell you that last weekend our half-Icelandic flatmate made wonderful wafers with whipped cream for us 4 (we are just like a small family :)









Recently I've read several interesting articles that answer some of my questions about Icelandic social life and society. So I'm planning to tell you now few words about Icelandic attitude to sex and nudity. The whole text about this intriguing topic can be found here in Guide to Iceland.

© triskel      streets of Reykjavik, Iceland

I just try to sum up what I heard from my international friends about this issues in Iceland. I've already mentioned you how much common is nudity at swimming pools changing rooms. Being completely naked in company of other people of the same sex is treated as totally natural state (and obligatory at the pool cloakroom) so people here learned to be very tolerant and are not ashamed of their bodies. Naked body is treated as one of the most common things, it's not a taboo at all in Iceland. There are so many shapes and colours of the body and nobody pays attention to it. We are just the same, we are naked and it's so natural state. Of course there is a division between men and woman (karlar and konur) but I was told that mothers often take small sons with them and men take small daughter to the men's changing room. That's very new idea for me but I find it really cool :)
And while going to the hot springs you can easliy encounter people bathing completely naked in natural surrounding and nobody is astonished by this fact. I think that one day I'm going to do the same just to feel freedom and to be in greater harmony with amazing nature around  :)

© triskel      streets of Reykjavik, Iceland

So that's not surprising at all that sex is not a taboo neither for Icelanders. They enjoy to talk about their sexual life and the age of sexual initiation in Iceland is the lowest in Europe (and probably the lowest in the world, the average is only 15 years old!). It's even earlier then in other Scandinavian countries.
What sounds very strange for me is the fact that going for a coffee too much often with somebody can be seen as a bigger compromise then just having sex with someone. And that's a sad news for me, that generally speaking, there are no dates in Iceland. The relationship between man and woman usually starts from sex and maybe after some meetings there is a chance for a date. That's really like upside down world. It might be a result of social control although it sounds that much awkward. In such a small community (whole Iceland has population of 320 000 inhabitants, while Reykjavík is around 120 000) it's so easy to be spotted in the town by somebody that knows you..  so the gossip will spread in 5 minutes (something like: 'they are going be married or engaged') and Icelanders are probably afraid of that.  Even though, I don't plan to change my views on this issues and I just think that a relationship should start from some meetings or dates and a friendship.. Fortunately, I heard  also about some different stories that don't confirm this general rule, so there's always some chance. Well, we'll see how is the real social life in the land of fire and ice :)

© triskel      Reykjavík near Harpa Concert Hall

Another thing that surprises me a lot (also connected to the body issues) is obesity problem in Iceland. This is a second country in Europe (just after the United Kingdom) with the biggest percentage of obese people. I've never seen so many huge persons in my life. Of course they are 'really visible' but due to a common tolerance nobody is pointing them out. And the Icelandic diet is becoming more and more fast food diet in American style. Although there is fortunately no McDonald's here (because it's only allowed to sell Icelandic meat here), fast food places are everywhere around as eating out in regular restaurant/bar is very expensive in Iceland. Nevertheless, the newest data shows that, statistically speaking, Icelanders stopped to put on more weight.
You can easily spot two attitudes here:  1. people who love sport, that are active, fit and slim and 2. those  just enjoying their fast food and non-sportive activities. I think there should be some kind of social awareness campaign in Iceland to teach young people about benefits of healthy diet and lifestyle. I'd seen that even whole families are going to Subway or other fast food places for Sunday lunch. I'm very surprised with this facts. As you probably know, I really care for my diet, search for organic food and don't like to have any chemical additions in my meal.

Fortunately, the environment is incredibly clean in Iceland, so this factor makes us more healthy, even despite the diet :)

© triskel   view from Seltjarnarnes

Playing games with Icelanders, planning projects with Poles :)

Aurora forecast is still not very favourable, it's not that easy to combine medium or high solar activity with clear or partly clear sky! So far I couldn't spot any green ribbons on the sky since 4th January but for sure I will have a lot opportunities until the end of March :) So I will definitely see the green lights on the sky until my birthday as I was born on the second day of spring.

© triskel      Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

And I will have first visitors from Poland in February and March, I'm very happy about it! Please bring me some millet groats (kasza jaglana) from Poland and some other useful stuff, I will let you know what I exactly need!

 It's time to tell you something about last weekend, I was really happy with the time I spent with Polish and Icelandic people.




On Friday evening it was the time for Polish company and going out with Poles. Friday meeting with Polish association, that I'm already the member of, was very fruitful. They are very professional and have very ambitious plans and interesting ideas. I was really impressed to hear how many events are planned for this year! I already have some ideas for my own project, in meanwhile I will try to help in those that are already scheduled. And after a cheerful meeting we went to downtown for some beers and having nice chats. Integration is very important part of ngo life. I could feel that everybody was interesting in my person as I was one of the newcomers, just 'a fresh blood' :)

© triskel      Reykjavík at night, Iceland

While Saturday was my Icelandic day, I met with my Icelandic friend and he took me to his friends' place where we joined them to play a social game (the one with guessing the titles of films, music, book, TV programmes only by movement, singing or making a statue..) so it was a first live lesson of Icelandic for me, as they spoke mostly Icelandic with each other. That's very beautiful language and I hope to learn it soon although it is one of the most difficult ones (of course is less complicated than Polish) and as it said in my Icelandic book: 'Íslenska er erfitt en fallegt mál' (Icelandic is difficult but it's a beautiful language). I hope you agree with me after listening to some Icelandic songs :)

I got really involved in the game with Icelanders and my team was supporting me a lot. They are such energetic and easy-going people. I felt to be their mate from the very beginning. Even I had the feeling that we know each other longer then just for few minutes! After official introduction I got so many questions from them, some of them already been to Poland and they were curious if I am their friend's girlfriend, if I'm living with him and if I'm going to stay in Iceland for good. And I said responding their third question that it is very probable, depending on the job that I will get and I will just see how it's going on and how I find myself here. I got some compliments about my beauty from one of the girls and admiration that I decided to move to Iceland. That's really sweet!

So it was great fun to play games with Icelanders and I was very happy about it. Around 1 am we went to a bar downtown and I had opportunity to speak with most of them, some guys are members of indie-folk band (with classical, progressive rock and minimalist elements) and I already knew their music. They has released 3 albums until now and I was interested to listen to their insights about a tour that they had in Poland. That's a pity that there are some shifts in the band currently as I had an idea to involve them in my musical project.

I should tell you that every moment I was at the bar counter alone in a while I was asked some question by Icelanders, they seem to be so open and have this nice easiness to start conversation in a bar (of course not everyone is like this, others seems to keep quite a big distance or are just shy). One handsome guy (I suppose he was after 45)  told me that he just came 'to admire my nose', that's really funny beginning of conversation. Fortunately, when he saw that I have a company just wished me good luck and disappeared. And a friend of my friend came to me few times to just kiss me on the chick saying 'have fun!'. I was wondering what does it mean, maybe he just got drunk or it was the Icelandic style :) The bar was closing at 5 am and the lights went on. I had been to Ölstofa few times before and each time I was there I noticed with a big astonishment that Icelanders are so loud an talkative and very easy going! Even more then Spanish people what's really incredible! Especially in this bar where the music is low and people are so loud and the average age is 30-40! I hope to see my new Icelandic colleagues soon again, I really liked them on that night.

© triskel      Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

On Sunday though I woke up late and few hours before the sunset my friend took me for a ride to Hafnarfjörður coast  to take a walk by the sea. He's so kind and is taking care of me all the time, a true gentleman. The sun was close to set down and I was happy to have my camera with me as the landscape began to be cover in the interesting lights for photographers (here you can see some of my pics). Hafnarfjörður (a neighbour city of Reykjavík, third biggest town in Iceland) is said to be Polish city and there is a huge aluminium plant located by the sea that is polluting the crystal Icelandic air. That's a pity that even here money sometimes wins against nature and environment is not fully protected!

More news from Iceland coming soon. Just stay tuned :)

© triskel      Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

Icelandic music er best í heimi :)

 One of the reason why I moved here is wonderful Icelandic music scene and the great interest in  music of Icelanders. Almost everyone sings in a choir or plays some instruments. This is so common here, music plays an important part in life of Icelandic people and maybe that's why ICELAND HAS SO MANY GREAT MUSIC BANDS AND ARTISTS :)

© triskel   live concert of Myrra Rós

At the beginning, I will write some words about the most famous ones, and with time I will be able to tell you more about the other Icelandic artists. I hope to be able to see most of them in live performance soon as I live in the Icelandic capital that is a heart of musical life here :)

Of course that I agree that 'Íslensk tónlist er best í heimi' which means Icelandic music is the best in the world! Do you remember that Iceland is best in the world 'per capita'? I had already mentioned this topic :)

MY ICELANDIC TOP 5

1. My first choice is very young artist, only 21 years old  Ásgeir Trausti. He just recorded his first CD in 2012 titled 'Dýrð í dauðaþögn' and it was the Album of the Year in Iceland! I've been listening to his songs a lot last months since my first journey to Iceland. He's known outside Iceland as Ásgeir and the album 'In the Silence' that he recorded this year in English is  for example no 1 on Japanese Billboard at the moment. I especially love this particular song 'Heimförin' as I knew I was going home while moving to Iceland. It's quite methaphysical but it's the way I feel about it!  I personally prefere to listen to his songs in Icelandic, it's more mysterious and more emotional for me :) It is called 'melodic folk' and there is a lot of magic sound in his music.

Ásgeir Trausti

Just listen to my favourite:
Going home, live acoustic session   and its original Icelandic version Heimförin. ABSOLUTELY LOVE HIS MUSIC!! (And yes, he's very handsome, I like this Icelandic type of  good looking men,of course :)

By the way, the English versions of his songs from his new album are streamed on The Guardian from now if you are interested.





And this is a newest review from Clash magazine that I just found about his music: 'One in 10 of the Icelandic population own the original version of this record and well they might, as these songs possess an airy, glacial beauty that’s easy to love. While he’s unlikely to become quite so ubiquitous elsewhere, newly-translated English lyrics (thanks in part to previous touring-partner John Grant) will ensure that it’s not just Ásgeir’s stirringly emotive voice that will resonate.The Bon Iver comparisons are inevitable and deserved, the title track especially sounding like it could fit on everybody’s favourite cabin-dweller’s last outing. ‘Torrent’ is the highlight here, with a stop-start backdrop that sweeps along majestically. A richly melodic, welcomingly melancholic debut'.



2. My second choice is Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men. Their debut album 'My Head Is An Animal' has gone platinum in the United States recently.

Of Monsters And Man

They have very nice music videos, maybe you already seen some, and one of my favourites songs is 'King and Lionheart', just listen to the live performance during Airwaves Festival and then watch the official video. Which one do you prefer? I'm looking forward to see them in live concert, they're are very energetic and spontaneous band :)

Sigur Rós

3. Probably everyone knows Sigur Rós, they are celebrating 20 years anniversary this year! I especially love this song recorded during their tour in Iceland, they were visiting small villages and playing at open air in nature. Here is goes, the song 'Olsen Olsen' that I really love in  live version. (And look at the Icelandic sweaters that people wear here, they are made of wonderful Icelandic wool and I'm going to find cute one  for myself. Hope to tell you more about it soon  :)

Samaris

4. And if you look for a song that it's rooted in Icelandic believes, sensitivity and nature you need to lesson to Samaris song Góða tungl (Good Moon).

Björk

5. I also need to mention Björk once again, I've just told you the story about my first meeting with her in Reykjavik, but still there is much more to tell about such wonderful and outstanding artist.  Here is a link to an interesting article about her music and artistic career.

One of my favourite songs of her is 'All is full of love'. I can feel it even better here :)

You'll be given love
You'll be taken care of
You'll be given love
You have to trust it

So I will tell you my secret now. I'm also planning (to try) to join one of theIcelandic choirs or/and to start to play an instrument (piano or guitar)!! I hope in such artistic surrounding I will be able to open this new chapter in my life as music has been always increadible important too me, I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE MY LIFE WITHOUT MUSIC! :)))

Daylight and delight :)

© triskel       Seltjarnarnes, Greater Reykjvík, Iceland

I feel it's time to say few words about the daylight time here in Iceland. I am so astonished that that daytime is growing now 5 min 30 seconds every day! And soon in spring time it will be almost 7 minutes per day! So in 2 first weeks of my stay here the day has grown almost 1 hour! (exactly from 4h30 min to 5h 16 min!) At the beginning it was only 3 minutes per day but it's shifting so fast. So everything is changing in a good and positive way :))

© triskel       Seltjarnarnes, Greater Reykjvík, Iceland

In case you are curious how does it look here I can say that today the sunrise was at 10:50 and the sunset will be at 16:26, but in fact the sky is blue from 9:42 am to 17:30 pm. So it's far better than I imagined while being in Poland. It's completely different world and different reality here, sometimes it's even feels like completely different planet! :))




 I've been going a lot to hot swimming pools, on Tuesday I was swimming outdoors in Laugardalslaug at -4°C in the evening, the sky was still dark blue before 18h and it was great experience! Don't worry, we have a lot of hot water pools here full of geothermal water, so it's really doesn't matter what's the temperature outside. 
On Monday I tried out again the smaller neighbour pool Sundhöllin despite the strong wind that was almost moving the cars parked near Concert Hall by the sea. I was a little bit afraid that it would take me into the air when I was coming back from Harpa with my 3-days pass for Sónar Reykjavík Festival :)
And on Thursday my friends took me to the best swimming pool in Kópavogur. The sky was lighted by the full  moon, hot jacuzzi outside with small water  cascades and chilly atmosphere. Also we visited some supermarkets before so I could see that a lot of U.S. products are sold in Iceland. Fortunately there are some organic products (from Europe!) available at fair price, even I bought kasza gryczana and kasza jęczmienna at Icelandic store-garage full of Polish food! (nick-name: 'U dziada' :)

© triskel       streets of Reykjvík

And today is Friday and the weather is excellent again! Yesterday it was quite cloudy and grey so I reminded myself that: 
'Even when the day is gray there is always blue sky above the clouds'. 

So the day was great despite the grayish tones!

© triskel       Seltjarnarnes, Greater Reykjvík, Iceland

© triskel       Seltjarnarnes, Greater Reykjvík, Iceland

Weekend life, feels almost like home ;)

I had a great weekend time! It was the first weekend full of activities and nice encounters here in Iceland because during the previous weekend (the one when I arrived) I was completely worn out and exhausted after the night journey and all the past days od preparations though didn't do much.

So many activities, new people and events, I was so exited with the new possibilities that open for me in Reykyavík!!! :))))

© triskel       Seltjarnarnes, Greater Reykjvík, Iceland

On Saturday the weather was really fantastic so I was so enthusiastic to have a walk at the snowy Seltjarnarnes coast just before the sunset. I don't need to comment on this, just have a look at the pictures, ICELAND IS SUCH A DIVINE PLACE FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS!!! :)))
It was quite cold but not very windy and the sunset light made the landscape so picturesque and warm.

© triskel       Seltjarnarnes, Greater Reykjvík, Iceland

© triskel       Seltjarnarnes' birds, Greater Reykjvík, Iceland

Cooking together is also the one of the activities that I really enjoy here. And it's so great that I am getting in touch with so many Polish people, my new friends and colleagues :) Also I already had some nice meetings with Icelanders and couchsurfers from abroad that are coming to town. And I was very happy to meet my Icelandic friend that was hosting me in July and September when I came to Reykjavík for the first and second time :)








Sunday was also fantastic even despite the greyish sky. After a meeting in cosy Laundromat Cafe (and having done the laundry in the public place for the first time!) I joined the Polish people and colleagues from ProjectPolska.is  association at Bio Paradis cinema to celebrate 22nd Final of Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (WOŚP).

© triskel       Laundromat Cafe in Reykjvík

 I met so many friendly people from the Polish association and I am very happy to start working with them on some cultural and social projects very soon. I'm very enthusiastic about it! :)

© triskel       concert of Myrra Rós, Bío Paradis in Reykjvík

I talked to Polish Ambassador and his wife during this event (they are very friendly and smiling couple) and got some nice ideas about possibilities of work here. I also hope to take a part in WOŚP caritative auction next year. And for the dessert we got a huge heart-shaped cake and a concert of Myrra Rós that has really powerful voice!

Finally in the evening I was so overwhelmed by all this new events and prospects for future.. that I couldn't fall asleep! And the new week for sure will bring new light into my life here :)

'So let's get the party started'

On the Icelandic plane there are always funny things going on. I love the sense of humour of Icelanders! It is incredible, just have to hear them to understand how great they are :)))

© triskel       Reykjvík, January 2014

© triskel       Reykjvík streets, January 2014

On  Friday night (3rd January) I heard Icelandic steward speaking to all the passengers just after the plane took off from Warsaw: 'We are in the air now, so the party starts!' :) and then he spoke other words that called my attention: 'You probably know that we are heading to the best country in the world!' I fully share his opinion, that's why I moved to Iceland! So I was happy that he confirmed my crazy point of view! Yeah, you probably know that I deeply fall in love with Iceland :) So now is the time to see how the everyday life of Icelanders looks like.

I spent some time in the first week of my stay in Iceland on furnishing my room. It occurred that to buy good price sheets, towels and other stuff, you need to go outside the downtown about 30 minutes walk from Hlemmur bus station.  Also there is one wonderful second hand shop that everybody I know here had recommended it to me. It's called Góði hirðirinn (Good sheppard) and you can find there a lot of furniture, sofas, skies, snowboards and other stuff at a very cheap price. Let's say that is possible to buy leather sofa for 10-20 euro or even cheaper and that's great news! :) All furniture at my place came from this shop and I hope to buy myself a second hand bike and maybe nordic skies when the winter will be coming to town :)

On Friday it started to rain in the morning. In spite of the weather I didn't take the bus as I wanted to learn more about the city. In fact I enjoy long walks. So I went this time to a place that I was told to find cheaper towels and sheets. To my surprise, the long and difficult name 'Rumfatalagerinn' means just a huge Jysk shop that you can find easily in Poland or other European countries as well, but in Iceland you have special name for it, I wonder why?

And later in the evening big flakes of snow covering the whole world started to change into water streams on the streets. Old ice is melting, everything became wet and humid. And the sky was completely covered with clouds at night, no chance for the northern lights that night. So to cheer up a little bit I found this fantastic aurora 360 degree view from 1st January, just have a look, it's amazing! This is exactly something that I'm waiting for :)))

http://olihar.com/aurora01_2014/
 

My first meeting with Björk :)

© triskel      night view of  Reykjvík

 Yesterday in the evening I just ran into Björk on Laugavegur street! :) That's a great feeling as I was big fan of her music in my student times! I knew she will be my neighbour when I move to Iceland ;)

She was just going out of  her shining white car, luxury and huge one jeep-like. Wearing a blue dress with some ethnic patterns,  very elegant and slim. Long dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin, she still looks young!

She looked in my direction and in this moment I recognised her. Wow, can't believe, it's Björk! I was not more then 2 metres from her, even had a thought that maybe I should talk to her, but this is her city and she was probably going to a shop as it's a sales time.. So I just watched her passing near by for a while, totally surprised by this coincidence. 

In this moment I was carring a bag with a pot plant, a new vivid creature that  will  be first non-human inhabitant of my room. So now the plant will be a memory of this unexpectable encounter. I hope to see her again, maybe this time at  the concert! :))

In fact Björk was my first link to Iceland! When I was a student and was renting a flat with two other friends for a first time in my life, in Mokotów district in Warsaw, I remember that I had only one photo stuck above my mattress, it was photo of Björk from 'Dancing in the dark' movie. She was such an inspiring artist to me,  with her emotional and authentic voice, extraordinary way of expression and incredible energy and creativity. And there was some magic and mystery behind it all.. :)

  One of my favourite songs of hers was Isobel:

My name Isobel
Married to myself
My love Isobel
Living by herself   

And how strange,  I'd never seen this artistic video clip before as internet wasn't very popular thing that days..

Today it's started to be windy again, I hope that there is still a high chance of magnetic storm tonight that brings astonishing spectacle of the northern lights! Activity lavel is 4 in 9 grade scale but it's a little bit too much cloudy.. I hope it's coming soon!!! :)))

SMALL PLEASURES OF LIFE IN ICELAND :)

© triskel    view of Faxafloi Bay from Reykjvík promenade

*One of my favourite points: hot swimming pools at open air!!!

I'm so lucky to live only 5 minutes from one of the swimming pools, Sundhöllin,  situated in white old-fashioned building inaugurated in 1937 with quite big swimming pool indoors. And on the terrace you find the biggest fun, there are two jacuzzi pools overlooking the sky and you can watch the stars or even northern lights while staying in the hot geothermal water 39°C and 42°C hot. I just came back from the night bath at this pool accompanied by my half-Icelandic flatmate. Divine experience, yeaaahhh :)

There are strict rules about having a shower and washing yourself without a swimming costume before entering the pool and the nudity is one of the most natural things here. There are so many shapes and colours of the body and nobody pays attention to it. We are just the same, we are naked and it's so natural state. Of course there is a division between men and woman (karlar and konur) but I was told that mothers often take small sons with them and men take small daughter to the men's changing room. That's very new idea for me but I find it really cool :)

The most fantastic and the biggest swimming pool in Reykjavík is called  Laugardalslaug and it's situated next to the football stadium, 25 minutes walk from my place to the east. You can choose between 4 geothermal jacuzzi 38-42°C and biggest and warmest one with seawater heated by geothermal energy. There are 2 big swimming pools 50 m long, one 25 m and  many curly waterslides, everything at open air and with a place for audience. Looks like late 70-ties construction of concrete. It's a great place to listen to Icelanders speaking their language. Many people joining jacuzzi say 'Hæ!' to other companions and some chats are going on while staying in the hot water. Never mind the wind, rain, hail or snow! It's always a great pleasure and a big fun :) I've visited this big pool at least 4-5 times counting my last stay here last September 2013 and really enjoy going there, mostly with my couchsurfing friends from Reykjavík and their guests and other colleagues. Yesterday I was there for the first time since I moved here. And when I get my own bike I'll be visiting it more often. Now it's so easy to go to the smaller one next doors :)


* Another favourite activity of mine - taking a walk by the sea. There is beautiful promenade between Harpa Concert Hall and an east port from which ferries go to Viðey Island. Photography can say more then the words, just have a look.. :)

© triskel    Reykjvík, Faxafloi Bay's scenic waterfront promenade

© triskel    Reykjvík, sidewalk by the sea

© triskel    Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjvík

Þrettándinn, 6th January 2014

Þrettándinn, 6th January, is a very special day in Iceland. Animals are supposed to speak, elven fireworks light up the sky and king and queen of hidden people join the local festivities. Fantasy world :)

Þrettándinn means 'the thirteen' in Icelandic but in fact it's a celebration of the Twelfth Night of Yule, the last day of Christmas in Icelandic tradition. Also it marks the last of the thirteen Yule Lads (little frollic 'santa clauses', descendants of trolls, as there is no old Santa Claus in red clothing in Iceland) returning to the mountains after Christmas. Supernatural things become natural on this day, elves and trolls come out to join the people. I wonder whether the seals taken on human form as it is said to be?

So nothing unusual that I've met on this day a friendly cat accompanied by a magic owl. And they started talking to me ;)


This is my photo album made today, it was quite sunny and extremely windy day. Because of the strong wind temperature outside   became for me like -10°C although it was at least 1 degree above zero! Freezing :)

© triskel, 101 Reykjvík, January 2014

http://www.flickr.com/photos/domi-skw/sets/72157639484875206/


And one more thing that surprised me these first days. Most of the sidewalks in the city are covered with a thick layer of ice, nobody is cleaning them! Only in some parts the pavements are clear. Today I could observe that somebody spilled the black sand on it to avoid slippery. (Yeah, the sand is black here :)) Is it a matter of the Yule Lads? :)))

WEIRED GUIDE TO ICELAND

At the beginning of my life here  it's good to know about the weirdest things that I can encounter in Iceland. So let's have a look at the social life at first. I've just found this amusing article: '10 Weirdest Things About Icelanders'.

And don't miss the funny movie 'Íslander' presenting of kinds of Icelandic people and their sociable way of life. It's part of promotion of 'Inpired by Iceland', Icelanders invite to experience their daily life in Iceland. Sense of humour is a crucial thing here :))))

Counting my experiences until now, from my previous 2 stays in Iceland I've already learnt that:

1.  In Iceland there is  patrymonic (and to some extend - matrymonic) system of names in Iceland, and there are no real Icelandic surnames, only few family names of Danish roots. So everyone is called by his/her first name, no matter the age or social position! :)

2. Mayor of Reykjavik, Jónn Gnarr is a comedian actor (and punk rocker!), famous figure for his eccentric style not only in Iceland! I think it's a pity that he's not going to run for re-election this year.

3. Icelanders speak some words on in-breath! That's explaining a lot as I was wondering what that in-breath 'Já' (yes) mean when they agree with you :)

4. Iceland is best in the world 'per capita'! With such a small scale of population it's easier to be the best in the world in so many areas as music, writing books, sport teams, safety of country, clearness of nature and, what's most important for me, happiness of people! Indeed, Icelanders are the most happy nation in the world, no doubt about it :))))

5. and 6. I've already could see some Icelandic funny monster trucks while travelling in July around Iceland, also experienced that nudity is very natural for Icelanders (at the geothermal swimming pools or hot springs in the mountains).

Other points still need to be checked out on my own. I'm just starting to experience many faces of Iceland :)

Sjáumst!

© triskel    Tjörnin lake in Reykjvík, January 2014

 

NEW BEGINNING, NEW LIFE :)

© triskel,   Mt. Esja in January 2014

Today is my second day in Iceland. Finally my dreams have transformed in reality. Still can't believe it's true!!! Now I live in ICELAND, amazing land of friendly people with artistic souls, breathtaking elven landscapes and vivid nature :)))) It's such a beautiful moment in my life!

Just after landing in Iceland in Keflavík I felt incredible peacefulness inside and outside me. Calmness that was overwhelming filled me with very positive emotions. 'You're in the timeless space, there is no need to hurry, just rest and enjoy the moments that come. Iceland is waiting for you! Step by step discover its tastes!'.

I feel there is certain continuity of time. My last day in Iceland in September 2013 was Friday, as I had the flight on Saturday morning. On that day I had a walk by the sea in the direction of Viðey Island, the weather was nice and sunny with colourful scenery around, and I did exactly the same yesterday. Beautiful and delicate pink light was painting majestic Mount Esja in astonishing way and I met the same mute old men riding his bike. Thick ice cap on the sidewalk, snowy mountain view and stronger wind made only difference between those two moments in time :) So I am here again! Breathing crystal air, enjoying the colourful city and recognising the same places. Whispering.. 'I'm back! I'm back! I'm back!'.

And the first creature that welcomed me when I arrived to Reykjavík at 3 at night was a friendly cat with white and red fur greeting me with meowing and following me along Grettisgata street. Similar to my Swiss friend Spanish neighbours' one. So I am at home, new home. And this is my new place on earth, 101 Reykjavík.

Now I am listening to Ólafur Arnalds music, live concert at KEX  hostel in Reykjavík, and discovering his fantastic sense of humour. He is even mentioning his Polish adventures. Absolutely love it! :)))                                                

And sunny Sunday brought also some intense impressions and moments. Walking on thick ice of Iceland at Tjörnin Lake :)

© triskel, Tjörnin lake in Reykjvík, January 2014