Fall to the land of the elves

Fall to the land of the elves -

As we stared at the sky, patches of neon and dark green changed to light pink and back to green. They came out of nowhere, hung like a curtain invisible hangers, and danced a duet of an outrageous symphony. They would appear, disappear and reappear all over the sky. My companion, Lulu and Germaine (two friends from France a week trip around Iceland to spend), and I looked confused, as the Northern Lights dancing over us. It was the first time that we had seen it, and although it was bitterly cold and we were slightly tightened, we stayed out, shivering - for hours -. Watch nature brilliant ballet

Every night, before this, we run outside and then retreat would be seen back in defeat, as it was too cloudy for the lights. But that night the sky was clear, the stars shone around us and nature finally let us see its mythical show.

I had high expectations for my visit to Iceland. I had seen films and pictures in magazines country with jagged mountain peaks, volcanoes with barren lava fields, rolling hills with grazing sheep and glacier that stretched for miles. I imagined a utopian land, with nature grazed in the friendly locals in line a majestic landscape.

Despite the eagerness Iceland these images caused to visit, I postpone this journey over the years. Something always came. This year to reflect promised on my list of things that I would I do, and I realized none of them achieved, I decided to finally go and booked a ticket in June. And as the plane rose last month in Reykjavik, I wondered: "Could the fairytale image to live in my head to himself?"

There could, in fact, do not exceed it.

and it happens immediately.

From the moment I landed I was kindly stranger welcome and helped. It was Bragi, a couch surfer rep who drove me to the Golden Circle. And Paulina, the smart student who let me sleep on her couch, took me to an Icelandic Match and her family's farm, revealing a secret "locals-only" swimming hole and went far out of the way, let me fall in the East blank check to facilitate a bus city Vik. And Paulina friend Alga, which also opened its coffee to me at the end of the trip. And Mary and Martha, who proved that Reykjavik nightlife is far crazier than everything in New York has to offer. Then there were the CouchSurfing host in Ayukeri cooked the dinner for me and his other guests, and the blog readers (of a high-level government officials turned out) and her husband, who introduced me to traditional clam chowder (delicious!).

Each step of the way I helpful and excited encountered Icelanders who wanted the best to show their country. She loved nature, stubborn faith (over 50% of Icelanders in elves believe) stopped elves and fairy tales, and appreciate a good pint.

After saying goodbye to my new friends in Reykjavik, I drove around the ring road (Iceland Main) with Lulu and Germaine after a ride with them in Vik hitchhiking. Forests transformed developed in fjords and fiords moon as lava fields.

Over the next 10 days, my love for Iceland became an obsession as I was constantly treated to dizzying landscapes and helpful locals. For such a small island, Iceland has a wide range of landscapes and micro ecosystems. And as we traveled, wandered and waited anxiously for the northern lights, I could not help but notice the silence. With hardly anyone or any animals around the country seemed so still.

And it was the silence that affected me the most. From NYC, I do not know a world without noise. My day begins and ends with car horns outside my bedroom window horn. In Iceland there is noise barely, and the silence helps you appreciate life.

On a beautifully clear day in the north, a local leader has to explore myself Game of Thrones Movie Locations (yes, that's one thing!). Since there is no one on the tour was otherwise, the guide took me off-road. We got off the car and climbed a rocky hill. Below us, the earth opened up into a series of deep cracks. All around us there was nothing but an empty plateau. Iceland extended in all directions around us, with volcanoes and mountains in the distance. There was no sign of civilization. I sat down. The leader sat down. We were silent. All we could hear was the sound of wind whipping around our heads. If the decay nothing but an eerie yet peaceful silence remained.

All was silent.

My guide and I did not look at each other have. I suppose he was as satisfied as I was. During the day, I feel that he has a deep love for nature and was probably happy just sitting there.

Then I sat in the hot springs near Myvatn relax and before I knew it my two hour visit, was on. I have ready to go, to think that the time had gone too fast. That sums up my trip to Iceland: it went too fast. The 11 days, I spent there just were not enough.

When we at home that day, my guide pointed out, as a boat shaped rocks drove. "This is a troll boat," he said. "The lake has been overfished by a troll years ago, so the locals remained very late, so that the troll to forget what the hour. Suddenly, as the sun rose to its cave, ran the troll back, so as not to would transform stone. on the way, they really dropped their boat. Somewhere out there is the troll, but we have not found them. "

" Do you think, trolls and elves are there? "I asked.

"I think these stories teach us respect for nature. Iceland is a harsh environment, and it is easy, the country or come to ruin in danger. These stories teach us about balance. But then again, I can not prove these creatures do not exist, you know? this country is special, "he said

he, like the other Icelanders I met that of the country speaking, was correct. Something mystical and unique about this place is.

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