Eastfjords trip – day 4

I  woke up in a gorgeous place with an incredible sunny and warm weather. After having breakfast and talking a bit more with the host, I packed my stuff and off I went. 

It was 9:30 am and my flight was at 20:30. Plenty of hours.. I was sure I can make it in 10 hours to the airport. After all I was only around 80 km away. I walked a lot but because there were not so many cars I had time to snap some pictures after my own liking. There were 5 cars in total passing by me and again there were more cars in the other way. Luckily the host of the hostel actually had to drive someone somewhere close by and he happily picked me up when he saw me by the side of the road. He drove me around 10-15 km. Any kilometer matters. He told me to not take route 1 because the other one is a bit more crowded. 

After walking for almost one hour, it started to be really windy and I could barely hear the cars coming. Not that they were too many to begin with. I was almost reaching the intersection of the route 1 and And so I missed a car and I kinda waved only after passed by me. Still they stopped. But there were three sheep on the road, so I assumed they stopped for that. Nope, they stopped for me. Haha, suck it sheep. I’m the one. 

Two girls and two guys from Finland. They were not going to Egilsstaðir, they were kinds with no plans just wanted to see some spots around the fjords. But after I told them about my plan they actually decided to drive me all the way to the city and to go and try the hike I missed the previous day in Seyðisfjörður. 

And like this I was in the city around 12:30. Way, way, way too early. I decided to treat myself to a nice and expensive lunch. Then to go on a hike towards a viewpoint and finally to go to the swimming pool to finish the trip in a very Icelandic manner. 

The hike was great, so many trees around me filling again my soul with anything that was still missing. Also the river around me had some spectacular view points and at the end I found a playground where I stopped for few moments. Give me a swing and all the problems in the world disappear. 

The hike was around one hour, then I went to the swimming pool where they had a sauna so of course I went for it. I even did some rounds in the big swimming pool and by the end of my chill out session I was completely serene. 

Going out and heading to a Bonus to buy some snacks I found out my plane was going to be late for about one hour. I walked to the airport a bit disappointed because in total I had to wait probably more than 3 hours for my flight. I was way too early in the airport. Everything faded away when I saw the amazing Askja mountain with huge blocks of ice chilling in the lake. And of course the unforgettable full circle rainbow. 

I landed in a very dark, rainy, gloomy Reykjavik. I was picked up from the airport and home never felt so good. Since I moved here. 

For photos and videos please watch my IG and YT account (Alina Ioana) . Uploading soonish.

Eastfjords trip – day 3 (part 2)

So again, here I was starting my hitchhike towards Egilsstaðir first and then Berunes. I walked a bit, but not too far to be attacked by birds again. And I stopped. A lot of cars passed by me, but no-one would stop. And so after 20 minutes of waiting the same Bulgarian-Turkish guy stopped and drove me all the way to Egilsstaðir. We had a nice chat about Bulgarians and Romanians in Europe. 

From there I walked for 30 minutes more outside the city and stopped in a safe place, where car were able to stop too. And I waited and waited and waited some more. So many cars would pass through, two of them actually slowed down, but nobody picked me up. One hour later I was already deciding what to do. If I should just try to get accommodation in the city or keep on waiting. I said I’ll give it half an hour maximum and I’ll think about where else to sleep. 

About 16:30 two Icelandic women picked me up. Unfortunately they were going somewhere else and they left me 10 km away from where I was. And like this the walk started. I didn’t want to stay put because to be fair it drives me nuts. Unfortunately this route was not that common for cars, or at least not at that time. And the few cars who passed by me wouldn’t even stop. I was starting to feel I’m getting in trouble. The place where I was supposed to go was 70 km away. Not that far by car, but for sure crazy to get there on foot. 

I was walking for an hour trying to sing songs, talking with myself to cheer up, but truth to be told my feet were killing me. I was actually starting to feel tired. Which is never good. I was even considering to maybe sleep somewhere in the grass if really no car will stop for me. First solution being to hitchhike my way back to the city and find accommodation there. 

Well, with all these thoughts in my mind, really trying to decide what’s best for me a car stopped. I couldn’t believed it. And they were going all the way to Höfn. Farther away than where I was going. But they were taking my route. Incredible and I was so happy I wanted to hug the British couple. Also, the route we actually went through.. Again no words. Stunning, incredible, remarkable. Snapped some pictures, as I could. But really those views fed my soul for a long while. 

Somewhere around 19:00, I think, we got to my accommodation, Berunes Hostel. They drove me all the way up to the reception. Another incredible place. I said goodbye to my British heroes and this time I actually hugged them. And I went to check in, and to take a shower as soon as possible. 

The best surprise was still to come. When I went to the guest kitchen a colleague was making diner. He knew I’m coming so he prepared extra food for me, too. So,  so kind. Always kind. He used to be my boss here in Iceland. So after diner we had plenty to talk about. Nice, lovely chat for more than an hour. Then I headed to sleep, I was really exhausted from a tiring but still fulfilling day. 

Following day would be last day, also the one in which I was going back to Reykjavik. 

Trip to Eastfjords – day 3 (part 1)

The adventurous day was this one, for sure. 

I woke up around 7. Too early I would say, so I decided I wasn’t in a hurry. The guy from reception told me about three hikes and I wanted to try at least one. But two of them were starting about 17 km away,  so I would need a car. Which by now you understood I was in no position to have that. But then I thought about renting a bike. The hike itself was about one hour so normally I would have plenty of time. However when I found out the price (4 hours – 4500 ISK), I kinda gave up. So back to hitchhiking. 

The weather was stable as in no wind, but rainy and quite gloomy. And I started walking around 9:30 for about one hour outside the city until I realized nobody actually goes where I want to. So luckily I caught a ride back in town and from there I stopped and talked with an Icelandic man. He was preparing to chop down a tree that was a danger for the house close to it. So I asked him where to go for another hike (heading towards a lake) and he told me. But my brain already decided where to go, so I didn’t listen to him. I was heading outside the city, walking again for like 30 minutes when I realised I wasn’t heading to where my hike would start. And right when I was trying to figure it out where to go, I got attacked by two birds. Note to self: screaming doesn’t help. Running away from the place is. I was quite bummed out how I wasted so much time to not go anywhere. And while I was getting sad, I called on my own bullshit. More about it, on the vlog. You know I’m gonna have vlogs about this trip, right?

And like this I headed back in town. This time going in the correct direction. Around 12 I started the actual hike which was the most beautiful hike in a long while. I was hiding in between mountains and even though it was drizzling, I had a great time. Two hours into the hike.. I decided to stop. To eat and then head back. Even though in front of me there was Ana amazing waterfall but I’m pretty sure it was one more hour until getting there.  And for the last 30 minutes I was walking in a bit of a swamp. Or anyway.. My shoes were completely soaked and I was starting to be tired. And I was feeling a bit cold too. 

So I went back and around 14:30 I was outside of the city, direction Egilsstaðir trying to catch a ride to take me all the way to Berunes. Well, this time nothing was that easy. 

Eastfjords trip – day 2

So my day started with me having breakfast at the hostel. A bit too pricey for what they had to offer. And the awkward moment when a man tried to take a second piece of bread and he was told it’s just one person kinda made me regret I had breakfast all alone. 

But I was planning to hitchhike my way to the East and since outside it was kinda rainy I decided to make myself some tea for the road. 

Surprise, surprise in the guest kitchen there was a guest that I talked about one hour back in Reykjavik. And I suggested to him to go to Westfjords or North. But he would need to rent a car for that. I never knew what he did, until I saw him standing at the table. Long story short he was heading towards my direction, not all the way to the East, but I joined him for the ride. 

So I got to see Goðafoss and see again the little wonders around Mývatn. We left Akureyri a bit earlier than 10 am. We split apart at the supermarket in Rejkahlið around 14:30. He was heading to the natural bath, I was still trying to get to Eastfjords. 

I walked for like 20 minutes when a Dutch man stopped and he told me he can take me to a parking lot where there’s filled with tourists. He was coming from the place where I was going. And he told me indeed yesterday was very stormy. Anyway, after 5 minutes he left and here I was. One amazing place where I’ve never been before. That’s when it hit me from now on everything is new place. I snapped some pictures and I decided to go a bit more down the road where there was an intersection. And basically stay there until someone will pick me up. 

I had the first guy as a backup since he was heading towards Detifoss, the strongest waterfall in Europe. So I thought worse case scenario he can pick me up if nobody will in more than an hour. I think 15 minutes passed until a couple from Slovakia stopped and said they are going to Egilsstaðir, but first they want to stop to Detifoss. Well, that was just perfect since I haven’t seen the waterfall myself. 

And so I went with them for about three hours. Almost 200 km. And the waterfall was as strong as they come. A real powerhouse. The couple was kind enough to even drive me to the intersection where would be easier for me to get a ride. And luckily in less than 5 minutes another guy picked me up. 

A Bulgarian guy living exactly where I was heading to Seyðisfjörður. Just brilliant. Well, when I got to the hostel my surprise was over the top. This place looks stunning. Iceland never stopping to amaze me. It’s more than one can imagine. Mountains still have snow, there are waterfalls everywhere, the hostel is in an old hospital. And in the basement they have free sauna. What else could I ask for? I know what.. Pizza. Since that was my dinner. 

Now I have to head to sleep because the adventure continues tomorrow. I need to try at least one hike and I’m heading South, sleeping in Berunes. It’s less than 2 hours drive from here. But hitchhiking is not the best friend of timing. 

P. S. Today’s math: around 300 km with 4 cars in about 10 hours. But with plenty of stops to visit as many things as possible. 

Eastfjords trip – day 1

It’s been a while since I wrote about my trips. Well, it’s time to come back to that. And this is as fresh as they came. 

I planned to see the East Fjords this weekend. I left Reykjavik Friday morning (today)  and planning to go back Monday evening. But the plans have already been changed a bit. 

After sleeping around 5 hours last night, even though I had a feeling of not going, I persevered. So at 8:15 am I was on route 1, close to Esja. The hitchhiking place for going in the North. Now living in Reykjavik makes it a bit difficult to choose which way to go East. I decided to take the plane back. So I couldn’t afford anything else than hitchhiking my way there, through the North. 

Which, unfortunately wasn’t that easy. Not this time. It took me more than 30 minutes to be picked up by someone. And he drove me only on the other side of the tunnel. Luckily I only stayed there for less than 3 minutes and the second car already stopped. I was dropped off outside Borgarnes. 

Now this is the reason why I love hitchhiking in Iceland. Not only because it’s free. And I don’t waste CO2. I also get to learn or listen to different kind of stories or, even better, information about my beloved Iceland. 

For example, I’ve seen some ships today in a harbour and it seems it’s  the commemoration of the American base that used to be here. This weekend it’s gonna be a lot of them. Also, we talked about Lupina the invasive flower brought here from Alaska. People now are divided in two.. You either hate it, or love it. 

After waiting for about 15 minutes outside Borgarnes. The third car picked me up. And luckily he drove me almost 200 km. I love long drives, especially when people are amazing. Like the British-Swiss-Icelandic man. Yup, all three in one. Born in UK, from a Swiss mother lives in Iceland since he was 12. And he used to be one of the volunteers for rescue team here, in Iceland. He told me about hiking from Landmanalaugar to Thorsmork, or another mountain in the East. He told me stories about Westfjords and also about the mountains in Switzerland. I wish he could have driven me farther away. I loved hearing his stories. 

Then I was dropped off just at the intersection with the „Seal city”. There was a bus coming towards Akureyri in about one hour. So that was my backplan. But 20 minutes later after starting to be cold from the very harsh wind I got picked up by a Canadian couple. 

They’re French was different from any French I heard before. Crazy,  adventurous couple who were doing the ring road. I spoke mostly with him because she was only speaking French. But most of the time they ignored me, so I almost fell asleep in the car. Luckily the music was loud and rhythmic so my sleep never got to deep. 

Eventually, after few stops for taking photos, we made it to Akureyri. They kept going but I decided I will take a bus to Egilsstaðir and from there hitchhike to Húsey where I was supposed to sleep tonight. 

But when people from info center called the hostel, I was informed there is no transportation from Egilsstaðir to the hostel. And the weather is really bad so it’s vetted for me to stay somewhere else. 

And here I am. Stopped in Akureyri. 4 cars, around 400 km in about 6 hours. Tired but happy with my decision. Tomorrow morning I will continue my trip and hopefully make it to the East. Wish me luck. 

P. S.  Vlogs will come way later. And probably I will add a map another time. 

P. P. S. Sorry for butchering some Icelandic names, I don’t have all the characters on my tablet. 

Să sper, să dor, să pierd

Imagini pierdute reapar când mă aștept mai puțin. Dar nu imaginile au un impact enorm asupra mea. Ci simțirile. Îi simt mâinile în jurul taliei. Îi simt privirea rătăcită în decolteul meu. Sau îi aud vocea surprinsă spunându-mi cât de mult îi place cum îmi miroase părul. I-am sărutat brațele și palmele cu drag și dor. 

Știam atunci că e posibil să nu îl mai vad niciodată. Dar nu eram pregătită pentru asta. Mi-a fost mai ușor să sper, să dor, să pierd. Niciodată nu voi considera timpul de care am nevoie să mă regăsesc ca timp mort. Este exact ce am nevoie. Și este un proces dulce-amărui din care mereu ies în câștig. 

Nevoia de dramă mereu va fi învinsă de nevoia de adevăr. Și cu asta trebuie să rămân. Sau măcar să merg înainte. 

Povestea cozonacului islandez

A fost o dată ca niciodată o poftă. Și pofta asta poftea cozonaci. Dar cum posesoarea poftei se afla departe, foarte departe de tot ce înseamnă acasă unde cresc cozonacii în copaci, a fost nevoie de o improviație. Și da, cozonacii acasă cresc în copaci pentru că pofta alterează memoria cum vrea ea numai să se vadă satisfăcută.

Acum te vei întreba ce îi face pe cozonaci să fie islandezi și răspunsul e foarte simplu: în Islanda au fost făcuți. De la zero.