DAY ONE

So finally the pictures from the first day of the hiking trip and I have to warn you in advance that there are mostly nature photos. 

The volcano Hekla, Icelandic people used to believe that it was the gateway to hell. Heaven is in the sky but hell apparently is in Iceland haha! Like when Eva (girl that was an exchange student at my house) told me that in Belgium people think Santa clause comes from Spain and his helpers are all black dwarfs. Our ancestors were clearly eating mushrooms with spots on them.

In the first 2 km of the walk

We were making our way to a place called ugly puddle

I have to say I don't think its ugly, when we finally reached it we just sat down and relaxed, all the way to the horizon there was nothing but nature and you couldnt hear any noise what so ever, completely stunning.

We didn't really notice until afterwards how cliché we looked. Both hooked on 66°north products which ended up with us looking like those horrible couples that dress the same on purpose. The ones that make their kids mini versions of themselves and have towels with their initials on them, oh dear god, I hope I'll never get towels with my initials on them!

I liked seeing how the path just continued endlessly, just the whole trip in general reminded me of Sigurrós, that could have been the background music throughout the whole thing. I can totally see where they're coming from with the music

As we were walking we came to this heart someone had made in the ground with Adams initials written inside  

hahahha where do people get their ideas from?! 

So the first walk went so well, we only walked for 4 hours I think and it was pretty much flat ground the whole way so it was a good preparation for the next day...

In the night we then went to this geothermal pool out in the nature, which was just the perfect way to end the walk, the water just came running down from the hills and was I'd guess around 35-40° depending where you were in the water, so nice! I forgot to take pictures the first day and the second day it was too dark when I wanted to take a picture. That's right, it's actually starting to get dark in the night now :( 

We also had so much food with us that after the relaxation we made dinner. We got so many looks at the camp site. Everyone around us were heating up cup-a-soup or noodles and we were making chicken with pasta and vegetables with Adams portable kitchen. So cute, he just whipped up a bag and out came a mini kitchen. We took too much chicken with us though so we ended up giving the rest to the people on the next table, how nice right?

హోమ్

Back home from the most amazing trip!

Now I have a meeting and tonight I'll come home and make a blog and put some pictures.

p.s. I have never felt as good as coming home from hiking and finding a reese's bar that I'd forgotten on my bed

66° north

home home home

I finally came back home yesterday, I just went to the airport on monday morning and got on the next flight home! 

Today I then went to Reykjavík to take care of some things that have been piling up for way to long. I met up with my boss and it's decided, the new club is going to open this weekend. I can't wait to get back behind the bar. music, chaos, the middle of the night...perfect! 

I then met up with a friend that came hitch hiking from Akureyri and we decided to go hiking tomorrow. We have actually been thinking about it for a while but nothing was decided until 6 hours ago and we're leaving in 5 hours. 

We're going to Landmannalaugar which is this amazing place in the middle of nowhere

This is like a picture you always see from this place. Don't know if its going to be actually like this but whatever it's going to be will be great, there are also a lot of hot springs all over the place where you can go bathing out in the nature. Never thought I'd pack trekking boots and a bikini in the same bag but ok!

I've been stacking up with gear lately for some real travelling!

So far I have

• under pants and shirt from 100% merino wool
• protective over pants 
• base layer sweater 
• gloves
• mittens
• trekking socks
• trekking shoes 

I just bought the trekking shoes today since there was a 50% off sale at 66°north, and well because I can't go trekking without them and I had only 1 hour to find some. I've wanted a pair for very long so finally I got my ass to get them.

The backpack I had since last years backpacking through Europe and is still like new.

Now all I need for some real travelling is something to cook with (which mr. Adam has for this trip so it's all good for now) a sleeping bag and tent. My friends name is Adam just like my ex's, how convenient, without even thinking the name just slides out, comfortable! 

When it comes to the sleeping bag and the tent I know exactly how I want them so I'm going to need some time to find the right one with acceptable price but I'll hopefully have them for the next travel. Meanwhile I'm borrowing my dad's sleeping bag and A has a tent.

Miss excited

We've gone shopping for food and by the looks of it have enough to feed an entire village, at least I won't die of starvation. Now let's just hope I wont die from anything else, little katrin hiking, now isn't that something you can imagine, because I can't

I would then like to thank the German population. You people are the best tippers in the world and have probably paid for half the things I needed for this trip, merci! 

Now cross your fingers and pray to god I'll make it back in one piece because I promised my boss I'd come to work this weekend with no broken bones. I also have a trip coming up in 3 weeks, which by the way has changed a lot but I'll tell you all about that later.

Off I go, I'll be back thursday or friday. I know you'll all be waiting at home for a story 

brabra

I always wake up so I only have 10 minutes go get myself ready...

This morning was no exception I hurried to work and after only a few minutes working I felt a little too free...

no wonder, I forgot to put on a bra! 

I got away with being without it all day... then at 5 o'clock I went to check on my phone, and what do I find in my purse next to it? that's right! my bra! 

Where's my mind at?

If you find any bra's laying around, let me know, it's probably mine. It appears I just leave them wherever haha

5 in 1

The internet has been giving me massive problems recently. I've been able to access facebook, but not my messages or notifications. I've been able to go on my blog, just not the "make a new post". Great, they managed to take away the whole purpose of both two websites! 

There's only around 4 days until I'm going back to reality, I hope. Still haven't bought my ticket though, so irresponsible. 

The work I've been doing here is kind of a 5 in 1 person. I am a....

1. Waitress; actually pretty nice. I like pleasing people. I especially like it when they tip me, I've found out unbuttoning, wiggling your ass and leaving your number on the napkin helps a lot

2. Receptionist; given, I answer the phone and show people to their room. One awkward thing about this is when someone from Asia walks in. "Hi I have a reservation, my name is Uyotaksmia". I look at the computer and what I heard him say could apply to 4 out of 5 asian names on the list. Feels horrible asking the person to repeat for the 3rd time and end up asking them to spell or write it. Oh well, guess they'll have the same problem with my name when I go there. 

3. Maid; That, in my opinion is the best job in the house. People spend max 15 hours in there so you're cleaning whats already clean (then they also don't notice if you forget something). I just put my ipod in my ears, turn the volume up and dance with the mop like a crazy person. Life's only as fun as you make it I suppose hahah!

4. The tourist center; In the beginning I felt like I was speaking completely out of my ass! The people asking me the questions had in some cases been there even longer than I. When I went driving around with the Italian guys I got some perspective though and now I actually feel like I'm giving people useful advice. People ask and demand the weirdest things though. One man wanted to see a reindeer. He complained that the last place that got recommended to him wasn't good and he didn't see any. I suggested a couple of other places where I knew there are lots of them but he was NOT happy.
He wanted me to point out exactly, centimeters counting, where he could go to see them. Towards the end it was actually hard not to laugh while trying to explain to him that they are actually wild animals free to go where ever they want whenever the hell they want to. Not like I can call and make an appointment for them to stand by the side of the road waiting for him to come and take their picture. 

5. The kitchen; I've finally learnt how to make pizza! Not that it's any rocket science but I've never taken the time to master the craft. I've also learned how to cut vegetables the wrong way. It was the first day today that I didn't have any band-aids on. I usually have 5! If band-aids were ever to come in fashion I'd become an icon, that's for sure! 

Now I‘ve been working at least 12 hours every day. I‘ve had 2 days off and a couple of days where I didn‘t have to show up until 5 in the afternoon. Those days didn‘t do me any good though because I slept for 14 hours straight.

In 6 hours a 15 hour shift starts and I'm still not asleep! 

irresponsible irresponsible irresponsible

I have a lot planned for the next weeks though so I can't wait to move on with life!!

4 days... and counting

skills

The guys showing some mad dance & singing skills

Don't kill me

Now everyone is out drinking since this is the most party weekend in Iceland of the whole year. Me? I'm sitting in bed with a cookie watching "when harry met sally" & honestly wouldn't wanna trade. 

I'm also terribly afraid of the dark & since I'm living alone in this big apartment I run between rooms and always expect someone to be standing behind me when I turn around, you know like always in the horror movies. I'm almost 20 years old, can anyone please teach me to grow up?

Italian roadtrip pt 2

PART TWO

A picture can say more than a thousand words..

Seeing a puffin for the first time 

enjoy life in your own weird ways...

hahaha scemo! 

haha aw cutie

paradise

you see, the italian flag has so many purposes. you can use it for anything you can think of. In this case we're using it as protection from the sunlight

He saw a tree dressed in clothes and jumped out of the car.. that, ofcourse, didn't slow us down.. nono we just kept on driving

down with the store flag, and up with the italian

putting on extra underpants... you never know how much your gonna be freezing in iceland

Kayaking in Seyðisfjörður

One kayak was made for two people. Lorenzo and Carlo took that one... after a while you could notice they were having some problems. on a closer look it turns out that Carlo thought the steering you have by your feet were pedals and he was pressing them constantly... No wonder they looked drunk in the beginning

returning back home, so late!

It was a great couple of days, so nice to be able to see some of the things around me since I'm stuck in a hotel and tourist center all day 

Italian road trip pt 1

Some Italian friends came to visit Iceland.

They were driving the circle around Iceland and stopped by my place when they came out to the neverland where I am for two more weeks. 

I was having two very bad italian days, language wise. The day before they came I had met some Italians and explained the most complicated things about the roads, mountains and glaciers at the tourist center. I obviously finished my doze of italian for this month in that conversation because when my friends came I could hardly blurt out "Hi how have you been" without mixing in some english and in some un-explainable way... SWEDISH! I had some weird tenancy to throw in Jätte before every word...what?!

It was so much fun to see some Italians again. I love their culture so much and every little Italian thing they did made my heart melt!

Within 10 minutes they were already making pasta & the next day they went to the supermarket to buy some prosciutto instead of just having fast food like every other normal icelandic person would... 

It goes without mentioning that when they spoke their hands were flying all over the place as if they were on fire and the only way to put it out was to wave their hands around.

In the beginning of the big road trip

& the other side. You see, I was so lucky that I was put in the middle

upside down italian anyone?

don't so much as look away from your own feet with an italian present... this will happen... you will then forget about it and trip...trust me

the horn of the car didn't work so the sheep just took their time to get out of the way... We developed a way to scare them off though. Just opened the window and started screaming "BEEEP" 

.... and when that didn't work we sent Carlo out there

looking back on the place where I'm now living...neverrrrland

This is another thing I miss about italians. They are ALWAYS cold! 3 out of 4 were sick when they came to me. I walked to and from work in a t-shirt alone and when they came they had winter pants, shoes, jackets, scarfs, hats and mittens... still freezing to death!

this is funny though because he has both two glasses and two hats on his head, I think he also had two sweaters... not sure about that though. 

His glasses were so dirty I doubt they were doing him any good

these, however, worked very well. 

I hate using glasses... I never realize how bad my vision is until I put on glasses and figure out that I am actually supposed to see further than my own nose.. That then reminds me that I have to buy new glasses which then reminds me that I have to kiss 70 thousand isk byebye.

Realize how much travelling I can do with 70 thousand? I'll just stay blind for now  

This was the cutest place ever! in the middle of nowhere there was this tiny house with a vending machine and a guest book. One of many things that the italians knew about and I didn't

Bella Islanda

so much open space it can make you go crazy

just take a nap on the road, the next car isn't coming until in at least 15 minutes

I sometimes started doubting if we were going in the right direction, there come times where you drive what seems an eternity on a road without any sign that your going the right way

We found a puddle...

hahahaha none of them are running like a normal person

Islanda lonely planet guide

Borgarfjörður Eystri

like the houses were 100 years ago

-the end of pt 1