Walking in their shoes

January 4th Mart our last full day in Iceland. We decided to spend this day exploring the city of Reykjavik, as we otherwise hadn't done much of it. We woke up early enough to catch breakfast before the sun even Ros, and we also actually made time to eat at restaurants, stop at a bar for a beer and a shot, and see what the locals like to do. We didn't know how or why, but we had a busy day ahead of us.

First on the agenda, we stopped at the Garden by the square for a free City Walk tour of Iceland. Are tour guide was a recent history graduate from the public university of Iceland, the biggest University. Most of the Locale to go to school go to this one, and tuition is probably somewhere around a quarter of the cost of the United States. Government assistance programs for school are also very prominent in Iceland. Our tour guide showed us the business district, the oldest neighborhoods and houses in Iceland, the incredible geographic map of Iceland and City Hall, some of downtown Reykjavik most prominent tourist attractions, and then end of the tour at Harper Hall. Along the way, we learned a little bit about the sagas, how Iceland came to be as it is, Vikings, local Laura, and the history behind everything and Iceland. We also contemplated knocking on the prime minister's front door. Of particular mention, the current president of Iceland was a history major in college.

Some politicians are just blockheads!

We then stopped at the Icelandic Punk Museum to learn a little bit about their Punk scene, stopping at the end of the tour to play some bass guitar and smash some drums. After all, that's what they were there for. The museum itself was actually constructed out of a public bathroom that was closed down in the mid-2000s. And I'll serve this purpose well, educating local and tourists alike about one of Iceland's most eclectic music scenes. We grabbed a bite at Icelandic street food, which I covered in a different post, and then headed for a local Art Museum.

The art museum we went to actually ended up being closed, and we had walked nearly half hour out of the way for it. Defeated, we headed for Hall Grooms Kirk you to see the inside of Iceland's biggest church. The church itself was beautiful and massive, and so all inspiring that we decided to pay 900 Kroner to go to the top of the Bell Tower. From here, we could easily see over all of Reykjavik, noting the Jelly Bean Style rooftop colors the dotted the cityscape. After taking in the all inspiring building that took 41 years to build, we headed for the Icelandic Saga Museum.

At The Saga Museum, we got to dress up as Vikings, snap a few pictures, and go on a historical tour Guided by audiobook we learned about the sagas of Iceland, as well as hell true they both are and are not. In this Museum, there many historical accounts of things that happened have not happened. The individuals from folklore continue to have relevance to this day, as the stories of Iceland's Foundation continue to be Provident in their culture today. After absorbing this Museum, it was time for a quick bite to eat and for my companion and I to split ways for a little bit.

We went to a fish and chips restaurant to get some small picking food, just enough to hold us over until night time. At this point in time, Dakota went to one of the modern art museums down the street it, and I went back to the Airbnb to get ready for some intense yoga. The other house guests and I went to one of their local gyms where they had a free Kundalini Yoga session. It lasted just a little bit over an hour, and include its own the most intense yoga poses I've ever experienced. The signature Breath of Fire, or strong exhalations, wall holding these erratic pretzel liked roses, had me feeling like I just did an entire week's workout and one night.



After the art museum in yoga, weary converged at the Airbnb and decided to check out there nightlife a little bit. Earlier in the week, we went 2 a coffee shop and bar at the end of our day, experiencing there Rich Coffee Culture as well as what some of the locals do on a random weeknight. This time, we went to We went to Icelandic beer and snacks too enjoy our free beers and chat up the locals. And so we did just that. They also got to see a local acoustic artist perform, which was very neat. His English and Icelandic were both on fire. I swear, Iceland is completely filled with musicians, as I've seen musicians around pretty much every corner here. Maybe some are trying to become the next sigur Ros? Time may tell. Next, we went to press o to play some board games, ended up getting Playing Cards Against Humanity for 3 hours.

To top off the evening, right before heading home, we went to reykjavik's most famous hot dog stand, which has been operating every consecutive years since 1937. The shop location itself has only moved a total of 20 m since it started business. Having to move due to housing developments. When ordering a hot dog here, if you're ordering and Icelandic the, you must be careful of your word pronunciation. Because of the difference between anal Med ocular and Dana mockler comma is the difference between one hotdog with everything and one prostitute. I got a hot dog with everything, and although this was my first time eating red meat and almost three years, I still thought it was a very good hot dog. And it didn't leave me feeling empty or nauseated afterwards. It really did hit the spot, and part of the secret is said to be that the hot dogs are made with 70 to 80% lamb meat, unlike conventional hot dogs. Regardless, after this, we said farewell to our Icelandic friends, promising them a visit next time we returned, and hit the sack. The next day was going to be a very long day full of airport hassles, Security checks, and waiting for things to happen with the plane.

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

At this point in our Journeys, we have already seen and done a lot, considering that daylight hours are very limited in the winter. Because of this, however, flights were much cheaper than they could have been. The only thing that made the prices higher was the fact that we were flying shortly after Christmas and arriving shortly after New Year's back in our home country. This was our second day starting our Journeys from Reykjavik, and we were going to see and do as much of the Golden Circle is humanly possible.

We had actually already done things of Austin, the first stop in the Golden Circle, so we were able to forego good doing that. So our first stop today was gay Siri, the geothermal field home to 3 of Iceland's most impressive geysers.

An active volcanic field, geyser itself hasn't erupted in about 15 years after a series of earthquakes swept the central region of Iceland. It's brother, Strokkur, had a lot more to say. Stroker is slightly smaller then geyser, and would spew several leaders of boiling water into the atmosphere every 10 minutes or so. We stood around and watched the waters dimple in the middle, a Telltale sign that the eruptions were soon to occur. Strewn about the field or other craters in which public pools of water word Lane, beds of steam Rose from the grounds, and ice covered the surrounding area. Watching the geyser erupted is quite a humbling feet, as it reminds you of Earth's Shear force and willpower in spite of all obstacles. Just remember to peed the caution of warning signs, or you might end up like the one German fellow who died after trying to sit on the geyser.

Next up was Gullfoss, Iceland's most impressive waterfall. Cascading 32 m, this Horseshoe Fall was almost home to one of Iceland's biggest Hydro electric dams. However, Iceland's most prominent environmentalist started the petition and a fund to make sure that it didn't happen. And so it remains an impressive geographical location, with winds around the waterfall being so strong I thought I was going to fall in. The Roar of the waters from the two observation decks were absolutely spectacular.

Although moose toys and their, there are some additional stops on the way back to Reykjavik. The first stop was the secret Lagoon, which laid just beyond go with us and contain some of the freshest natural hot spring water and all of Iceland. We still had much more to see and do, and admission price was right around $30, what are 3000 Kroner, so we decided to not go in. Instead, we headed for Skylar holker Kia.

After the overnight conversion to Christianity, Skywalker Chiara came to fruition and south central Iceland. The church has been rebuilt nine times, with most having been shut down or destroyed in fires or other natural accidents. The history of the church however is a men's, with a huge stained glass window behind the pulpit, a fully functioning organ, and a small Museum in the basement. Almost a thousand years later, and church services are still held in the same location the ones house every powerful Bishop that ever spoke and Icelandic.

Because of the time of year and factor of Darkness, the next few stops I will mention we're closed. However, if I get to go back, I will go during the summer so that I have it running chance at seeing all of these locations. First up is Geysir, a geyser said to harness magical properties. Then comes skogafoss, one of the most majestic waterfalls in Iceland. It was too dark, so we for went going there. There are also two geothermal plants along the way, and selfoss and between selfoss and Reykjavik, but both were closed. There are a few other things along the way that I have since forgotten, but most important to note is that there is a lot of Scenic driving to be done on the Golden Circle. Every kilometer of this journey is worth it.

The falls were very cold, too!

 

There are plenty of toward roots that depart from Reykjavik on a tour of the Golden Circle. Most of these tours span 3 or 4 hours and cost $80. As such, we decided to do it freelance Style. This way, we can spend as much or as little time as possible. Just the way we like it. However, feel free to carve out your own path. It will be the adventure of a lifetime regardless of what you choose to do.

Departure from Akranes, and first Impressions of Reykjavik

On January 2nd, it was our time to leave the town we had called home for the past 6 days. Albeit bittersweet, it was necessary to collect whatever memories we could and move on. We topped off our gas tank and headed south for it Reykjavik, arriving in the middle of the afternoon to our second Airbnb.

Although we were initially lost and unable to find the location, the guest house operator and her mother came out to greet us and celebrate our presents, warming up the house for us quite nicely. At this point, we had met our house guests, a couple which came to experience Reykjavik, flying all the way from Alberta, Canada. We would become very good friends in the next few days to come, including attending a yoga session that I will talk about later.

Some views of town before we left.

Shortly after we unpacked our bags, our dear friend from the New Year's party had come by to pick us up to give us a tour of the city. We drove around, seeing most of the shopping and business districts. Here. We saw the center of business that looks like a middle finger, the strip mall that look like a phallus, and the Commerce Center that looks like a breast. We stumbled upon a museum, walking along the side of the road to capture pictures to avoid paying the $15 entrance fee, and way then descended upon and Icelandic Botanical Garden.

The garden, albeit dark, was beautiful!

After viewing the Botanical Garden, we went to the remains of old Icelandic baths, reading the literature about the few women that boiled in the water and the accidents surrounding the baths. The baths were ultimately shut down in the early 1900s for safety reasons, but half of them remain intact to this day. We pondered the beauty of nature in these Botanical Gardens, took a few pictures, The Departed for the nearest grocery store and then home.

At the grocery store, my Icelandic friend picked up some grocery items that I was to try. Specifically, it was Sviðasulta, which I will cover in a separate post on food and alcohol. After she dropped us back off at our place, we decided to go for a swim in the local pools, which I will also cover in a separate post. After our little tour of Reykjavik, we spent our evening relaxing in the sauna temperature waters of Vesturbæjarlaug. At the end of a long day is exactly what we needed. Next time on our adventures, the Golden Circle!

Food and Culture of Iceland

The wildest part of anybody's journey to Iceland has to be without a doubt the food and alcohol that they ingest. Icelandic food and alcohol stand out because resources were scarce when the country was settled around 870, so the nomads and Vikings had to get super creative in their approach to... well, everything. They also get quite gross with it. The biggest examples of this? Hákarl, Súrir hrútspungar, Slátur, and Sviđasulta (the latter of which I have personally tried).

Hákarl was first produced in the late 900s, when Viking Sailors would discover basking sharks that breached upon the shoreline. When they first tried eating them as they were, cooking them with blood and guts and all over campfire, a lot of them died. This is because there are a lot of toxins and impurities in the shark that are lethal to humans when consumed. They discovered the process of removing the head, disemboweling the shark, and fermenting it with human urine in a crater in the ground for 2 months, which resulted in the dish Hákarl. It is likens to being rancid fish cheese, and based on facial expressions of people that have tried it around me; it is something that I don't intend to ever try.

The next few dishes I mentioned we're all made using different parts of the Rams body. Since Lambs, shape, and other creatures as such ran rampant across the countryside, native Icelanders used every part of the shape to make meals out of. Surir are soured Rams testicles, Slátur directly translates to slaughter and is made from sheep fat, sheep gut, and sheep blood, and The Taste is said to lie somewhere between English blood pudding and Irish haggis. I did get the honor of trying sviđasulta, which is a pate made from boiled and smoked Rams Head, and because of the texture and taste, it was out of my mouth faster than you could say"what is it currently in my mouth".

On the brightside, Iceland does have great food as well, notably their hangikjót, smoked puffin, kjótsuppa, stoneplate rye bread, fried Leaf bread, garđfiskur, plokkfiskur, and skelfiskursupa, the last two of which I have tried. Iceland by far has some of the best fish I have ever had in my entire life, and even though the plokkfiskur was a microwavable meal, it too was quite delectable. Their soups are incredibly creamy and Hardy and full of local produce.

Talking about Iceland's interesting take on alcohol, they utilized pretty much anything they could to have a good time. brennevin, or black death, is a perfect example of this. For this concoction, they fermented caraway seeds with potatoes, in the style of a Scandinavian flavored spirit, and effectively created something as strong as vodka but with the taste of rocket fuel. Another staple, Opal, pretty much taste like Licorice and Robitussin cough syrup mixed together. My friends drink some of this when he had a cough, and his cough went away for the rest of the night. Plus being 20% ABV, it gets the job done. Of more pleasant mention are the alcohol beer care and Reyka. Reyka is Icelandic vodka distilled from Arctic spring water and processed through Lava Rock. It is the smoothest vodka I've ever tasted, and because my card declined several times at the bar, I actually got to try it on the house. Meanwhile, Byrkirhere is a Icelandic schnapps made from birch bark, and has a very pleasant root beer taste to it. It also comes with a birch sprig in the bottle.

Last but not least, the beer of Iceland. There are a lot of non-alcoholic beverages that were inspired by alcoholic beverages, namely Yola oil and malt extract. Both are wonderful multi beverages with alcohol remove. Of the alcoholic options, older hresso and Gullir are the two biggest local draft. Both remind me of Heineken in a way. Although very expensive, these beers are very refreshing. You can clearly taste the difference between beer from anywhere else in the world and Icelandic beer, mainly with the quality of the water.

If you want to try at all, I would recommend going to Icelandic Street Food right next to the parliament and the Reykjavik Punk Museum.

Icelandic Street Food is the cheapest Icelandic food around, and with an unbeatable quality as well. Upon entry, expect the owner of the store to greet you and thank you for coming to his store. He's a very outgoing fellow who speaks more than a couple languages. I ended up chatting him up about Iceland and America both, and because of our gregariousness, he ordered us two beers on the house at his restaurant two doors down, Icelandic beer and snacks. This is a feat that would almost never happen in America. For $17 American, we got two cups of free coffee, shellfish soup in a bread bowl, a good conversation, and two Icelandic lagers. And considering that the bar has open mic night almost every night, it is a feat that cannot be beat. Make sure to bring plenty of money to Iceland, and you'll have no problem enjoying the food and drink like the local do.

New Year New Me New Location

When we got back to the Airbnb New Year's Day, we had discovered to Icelandic locals standing on the porch smoking cigarettes. They greeted us briefly, and then we decided we were going to retire to get in early start on the day. After talking to my travel companion, I decided that this would be foolish, considering that we may never get another chance to meet and party with Icelandic locals, let alone on the first day of the new year. So as I eavesdropped on the door that separated the guest house from the main house, I discovered that they were actually talking about us, saying that the only excitement we had left was to go back to boring old western Pennsylvania. I immediately messaged the caretaker on Facebook, and he came down and collected us. Stating that they were going to play Cards Against Humanity. I was upstairs and a heartbeat, dragging my friend not too far behind. And all of us did exactly that, drinking, playing games, sharing stories about America just after 8 a.m. in the morning.

Considering that we slept in way too late after that, it was going to get dark soon, and we didn't have much daylight to do much of anything. We decided that we would use this time to get a head start on the Golden Circle, first descending upon thing volvox in, the Scenic Lake and the center of the country. We paid the $8 parking fee at Þingvellir National Park, admired the frozen lake, the mountains around us, and the very beautiful and warm gift shop. The first stop on the Golden Circle, it was absolutely worth visiting, especially so close to dusk when the magic hour had occurred.

At the edge of the park.

And did I mention that Iceland is very fond of their elf history? Our next destination was hellisgerdi, the elf capital of Iceland. It was a small Park located and hafnarfjordur, 20 minutes will it Reykjavik. Although we didn't see any dwarves or elves, as Laura had dictated they're being, we did feel a strange presence. This Scenic Botanical Garden did not feel isolated at all. That being said, although I do not necessarily believe in elves, they're very well might have been a presence there that had seen us, even though we did not see them.

At this point in our journey, we decided to go back to the Airbnb, fixing up some food for the first time in our entire trip. As dinner was cooking, I felt the need to go out and get some fresh air. So, I went outside and went for an hour long walk along the beach. I laid on the side of a hill for a couple of minutes, gazing into the moon and stars as they gaze back upon me. I looked out at the city lights, the roving light of the lighthouse, the crashing waves along the beach front, and this is where it really hit me that I was actually in Iceland. My phone died, and I found nothing but bliss, knowing that I was the only one in that moment and the world who knew where I was. It was a very contemplative and reflective night, and one that I will never forget. This is the beginning of a new year, and the beginning of a potential new me, and it all started in a very new location.

The New Year… A La Reykjavik

After being acclimated to Iceland for a couple of days, we finally got to the part we're looking forward to. Although original plans to go to Vik fell through, we were going to explore acronis, the town we called him for the past couple of days. We started our day by going to a steampunk coffee shop down the street, taking pictures of the church and other local attractions nearby along the way. We sat and chatted with a local Icelandic and his friends for about an hour and a half, sipping are espresso drinks before heading to the old rusty boat followed by the lighthouse.

A local tourist attraction and not much else, the rusty boat is exactly what it sounds like... A rusty boat. There wasn't much to see, besides a dangerous climb through and active Shipyard to get to it, a ladder that we could climb to the top of an unsteady looking deck, and a couple of broken down ship parts that laid next to it. We took plenty of pictures along the way, stopping to admire the quaint but small houses of the town, the grocery store where we first encountered and Icelandic local that didn't speak English, and the Myriad of yogurts that lines the windows of people's houses.

We then descended upon the lighthouse, a beacon of light and hope for the next most populous town to Reykjavik. A lot of people and left memorials here if their loved ones. After admiring the towers, we went to find a path to ography all to go hiking, only to discover that it was locked. There was to be no hiking after the sun had set. Plus, it was a three-hour hike through the cold of winter anyhow. We swung by longest Saunder, The Rock Beach on acronis where a lot of Wildlife and humans alike congregate during the summer, and admired the beauty of the waves and the boardwalk, and then departed for a New Year's celebration and Reykjavik.

If you intend to eat any sort of food when you go to Reykjavik, account for your mail to cost at least 30 American dollars. We ate at an Indian restaurant called shoveler, eating the vegetarian and vegan options, the cheapest thing on the menu. Both of our bills still came out to about 38 American dollars. The next cheapest restaurant we found that was opened past 7 that do not require reservations had a couple of pasta dishes for about $25, although neither of us were in the mood for pasta. We met a couple from Washington DC, who would come to see the Northern Lights and the New Year in Reykjavik. After getting a bite to eat, we headed to Hogan's kurkure, the biggest church in Reykjavik, and also the site of the New Year's fireworks.

When Americans think of fireworks, they tend to think of people in fire or hazmat suits in a properly secured environment setting off tubes worth of otherwise illegal firework mortars. Throw this notion out the window when you go to celebrate New Years in Reykjavik. All saw kids ages 6 & 7 wearing nothing more than parkas with military flares setting off fireworks alongside equally ill-equipped atolls. The fireworks started around midnight the day before New Year's Eve, and continued well until 2 in the morning of New Year's Day, covering Reykjavik in a thick cloud of smog. We met several people who would come from far and wide simply to experience Icelandic New Year. When the Clock Struck 12, the church bells rang, it's Hirata fireworks lit up every corner of the sky, drones from every Media company around the world shot footage for the New Year celebration, and I tried to avoid getting hit by fireworks. Prize of floodlit night are, or happy New Year in Icelandic, rang out throughout the crowd.

When we got back to the Airbnb, our new host from America had just situated himself. He had come all the way from Kansas to experience Reykjavik for 3 months, and plus a prize, the other host had invited some old Icelandic friends over. We were going to go to bed, until I overheard them talking about us being lame and going back to Pennsylvania anyhow. After my eavesdropping, I decided that it was time to go up and check out the situation for myself. To be continued in the next post.

Hot Pots, Pools, and Springs

Iceland is a country that sits on two tectonic plates and is undeniably renowned for its geothermal sources of water and energy. For hundreds of years, the local folk have been using these pools as a recreational activity, as a laundry room, as a fresh supply of water, and as a way to rejuvenate and keep the body Young. The waters from the ground and Iceland are said to have magical properties, keeping all icelanders looking young and fresh. So needless to say, here's a bit of information on these wonderful little additions to Icelandic culture.

Because the waters are naturally pumps from the ground, and heated bye the lava underneath the surface, the water quality is very different from water quality in the states. It is pure, and contains a lot of minerals and Trace elements, and as such, is not treated with chlorine or other sanitizing chemicals that are used in other countries. In order to enter the geothermal pools, you are required to take a shower with soap and water before entering to clean yourself of any environmental impurities. You also need to shower in front of many other people of the same gender, and usually no shower curtains. Don't worry though, these individuals are in watching you shower. Instead, they're wondering if you are watching them shower. It is best to be tactful and Swift in your approach, and then to go about your day.

The two hot pots I visited were in Drangsnes and Reykjavik (Specifically Vestubærlaug). The hot pots in the North are scattered few and far between, and there is actually an app that you can use to find geothermal pools around the country. It is beneficial to get some background information on the pools before you go. For instance, the one that drums nests is paid for your donations, and has a single-stall bathroom that you can shower in. The ones in Reykjavik are Public Access pools and cost money. If you go to Blue Lagoon, you'll be paying around $70 American dollars for Access, but in Reykjavik, you'll be paying around $9 for access.

What makes these pools so wonderful is the fact that they are visited by tourists and locals alike, and year-round. There is nothing quite as rewarding as sitting in 38 to 40°C water, watching your skin turn into a prune, as the outside temperature it's so cold that it freezes the breath outside of your face. The only thing that sucks is when it's time to leave and you need to try and retain as much body warmth as possible as you sprint for the nearest bathroom to change at. 

Should you bring enough money to cover expenses, there are some wonderful Lagoon's and spas and hot pots scattered all around Iceland. Some are toe pools, others you can summarize your entire body in. By the way around, it's an unforgettable experience.

O Little Town of... Holmavik?

We even found a turfhus (turf house)!

The title of this post was actually chosen. On December 30th, five days after Christmas, we went to the Icelandic Museum of Witchcraft and sorcery, located in Iceland's answer to Bethlehem as far as ideal like Christmas time scenery goes. We didn't have much daylight to begin with, so we spend every bit of it that we could enjoy the mountain ranges and Frozen waterfalls on the way up to homovec. When we got there, we noticed that the town was very quaint and quiet, and only a few locals who dared Brave the cold we're out and about, and on their way to the nearest place to eat.

The Museum of Witchcraft and sorcery itself was very intriguing. It cost somewhere around $10 to enter, and upon entering, we were greeted by a very sweet lady of about 60 or so, and within 5 minutes of conversing with her, she became the fifth Icelandic person to talk about their displeasure in America's current president at the time, Donald Trump. In fact, it became a running Trend, and I believe that every Icelandic person I spoke to had a dispossession against Trump and Americans who supported him. Although crude to some of you, I found it hilarious.

In a museum itself, there were different insignias, carvings, decorations, books, tapestries, logs, and other Errata that were used by witches and sorcerers back in the 12th and 13th century of Icelandic history. Due to accusations of Witchcraft, 40 men and one woman lost their lives, including a lawyer, a bishop, a couple of farmers, and a few late people who are found to have received knowledge from the Devil Himself... Or so they said. It was definitely interesting to see how the trials and tribulations of ancient Iceland were similar to those in our own American version, the Boston and Salem witch trials. Although several decades apart, a lot of the same methods of dealing with the accused were very similar.

After driving to see the rest of the Town, including the clean and cute little Harbor, we drove through a fairly dangerous mountain pass up towards the fjords to see the sorcerer's Cottage. This was a cottage there was said to have been inhabited by a sorcerer who practiced magic and Arcane arts for most of his life. Although too dark to take a picture, and closed from touring until the beginning of summer, we still went to see this location to see what it was about. On our way back to the car, we were greeted by a barking dog who was lonely and desperate for company. We gave him a few pets, ignore the fact that he was trying to bite our tires, and drove onto the little town of drums Ness to get our first taste of Icelandic hot pots.



And Iceland, hot pots are legendary hot tubs that are known for their geothermal water that occurs naturally from the ground. We had to shower due to sanitation standards in Iceland, so we stripped, showered and a small little Hut across the street from the baths, and then prepare ourselves for a cold track across the way into a cult hot pool. It was here that we interacted with a man from the Czech Republic, who spoke very good Icelandic to and Icelandic local sitting in the next tub over. After talking to him for 2 years, he gave us Viking goalie r, Iceland signature beer. We got our first taste of Icelandic alcohol for free. While we sit on our beers, we looked out across the training waves, teeming dolphins, City Lights from Beauregard and the distance, and a beautiful sky full of stars. 2 hours later, we got out of the hot tubs, a perfect ending to a perfect day.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

On our second full day in Iceland, January 29th, we decided to visit Snaefelljokull penninsula. The mountain in the center of the peninsula was the same Mountain that Peter Holmes had written His Story “Journey to the Center of the Earth” about. Folklore has it that when the sun sets, it shines directly into the mouth of the mountain, and you enter at this point in time, you can walk directly to the Center of the Earth. I'm not sure if I'm quite superstitious enough to believe in the story of elves, trolls, and Middle Earth, but I do believe that Iceland has some. And then we Departed for the peninsula.

This finger like appendage of a peninsula actually has a lot to offer people. Even the scenic drive up has a few places worth stopping for pictures, which we took plenty of. The Frozen mountains and Contours of the countryside really make every couple feet worth stopping at. Halfway up, we were at a small stretch of a farming community. We stopped for our first gas fill-up, which ended up being the only gas station my card was actually accepted at over there, and I've been paid 100 Kronur to use the bathroom. One thing I didn't miss about Europe from my first visit is the tax on public bathrooms. Inside the rest house, I talked to a local who gave us a bit of information about the peninsula.

This peninsula was home to a mountain, a glacier, some of the gnarliest Ice Caves you can wander through, a black sand beach, two small little ocean towns, and a couple of other beautiful mountains. We were quickly running out of daylight, as the sun was going to set around 3:35 that day, so we had to maximize our time as much as we could. On the way to snaefellsjokull, we stopped at our first ice cave. Although it was impossible to get into it without getting your boots wet, it still made for an exciting hike and another fun location to say. As Laura had it, a half man and half troll person was exiled from grundarfjordur to this little cave after he started eating livestock. He lived out the rest of his days and his cave, and for many years, the local folk did not dare go towards it for fear of being eaten as well. Although I didn't see this troll person, I did see the moon starting to rise, as well as some beautiful Rock and Ice formations.

In the winter months, the road through the mountain itself is closed to all regular traffic. It's an impassable Road filled with rocks, snow, danger, and despair. We did however, take a couple of cool pictures before departing for our next location. We were thenceforth going to do you pull on Sunder, which is the black sand beach of the North. Since Iceland doesn't have a whole lot of actual sand beaches, there beaches made out of volcanic rock, Ash, and diamonds particles more than make up for it.

When we arrived at Diboll on Sunday, we quickly realized that the sun was setting faster than we would like and that we were running out of time. The black rocks of this beach indicated that there was volcanic activity at one point in time nearby, and because of the rampant tides on the volcanic island, it was also of particular mention that several ships crabs were found washed up on the shore. There were a couple of informational billboards describing the ships and what the sailors were do on the beach for fun, although mostly in Icelandic, and there were also clearly posted warning signs in English telling us not to stray too far to the ocean. Since the weather and Tide pattern can change in an instant For Better or Worse, it is advised you stay well away from the tides, lest you be swept into the very powerful undertale and brought far out to sea. There was a line of white rocks in the sand, and we decided that would be our Crossing line the nature had provided for us.

Me on my way to the mountains.

After this adventure, we drove up the coast line to get to kirkjufellfoss. This Scenic Mountain and waterfall combination is one of the trademarks of grand theft and the northern part of the peninsula. It was getting dark, so we need to low light exposure to have Any chance at snagging photos, so we had to manage this time carefully. We climb the waterfall and snagged a couple of photos, and then drove down into the town. On the descent from the mountain, because I had very poor traction and the icy trail, and I slipped and fell and put two large gashes in my right hand. It took approximately two weeks to heal and scab over. This was also the first time that I found communication breakdown in our journey. At the local convenience store , we encountered our first instance of communication breakdown. I was trying to communicate that I needed bandages, but the store clerk did not know the Icelandic word for bandages. She had to shout to her teenage co-workers at the back of the store, who were in the process of closing up shop, in order to translate to the Icelandic word, hanseplast. I bandaged up my still bleeding hand, and having seen as much as we could for one December day, we packed it in and headed back to our hostel.

At this part of the journey, I learned that it was absolutely crucial to prepare for the slipperiest possible weather on the roads and trails. Although the mesh crampons they sell add convenience stores for tourists are fairly expensive, they could end up being a real lifesaver and the Arctic environment. And all of your Journeys and Iceland, make sure that you have starting walking and hiking boots. And also, make sure you make time for yourselves to make dinner every night. The one fatal flaw of our trip is that we hardly had time to eat. Enjoy your Northern adventure, and next up, we will talk to you about the little Christmas Town Holmavik.

North and Down

By the time we had gotten our rental car in keflavik, Iceland, and began driving, it was already about 8:30 in the morning. We had a two-hour scenic drive through Reykjavik and some small little towns ahead of us, eventually arriving at our first hostel from Airbnb in a Cronus at 11 or so. At this point in time, the sun was actually just beginning to set. Our host was out of the country, but her son was there and was able to let us in without a problem. We laid down for a 2-hour nap to prepare our bodies for the festival.

When we finally got to Harpa Hall, Iceland's most expensive Concert Hall and akin to Sydney Opera House in Australia, we had to First figure out the confusing parking lot after figuring out the confusing streets of Reykjavik. This concert hall itself is the most expensive Concert Hall in all of Iceland, and the honeycomb design was meant to reflect the transparent fish scales of their biggest industry in the country, fishing. We parked for 6 hours, but purchased 8 hours for about 10 American dollars. 

The Bell Choir Playing at Night.

When we went in, there were a couple of free concerts that we went to see before going to see Sigur Ros. We wanted to see my moods and Alex Summers and Kevin Shields as well, but an additional wristband needed to be purchased that we were not informed of prior. We saw the Icelandic bell choir, or Bellakor Islands, and I got to speak to the director after she just got done speaking to the manager for Sigur Ros (which I didn't actually recognize as being the manager for Sigur Ros). They were going to start recording sometime soon, with a lot of the kids being big fans of cigarillos and a few of them actually being in the crowd of the concert. We also saw Oliver Donaldson perform some of his original music before we decided to get our first actual meal since leaving the states, which consisted of some vegan falafel bread and salad.

My dinner for the night - barebones, but effective.

After the dinner, we settled in to see sigur Ros perform. This was our second time seeing them perform, and they actually perform the exact same set that we saw them perform the first time we saw them. During intermission, I met a couple from Portland who had actually made a couple of local friends who were going to show them around. Sigur Ros themselves put me in such a euphoric trance with there for Brado, you and Z is the Seto, falsetto, the very Ambience drums, and The Impossible theatrics. One way to describe their sound live is cozy. Although they no longer have their string quartet or their keyboard player, the three of them put on such an atmospheric world of sounds whenever one is lucky enough to hear them.

Although the tickets were not necessarily cheap, we were enjoying our first moments in the northernmost capital of the world, at 66 degrees north latitude. Despite not having a huge budget to go off of, we were still able to see and do so much, and although this concert was are initial excuse for even going to the country, we still had 8 days to see and experience the wonders of this land first hand.

A Song of Fire and Ice

The first time I discovered Iceland, it was during a high school project for a class. We were instructed to do research on a country that not a whole lot of people usually think of going to vacation for, and making a vacation commercial and slideshow. A lot of cool countries were already taken, but I remember having listened to Sigur Ros once before when a friend showed me their music in Germany. I was unappreciative at the time, but I remember hearing that Iceland might be an okay place to visit. One of my classmates suggested that we could use music from Jonsi to go along with our commercial, and from the first moment I've listened to one of his songs, I fell in love. This pulled me back into Sigur Ros, and also, into the beauty of Iceland.

I spent the next wake creating a research video, learning everything that I could about the culture, the food, clothing, tourist locations, the people, the geography, the hiking, the music, and everything that I didn't just mention. I started listening to Sigur Ros officially, and I went on and bought “Agaetis Byrjun” by Sigur Ros and go by Jonsi. I was listening to them every single day, and even attempting to learn the language of the locale. Needless to say, because of its similarity to Old Norse, it is a very hard language to acquire.

In times of sorrow, when I wasn't sure where my life is going next, I would do a little bit more research on this fabled land of Fire and Ice. Ironically enough, their biggest volcano Eyjafjallajokull had just erupted approximately a year before I conducted my research for the first time, and now, tourism to Iceland was booming. I went to see Sigur Ros in the states, and they had advertised that they were putting on a 4 Day Festival at Harpa Hall. I took out some extra student loans, bought the tickets, book the rental car and hostel, and all of a sudden, this dream was becoming reality.

One of my first views over Reykjavik from Hallgrímskirkja.

Almost six years after I first dreamed of going to this beautiful country, I was driving to the airport to board an airplane to go there. Airport security coming to and returning from Iceland was very quick and efficient, and the only thing that really sucked was the jet lag. We left at 6 at night and with travel time plus time difference, we arrived at 5 in the morning, and went to the Festival on literally an hour of sleep. There is much more to come on that in the next post.

The Sweetest Place On Earth

Nothing says sweet like chocolate, and nothing says super sweet like an entire theme park based around a chocolate wizard. Milton Hershey had an idea back in the early 1900s, and started building upon it, building a huge entrepreneurial career for himself. He created the original Hershey's recipe, the original Hershey's chocolates and candies, and lost a successful business based out of south central Pennsylvania, and all of it without completing High School.

As a businessman, he donated a sizable amount of profit to charity, establishing the first all male boarding school in Pennsylvania 4 boys who have been either orphan or expedited from their previous families. It still runs today, filled with all of the latest fixings and goodies, and is a true testament of Milton's character considering that a few of his best friends would have been potential candidates for said school. He was always at his facilities helping on the front lines, offering smiles and fair wages to all who came to work for him.

Nowadays, right outside of this orphanage and boarding home lies the world famous amusement park names in his lightning. The first rides were installed in the 50s, with the whip and the ferris wheel, and was initially just a day park with lots of land. Over the years that has grown into what it is known as today, filled with a waterpark, constant live entertainment, and close to a dozen roller coasters.

Although some individuals I've met at the park if traveled from as far as California, Maine, and Europe to see this amusement park, I'm lucky enough to have lived about 35 minutes away from the park throughout my entire childhood. My family and I went at least once a year every year since I was 3. After my father passed and we didn't go as a family anymore, my grandparents helped keep the tradition alive by buying a set of tickets for me to utilize every year.

This massive park is home to some of the greatest roller coasters and amusements that the world has seen. For instance, Sidewinder is a roller coaster that goes forwards, and then goes through the entire roller coaster again backwards. Storm Runner is a hydraulic lost roller coaster that goes from 0 to 75 miles per hour in 3 seconds. The Great Bear has a dangling roller coaster seat, so your feet hang out the bottom of the ride. And the laugh track is the world's first indoor roller coaster. Whatever your fancy is, there is something in it for everyone.

For kid friendly and family-friendly events, there is the coal cracker, which is a log flume ride. There's also the ferris wheel, the monorail, and their Zoo America animal exhibition. When the day is done, you can grab a bite to eat, milkshakes made with their signature chocolate milk, and visit Chocolate World, there biggest attraction. Here, you can learn about the history of the chocolate, experience a day in the life of the workers, and even get to try a free sample of whatever the newest chocolate might be.

When not at the amusement park, visitors can also be seen in one of their to Giant amphitheaters seeing a concert. Many concert venues are held there every year, and the stadium is often used for football games. I myself have marched on the field with my High School drumline, and it is a fantastic arena to perform in.

So, without further Ado, visit Hershey today! Get Hershey Park happy at the sweetest place on Earth.

The So Called First Capital

As much as I have posted online about my travels and Adventures, I've not actually taken the time to sit down and write a post about my home city. Although it is small, it is mighty. And although I might give it a bad rap, there is actually some good to be said about York County and York City.

York City likes to style itself as the first capital of the United States, although it was actually the 4th. It is the fourth Capital after Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Lancaster claimed their spots. The first national capital happened to be 8 years later in New York City in 1889. Nonetheless, however, there is still a rich amount of history. There is a Heritage Center that has documents that were signs 200 years ago, as well as information pertaining to the genealogy of most individuals who ever lived and died in York County.

By and by, the county was settled by a mixture of Irish and German settlers. now, when it's not busy being riddled with problems, is actually quite nice. York has gotten the rep of being a mobile food court now though, however, as restaurants and small business change. Rent is fairly cheap here. there are few things that make York hit the radar, but here is a couple of the things that do put it on the map.

The first thing is our fair. York County had the first fair in the history of the United States shortly after the country was settled. It is also the longest consecutive running fair in the United States. Every year, there are many attractions and vendors that come into York to put on a show and enjoy themselves. There are also things such as baking and vegetable growing contests, camel rides, local farmers exhibits, musicians, actors, and carnival rides.

We also have timeline arcade and a large ice arena, and both are cool ways to have fun on a weekend. Down in central city, there are a lot of dance clubs of varying types, what's the most notable one being the Swing Dance Club in downtown York. Close to that is the strand capitol, and not-for-profit entertainment venue that hosts lots of small acts every single year.

York is also a culture hub that is home to many small markets, that I described in another one of my posts. there is a little bit of something in York for everybody, you just have to know where to look for it. we may be tiny, but we are mighty and we are progressive, and that is what matters most about one of the cities that was one of the first capitals of the United States.

The Lake of Tobias

The summer before my college graduation, I went to Lake Tobias. Prior to taking the hour drive from my house to see this place, I heard very good things about the open-air museums and the abilities to pet the local animals. I didn't actually know it would be as insane as it was. I knew that I was in for a day full of petting animals and seeing wild things that normally don't grow anywhere close to the United States, but I didn't know exactly what it would entail.

The Story begins with the late JR Tobias. He originally wanted to go to college to study agriculture in animals, but instead became an officer in the Marines. He always disturbed Safari cruises when he could, and told many that only Wildlife Park was just a wild dream he had for after retirement. After owning several small successful businesses throughout his adult life while raising his seven children, that dream became reality. He was sent on a business trip out of the country, and returns home with some endangered animals that he had rescued from harsh living conditions in captivity or in their home environment. After approving all of them with the USDA, they were all permitted to stay in the states, and Tobias opened his State Park in 1965.

That he passed in 1996, his wife still makes her rounds every morning and evening, and even in her advanced age, continues to take care of the property and her late husband's stead. She became very good at managing the books, managing the animals, so you can go out new opportunities for Partnerships, and ultimately did a whole lot of outrage that would make her husband shed a tear. Concurrently, the interactiveness at this zoo and the friendliness of the staff and the animals are what made me determines to go.

Upon arrival, we first noticed how the prices were much cheaper than any National Zoo we'd ever been to. On top of this, there was a safari tour that we could go on for $5, which way of course had to do. As soon as we parked our car, we were getting into a Range Rover and heading out to talk to some animals. Because of a lot of us having food on us, almost all of the wildlife came up to us and said hello, and I almost got a couple of selfies with some of the animals. They always ended up looking away at the last minute though. On the list were oxen, bison, Impalas, deer, Orynxes, and a whole lot of other interesting mammals from all around the world. He also had emus and cassowaries.

In the main part of the exhibition, there was a petting zoo, where we could go and pet lots of cute furry creatures. I interacted with a llama, and alpaca, a sheep, a goat or two, and a camel. After this, we moved on to the other parts of the exhibit where I got to interact and play with a snake, a baby crocodile, and a baby porcupine.

There's a lot to see and do it this little zoo, and unlike a lot of commercialized zoos nowadays, the animals here are deeply respected and treasured by the staff their work with them. The animals were genuinely happy here. For about 20 bucks, you get a small bite to eat, Safari tour, and admission to the zoo for the day. You also get access to all of the free events and discussions that they have during the day. There really is no better deal for a beautiful peaceful day on the placid Lake Tobias.

The Shoe House

the Haines shoe house is an eccentric piece of art that dwells in Hellam, Pennsylvania. It resembles a 25x47x17 work boot, as they were originally sold by Mahlon Haines in the early 1900s. It also happens to be a right shoe, specifically. There is also a small dog house in the back, also shaped like a shoe, that was once 6ft tall, but has since sank into the Earth to become about 2 ft tall.

The story of Mr. Haines, as I discovered for myself, was a very unusual one. His sister owned a department store, and he worked for her after graduating from high school for quite some time. However, instead of being automatically promoted through the ranks, his sister made him struggle through the ranks, which eventually upset him to the point where he quit and decided to strike out on his own. He worked a bunch of odd jobs before landing a small gig in Ohio with his then fiance. She eventually left him, and all he had left to his name after losing both her and the job were his engagement ring, a couple of bucks in cash, his bicycle, and the clothes on his back. So, being originally from Southern Pennsylvania, he set out for home. His bike broke down, and he decided to sell his engagement ring and buy 10 pairs of shoes. He then set up a kiosk at a local market and sold the shoes, retaining his prophets and then increasing them. He became really good at making shoe deals, he realized he was on to something, and quickly started selling shoes that were refurbished from Hanover Shoe Outlet.

To promote his Empire, Mr. Haines spent an exuberant amount of time walking around town and giving out free pencils, mirrors, fans, and pocket protectors that had his business information on them. As of the early 2000s, some 1,500 fans had been recovered. needless to say, his business grew, he settled down and married, and eventually retired with several million dollars in assets. It was at this point in time that he was able to purchase a yacht and enjoy his life at sea, as well as return to the mainland to participate in community improvement projects and play with a softball team that was intended for individuals 75 and older. every time he got a home run, the team manager carved a bulldog for him, totaling a collection of 23 Bulldogs. eventually, he moved out of the shoe house that he built to advertise his business and open up for tours, and rented out two guest rooms. he hired a maid who also acted as a chauffeur, made some extra income off of renting out the shoe house rooms, and then built and lived in a house across the street from it. He passed away from respiratory failure on Halloween of 1962 in his 80s, settling 1.5 million dollars to various charities in the Boy Scouts of America, and leaving his widow with the shoe house, the house across the street from it, and enough money to live a comfortable retired life until she passed away.

When she passed away, the house set for a couple of years before an orthodontist purchased it to live in it. Eventually, he would come to pass as well, and although the house was left to some of his co-workers, they didn't know what to do to upkeep it. Eventually, Mr. Haines's granddaughter, who was an architectural contractor, purchased and restored the then rotting house to its former glory. It was rented out there on out as an ice cream store and tourhouse, and its history is preserved well into this day.

As for myself, I have quite a few impressions of this tiny house that I spontaneously explored one afternoon. First of all, they always have, and continue to this day, to sell wonderful ice cream. They also having a lot of cute souvenirs, and the tour of the house itself is very affordable at $5 per person and free for children. This makes it a great spot for both tourists and locals to visit. if the house was not designated as a tourist attraction, it is one that I would honestly consider staying in for a night. I hope that this shoe house has inspired other unusual houses to pop up around the globe. I know that there are glorified bunkers and treehouses, but I really want to see more things like the shoe house.

Although there typically isn't a whole lot to see in south central Pennsylvania, going for a day hike and then replenishing your battery with ice cream and a tour of the shoe house is a perfect way to spend an afternoon. the story is a lot more complex than just a fairy tale about the lady who lived in the shoe, although it is another wonderful metaphor. Go check out the shoe house today!

Why I Get Up Every Morning

Why I get up every morning

For any of you that have come to know me through personal experiences or my writing, you will understand my multiple pathways of intelligence. I I'm good at psychology, and psychologists have studied positivity extensively. Individuals who identify a list of 10 reasons why they get up every morning, and go so far as to write it down next to their alarm clock, are more likely to live a happier and healthier life, as well as improve their life span expectancy.

This one is incredibly important for me to remember, as mental illness runs in my family, and I unfortunately am no exception. This tends to shorten one's life span, and so, you start to really focus on the quality of the years in your life rather than the number of years. and so, here is my list of 10 reasons why I get up in the morning, whether it will keep me alive longer or not.

1) A strong cup of coffee.

There are so many different ways to enjoy caffeine nowadays, and my obsession with a good bean started during my freshman year of college. I had an 8 a.m. chemistry lab it lasted 2 hours, twice a week, and this is when I decided that if I couldn't beat it, I would need to try it with caffeine. After all, I am no stark example of a morning dwelling individual. I tried quitting unsuccessfully two or three times since then. I now officially have no intentions on stopping the caffeine intake, whether it is via Keurig or via Small Town Coffee Shop.

2) The urge to explore.

Being a full-time student and employee doesn't leave much time or room for travel, but whenever I get even a small bit of chance to do so, I like to go see and do things. I like to experience things that not everybody has the Gusto to go and experience. This desire to do generally-speaking odd stuff has lead me to riding camels in the Sahara, walking on ice outside a cruise ship in the North Pole, herding sheep in Northern Sweden, Hiking in Finland, drinking with locals in Denmark, getting almost manslaughtered by fireworks in Iceland, getting lost in Belgium, and getting rained on in Portugal (just to name a few random excursions).

3) The search for purpose and meaning.

In my unique faith, Unitarian Universalism, we are always searching for the truth purpose and meaning behind everything. No day is unexceptional in this regard, as I am always trying to look deeply into things around me. As one psychoanalyst had said, "we see the same sites every single day, but we don't often stop to actually see exactly what they are and why they are". I have to learn this, and so I have started making more and more active attempts to understand my internal and external world. 

4) Music.

Before I was a healthcare professional, before I was a writer and author, and before I was a traveler and a hiker, I was a musician. If it weren't for music, I wouldn't be here today, quite literally. I had rough teenage years, and the sweet sounds of rock and roll literally are what got me through it. The prospect of making more music with my band or solo project is one thing that always gets me going in the morning.

5) A sense of adventure.

This is much, much easier today when I'm out on a hike or a trip, but even so, it can still sometimes be difficult to get uncovered and get dressed and ready for the day. My spark of invention and constant pursuit of adventure really drive me to get out of bed and see what the world has to offer me each and every day.

6) The pursuit of happiness and knowledge.

Interestingly and ironically enough, learning new things makes me happy. And being happy makes me want to learn new things. It may seem like a vicious cycle, but if both are kept in check, and I always have a project to learn from grow from, I am pretty well kept.

7) People.

Interesting enough, I am more introverted than not, but that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy socializing. In fact, I rather love and enjoy meeting new people, learning new things about my fellow humans, and seeing my friends. I actually get kind of bummed out when this doesn't happen.

8) Food.

I love a good plate of food. Food really keeps me going, in more ways than one, and thanks to the magic that is breakfast, I have a literal reason to get up every morning. you'll find some recipes coming from me here and there, so stay tuned.

9) Newton's first law.

His first law states that an object in motion must remain in motion, while an object at rest must stay at rest. I like to constantly stay in motion, experiencing and witnessing and doing different things. Thanks for this, I am able to get out of bed every morning and see what stone has been left unturned and what is left to conquer.

10) Fresh air.

It may seem silly, but I really like waking up and getting some fresh air outside. There's something about the ambient atmosphere of nature it fills me with such vigor and intention. Plus, a little bit of vitamin C never hurt anybody.

The list could go on and on, but for now, the basic 10 reasons will do. No matter how metaphorical or butter or the reasons maybe, everybody has a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Mental health really is no joking matter, and as such, I'll be publishing some selected works of mine throughout the next few years, and one such title has been published here.

There is always light present for everyone; they just need help finding it sometimes. What are your 10 reasons?