Easy holiday moods

Every holiday has it's highlights and less nice moments. We prefer to take pictures of those easy and happy moments. When obstacles come on our way we often focus on solving the problems and not making any documentation. The story of our two and a half weeks time in Finland would be different if I would have taken pictures of our little arguments or when the wheel of our car got flat on a sandy road, when it was raining days and days, when we were tired of just driving to get to the next location, when everything is just so expensive and when I had to wear woolen socks in July :). Now we can laugh again to those typical grumpy moments.

Today I was watching all the nice pictures from our trip and missed already so many things and most of all the different colors, friendliness of people, our family and friends and all sensations and views. I could live again in Finland one day! I felt comfortable, I felt the power of the language and the environment making it easier to find out things and laugh about things. 

After living so many years away from my home country, I'm always surprised how easy I seem to fit in the system  as a visitor. Reality might be different and the flexibility that you develop after trying to adapt to new places during the years abroad made me a more adventurous mind than I used to be. The nordic way of living is more connected to Nature, but I'm afraid it's more conservative and less flexible than I remember. I love staying in Finland every summer, it's clearing my mind and giving me a boost of confidence, more clarity of mind. I'm planning to make a tour alone next year to see some people and friends that I lost a contact a bit. 

       

Back to this summer and back to energy giving moments. We were in many places: Kajaani, Sotkamo, Kuopio, Tammisaari and Helsinki. I have only pictures from Sotkamo and Tammisaari and I regret not taking more pictures. Maybe I was tired and we were just enjoying the flow of our vacation. Just a way it is supposed to be. There is no must and rush. 

Idyllic Tammisaari

  

We made a nice apple crumble with my friend

Silly pose dear, but the colors are nice!

Loving the softness of summer evenings

Maitohorsma- underrated beauty

The best holiday moments are sometimes just small sudden changes of light, wind, sounds and flying thoughts during the morning coffee. Experiencing the Nature and the details are giving a calm feeling and teaching bigger things about life and the existence. 

Warming up the Sauna

Petanque

Lake "Oulujärvi" and the Island "Ärjänsaari"on the background. 

We want to enjoy the last weeks of summer in Holland.It's quite hot compared to Finland right now, but it will change next week. I'm airing our house during the night and stay in the shadows during the days. Many people in our neighborhood stay hours and hours in the direct sun on a grass field by the canal. I do not see any fun in there. The most beautiful moments for me are the darker evenings of August when it's still possible to be outside. 

Then I breath in the air 

and sure remember  the fresh forest smell from Finland again.

And the laugh and the rhythm of the language

those sounds are staying in my head

making me smile

Rowing in  lake "Sapsojärvi" in Sotkamo

Recharging Outside

I recommend having a daily walk alone or with someone. This helps a lot against the stress, keeps up the condition and improves the communication if you have a partner. Otherwise it is important to connect with yourself as well.

I know it is not possible to have big walks outdoors in every place yet. Some countries are heavier hit with the corona-virus and more or less locked down. We are still keeping our distance outside, but free to have a walk as a couple, as a family or with a friend. We try to find the routes and times when it is less busy and easier to avoid other people. 

Kids are having some sport training again, but keeping their distance to the trainer. Contact sport will be more focused on building up the condition and practicing individual skills. Children over 12 years have to keep the distance to each other. The elementary school will also open the doors after the spring holiday. Only for two days a week for half a class and the other half going to school in different two days, otherwise homeschooling. This is an improvement...I hope it is a good decision. Our older child will be continuing the online lessons and some other tasks from home. 

Lately we took more time to ourselves as a couple. 

With you
Without a direction, getting rid of some thoughts and getting space for the connection and for new perspectives.  

 Finding peace, we are going to be fine.

Focusing on details and having the courage to say meaningful words, exposing the scars for the growth and healing.

A new habit has born in this corona time. We are having long walks together at the park, in the woods, at the beach and we are talking more than ever. Keeping our distance to other people, but getting closer to each other again. It is possible to get over from the old phase and get to the next level. When the times are different and harder, finding back the humor in our relationship and not taking ourselves too seriously is helping to get rid of the extra stress and pressure. 

Recharged :))

A day before the new decade - Family time in Volendam

It was such a beautiful clear day yesterday and the misty next morning felt too grey after that. The first day of the year was a bit emotional. After a great last day of the previous year and a lot of family time during the christmas holiday, stepping to the new starting point felt like starting the same circle again. It made us think: did we learn from the experiences last year, did we grow as human beings and partners and did we enjoy enough our precious time together? My answer is yes and no. 

How to make the most of it and how to learn to give the good support and energy - how to let in the love there is - how to see the good intentions and efforts more clearly? Breaking the wrong circles and creating some new paths. It is so challenging to try to understand what is happening in my own mind and inside the minds of the other important persons in your life. I want to appreciate every day from now on and be kind in my thoughts and actions when the hard day hits every now and then.

I often search for the harmony and beauty to calm my mind and reload my batteries. The habits and routines of everyday life are our guiding lines, but stepping over one line can open the horizons and make us proud of having the courage and the curiosity to learn something new. There has to be time for the balance and for the side steps.

 After a grumpy first day with one of those habitual misunderstandings, this first evening of the year is showing compassion, understanding and flexibility. Communication is the key for connecting and learning from each other. Watching all these pictures from a sunny walk in Volendam is pointing out how important it is to have time for each other and be outside. I am thankful of these moments!

It was wonderful to see the water views in Volendam and admire the old architecture near the harbor. This small town about 20 kilometers north from Amsterdam is the best well known fishing town in the Netherlands. It is also a touristic place, but we chose a perfect day for our visit. Often people have other plans in the last day of the year than looking for sights and eating fish n waffles!

Too much choice!!

Delicious waffles near the harbor. 

The New Years Eve was a marathon of Monopoly. Four hours we were competing agains each other and in the end there was no official winner. The midnight and the fireworks were mixing our concentration and we left the game on the table. Next morning no one didn't want to finish the battle. The material was packed in and stored in a closet. 

I guess we do the same now with the memories from the last year. We have the experiences packed in our mind and with some suitable new keys we can always find them and use them for learning, reflecting, comforting and bringing us joy.

I am positive, so much potential we all have. I want to think out of the box and have a good year. Wishing you the same! 

Beautiful days in Iceland

Pingvellir National Park and the Parliament

The meeting point of the Eurasian and the American plates of the Earth: a young, volcanic Island in the long history of our Planet. Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, one of the most tectonically active places on earth. The volcanic birth of the fascinating geological landscape and the ongoing growth and transformation of this land. Iceland is a baby of our planet: geologically a youngest spot on this Earth, appearing over the ocean surface about 16 to 18 million years ago. A land of saga's and vikings with so much interesting details in it's History. 

A viewpoint at Pingvellir National Park.

A daytrip to countryside: the golden circle

I have been always interested in Iceland. In the end of November 2017 I had an opportunity to spent a long weekend in this mysterious and beautiful country. I know this was just a small scratch on the surface, my first visit. We mostly stayed in Reykjavik, but had a nice Golden Cirle roundtrip with a small group, traveling with a minibus around the southwest part of Iceland. This trip was  organized by Gateway to Iceland. They organize different sorts of day trips in Iceland. We went to see many locations including: Pingvellir National Park/the Parliament, Geysir geothermal area, Gullfoss water fall and had a nice swim at the Secret Lagoon (not as touristic as the famous Blue Lagoon). We also visited a local farmer, who makes delicious ice cream. 

If you make a day trip out of the City on your Reykjavik visit, don't take tours organized by big buses. With a small group and with a very professional and entertaining guide, you will enjoy the day much more. Other option would be just rent a car, but our time was limited and the organized option was perfect for us. We were on this trip as a family and the countryside of Iceland was interesting for the kids too. I wanted my children to see the beauty of the Earth from the other point of view and let them get to know the mystical powers that lie under the surface. I think visiting places like this can increase your respect on Nature and give you the inspiration to be more ecological in your everyday life. But in the other hand: traveling is polluting the environment. Difficult dilemma's of the modern world and many choices we can make better, in many areas of our life.

Öxará -river 

Our first stop on the round trip was the Pingvellir National Park. The name Pingvellir means "the fields of Parliament". This spot was chosen a long time ago to be the yearly meeting point of different clans from different parts of Iceland. This came a spot where disputes were settled, where the annual news could be shared and where the criminals were tried and punished. In this landscape you see the Eurasian and American plates meeting. The distance between these plates is growing every year approximately 2,5cm, making the valley bigger and bigger. You can freely walk in this area, there are nice viewpoints and paths to follow.  Because of the history it came a national park in 1930 and was accepted to Unesco world Heritage list on 2004.

Our local tour guide told us so many stories when we drove through the white fantasy landscape. He was a true Icelander, but had lived in other parts of Europe and in Canada as well. His knowledge about the history and geology was very inspring. The personal views, the passion and the stories of his own experiences were making this day trip very special. If you ever go to Iceland and want to first get to know the island a bit before being more independent explorer, just take part on this sort of day tour with a small group and you will learn so much.

a dreamy Traveller

After having a nice ice cream at the local farm, we drove to geothermal landscape to see the Geysir. It is good to take some time to see the geysir spraying up the pressure for a couple of times. It happens in every 6-7 minutes. The geysir statue stays up for just a few seconds, so after taking a picture it is good to forget the camera and just enjoy the view. It was really interesting to go to geothermal areas, because the water was so warm and even hot, making nice smoky looking views. The contrast between hot and cold was so clear to be seen.

Everyone is waiting to see the Geysir statue.

It was freezing cold and windy and the moment was very fast. 

We were lucky with the weather on our day trip, the Sun was shining and the snow was sparkling in the mysterious light. The blue shades of the late afternoon started to land on the scenery when we drove to  Gullfoss waterfall. This is one of the biggest water falls in Europe. Located on the golden circle it is also the most popular water fall of Iceland. But there are many other beautiful waterfalls in this country..I would like to see them too one day.

The Gullfoss waterfall was frozen. The blue moment in the late afternoon made it look surreal.

Our last stop on our round trip was a nice, warm geothermal bath at the Secret Lagoon. It is a natural looking place with one bigger "pool", located in interesting looking landscape. It was already dark when we got there, so I did not really see the surroundings, but I think this is not only a nice place to bath - you can also have a walk and admire the views. The water was so lovely, but the few meter walk from the shower room was freezing:-). It was wonderful to change the spot in the water and feel how there were differences between temperatures in different spots. The temperature was comfortable and the whole experience reminded a bit of a Sauna in outdoors. It is also good to know there are few warm outdoor pools also in Reykjavik for more geothermal relaxation.

An overlook of the Secret Lagoon (not my picture, download from the internet)

 I did not have my camera when bathing :), but took this blurry picture when we left.

The use of renewable Geothermal energy in a bigger scale - not only bathing and washing like in old days - is quite a new invention in Iceland. Today, about 9/10 households are heated with geothermal energy. About 85% of the energy is coming from renewable sources, from which 65% is coming from geothermal warmth. Like our guide said: you can shower as long as you want in Iceland.

Iceland was struggling with the economy during the financial crisis in 2008. After that and the big volcano eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, the economy has gotten better mostly because of tourism. The prices got lower and it has been more possible for the tourists to come and see the natural miracles of Iceland. But it is still expensive!!


Even the country is doing quite well now in many ways, there is a higher risk for the next bigger volcano eruption in the near future. The increased activity in the volcano system of Bárðarbunga with four smaller earth quakes in the end of October 2017, is a sign that the pressure is developing in the volcano's magma chamber. According to geophysicist Páll Einarsson from the University of Iceland, some other volcano's along Bárðarbunga have shown increased activity lately. But it is impossible to predict eruptions long time in advance even the volcanic activity is under more surveillance than ever before. The nature has it's own periods and developments that we can't always predict or control. This volcanic and challenging landscape must have shaped the mentality of the Icelandic people during the time. Maybe flexibility and being able to adapt to different situations could be couple of those.

The peace of the landscape under the moonlight!

A view from the airplane before landing to Iceland.

Moments from Reykjavik

Our weekend in Reykjavik was also very interesting. The cold wind made us to look for some indoor activities and cafe's on our walks through the city. The season before Christmas time is quite charming I think. We were happy to see some snow. Actually the temperature never gets very cold in Iceland. The Gulf stream around the island keeps the clima milder than expected. We were told that there is not normally snow for a longer period in Reykjavik, but on our visit there was a bit of snow even in the City.

very many cosy cafe's in the Centre.

A very nice breakfast place: The Laundromat Cafe

Hallgrimskirkja, the famous church on the Hill in Reykjavik

Am I lost in Raykjavik ?

The beautiful architecture of the Concert- and Congress house Harpa.

There is a lot of interesting architecture and colorful houses in the Centre of Reykjavik. An interesting mitch match of the older style and the new modern design. A funny detail is that some houses look like they were made of wood, but actually are made of some sort of wavy metal that imitates the nordic wooden house style. But there are not so many trees, you had to invent other solutions.

Looks like a wooden House, but top layer is Metal.

A lot of streetart and colors to admire.

Nice little photography shop with prints for sale.

The massive mountain views at the Harbor. Really inspring to walk near the water..even in Winter.

On our sunday walk by the waterline of Reykjavik, we visited the "Whales of Iceland"- exhibition  It was fascinating to see these big creatures in their natural size. Walking in this space was like visiting the underwater world. There was a lot of information and things to learn. It is also possible to make Whale watching boat trips in Iceland, but maybe a warmer season suits better for that kind of activity.

Slippery streets!!! We did not see any dogs in Reykjavik, where are they?

One more thing. There is a great food hall with small delicate foods build in the old bus station in the Centre of Reykjavik called  Hlemmur, Mathöll

Iceland is a land of contrast: the landscape with low and high points, underground warmth meeting the icy winds in winter days, water in all it's elements, the surprising colors of Reykjavik and the silence of the lonely spots at the countryside. A northern jewel with sparkling lights and new ideas. I did not see the Northern lights this time, but I was charmed by the ascetic beauty of the Nature and the creative vibes of Reykjavik.

My own nordic lights :-), did not have time to hunt for the real ones this time!