It has been a long while since I posted anything. What can I say, life got busy.
I’ve moved to another country for work. Whilst this is not the first time I’ve worked in another country it is the first where I’ve not had a firm end date in mind. Also to make it even more scary its a country where I don’t speak the language, so no idea how that is going to work out. but audentes Fortuna iuvat…
Anyway as I read over some of my previous posts, cringing from the horrendous grammar and punctuation, the OCD part of me wanted to re write it all. But the lazy, don’t give a crap part of me, as often does, won out and I’ve decided to accept my ineptitude.
As I considered what to write next as I have dozens of half formed posts, I realised much of them are about IT or wine and not many are about books or travel which are some of my other interests. I think I generally shy away from these topics as they reveal me more and I’m just a shy guy.
But riding on the courage of my recent move to another country I’ve decided to post a bit more about travel and my experiences and of course about some of the wine, whiskey and sake I’ve enjoyed along the way.
These posts will be in no chronological order, as again I am too lazy thus will start with a recent trip I made to the land of ice, which turned out to be very green.
Iceland
I spent a week in Iceland and I must admit, it is like no other place I have ever been. Although to be honest this is my 2nd time to Iceland the first was spent in a hotel and office with brief but exhilarating car rides between, thus I feel that first trip does not count.
Iceland was cold, no surprise there, but what is perhaps a little surprising is the lack of ice. The country (admittedly the half I saw) is covered, in most part, by bright green moss, which grows fervently over the volcanic rocks.
Much like this:
It is bad form to walk on the moss as this be the domain of elves, but otherwise it is occasionally used from flavoring in alcoholic beverages to an ingredient in bread, medicine, skin care or in an emergency as a food source.
I didn’t try it myself in its purest form but many products in Iceland contain it.
Another noticeable thing about Iceland are the waterfalls. They are dotted around the country in many forms and shapes, but all hold some wonder, like where does all that water come from? errr maybe the gigantic glaciers as seen in the background in the above photo, perhaps?.
The capital and largest city of Iceland is Reykjavík, which is as colourful as it’s inhabitants.
Whilst the climate is much to cold to grow vines and produce wine, it is not too cold to produce beer which tends to be adorned with some visage of the Icelandic’s proud (if you don’t think to deeply about it) heritage of vikings.
This beverage is enhanced with what turned out to be a local favorite cuisine, otherwise known and hotdogs. But I must admit these are not quiet like any other hotdog I’ve had elsewhere and are very good.
When I had my fill of the local beer and enough to eat I took a nice stroll along one of the amazing beaches, made of black sand (volcanic sand) where I finally came across some ice, perhaps not exactly where I had expected to find it, but it was nonetheless beautiful.
Finally, and probably what most people come to Iceland for, the awe inspiring Northern Lights or Aurora Boreali. Unfortunately not having a decent camera on hand the photos I took cannot do it justice. But I would whole heartily encourage everyone to make the trip to see these breathtaking lights in the sky!
More trips to follow!
