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Abroad, Guests, Iceland

Adventure: Georgia Koseva in Iceland – Part two

posted by Dario
Dec 11, 2018 669 0 0
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Sky full of colors

  • (Places you can’t visit)
  • Part two

(Places you can’t visit)

Part two

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”

The biggest cliches are usually true. And maybe this is why they are cliches.  Ordinary and time-worn,the phrases like “Go where you feel most alive”, “The journey is the destination”, “Live, love, travel”, impersonate the hidden desire of every free spirit, with curiosity for the unknown and thirst for adventures. So is Iceland banal. In front of you – an endless horizon and yet you’re impressed by your soft steps in the moss. Behind you – an active volcano, but you keep staring at the orange pink clouds. In the distance – you can hear a vigorous waterfall,but you admire the taste of the clear Icelandic water from the river. This can go on forever… because Iceland is a cliche where you sleep under the stars,chase the waves, gather tiny stones as a memory and you are happy, as someone will say that the world is just this little island where problems and everyday issues do not exist.

Our adventure in Iceland began with a walk in Thingvellir National park and then we drove long towards the, interior of the island. So long that the sun was way gone and everything around was complete darkness. We’ve decided to spend the night near the Langjökull glacier. We were driving on a dirt road and with the time flying by, we were this close to giving up,but the place wasn’t that far… When in the middle of the darkness a thin, not very bright green line irradiated in the sky. It kept changing its shape,becoming brighter and fading within seconds.

That was it – we weren’t really looking, not even expecting the Aurora, but it found us. Don’t talk me physics,this is pure magic. Somewhere between the driving and the shoving of my face into the windscreen “so I can have a look too”, we found a really comfy place where we pitched up the tents over a blanket of soft moss. Comfortable will be quite ambitious to say the least for this first night. I would rather say explosion of emotions. While dining, we were freezing but somehow, we made a couple of long exposure pictures of the Aurora. But even that couldn’t keep me awake, so I hurried myself to sleep. (Mistake number one – never fall asleep while still cold.)

So logically, the morning after I woke up still freezing and in my usual bad mood, but it didn’t last for long because when I got out of the tent I realized where we actually were. In the middle of nowhere. Literally. Far from any trace of civilized life, but what a place! On one side of the road everything is covered with moss until the glacier river, which goes into the lake nearby and in the distance,  you can see the massive glacier. On the other side of the road there were only huge rocks and no sign of life at all. We were joking that it’s the perfect place to film a movie about Mars.

So, we drove off, excited about everything we were going to see for the next one week, but who would tell us that the thing we’ll remember forever deep inside of us has no name and destination.

And really – the journey itself was my favorite“destination”. The small towns with their colorful churches that we went through while stopping to refuel. The gorgeous mountains, volcanoes and volcano fields covered with moss are said to be the homes of the elves.

Little waterfalls in the distance, with no access to them, but there is a small farm underneath them. The meadows by the road where you can see the Icelandic sheep threading quietly and the Icelandic horses, wild and obedient at the same time.

We were mostly driving on the ring road which goes around the island. It is nonetheless picturesque, but I was more attracted to the dirt roads. Not only they gave us the time to explore every detail of the horizon but they took us higher and lead us to different “roadside attractions”. One of those roads goes to the isolated mountain Vestrahorn. Somewhere on the side of the road there is was lake merging in one with the sky and all you can see is the endless blue horizon. From time to time a view to the ocean unveils – seemingly quiet and peaceful from distance.

But no matter how unbelievable everything was, I took it as normal. I took it for granted. It wasn’t there because of me. It was there before and it will be there way after I’m gone and as beautiful as it is – I’m just a bystander. I will never know what it’s like to have a farm under a waterfall or to prepare for the winter, because as they say, winter is tough out there. And I would just pack my backpack with the little stones and good memories and leave. It really is beautiful, but there are many beautiful places on Earth.

As I made my peace with this, Iceland surprised me and transformed me into a cliche for a couple of minutes. The day before we left while we were driving to the Snaefellsnes peninsula on the west coast, we were spending the golden hour on the road as usual. And somewhere there on the winding turns between the mountains, the low clouds below us colored in the spectrum of pink and orange. On places you can see the blue still sneaking as are minder that everything is real and it’s the same sky from a moment ago. Pink Floyd playing and the golden light is hitting the front of the car. With every next turn the colors would be brighter and I would be less likely to believe it’s real. In moments like these you just wonder whether to cry out of happiness, to scream out of excitement or to stay silent and try to remember everything.

Right there, still in euphoria I thought (although my mixed feelings about religion and everything that has to do with it) that heaven is not a place. What people are looking for is not a destination. The most beautiful scenery isn’t always the same. The most precious moment isn’t universal. My heaven was an absurd mixture of colors, light, music and the result from a week of sleeplessness and my dulled senses from everything we saw during that week and believe me – even three months wouldn’t be enough to explore the island. But maybe this is the purpose of visiting Iceland – to find your cliche even just as a guest. To remember it and to keep it in your thoughts from now on. Heaven exists, lasts just a couple of minutes and everything less than that is just filling the rest. And to end that cliche I’ll tell you: Look for the moment you can’t put into words. Who knows, you might as well find it on the edge of the polar circle?

Text and pictures Georgia Koseva.
You can follow Georgia and her adventures on her instagram profile

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Travel Blogger

Dario Dionisi



If you want to know something more about me – my soul is a traveler, my origin is Italian and my true essence is a faithful friend. I am always open to new ideas and will be very happy if you want to contact me at dario@beyondsofia.com

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Dario • Exploring beyond Sofia
February brings the rain, thaws the frozen lake ag February brings the rain, thaws the frozen lake again. 

Yuki-Doro is challenging me who is the better poser. 🧐

#dog #hike # winter
I guess I am starting this year with a true challe I guess I am starting this year with a true challenge - hiking during winter under -15 degrees.

That was the case with the Boyana waterfall. Last year I visited them during the late summer and decided that I want to visit this place during the winter because, to be honest, I have never seen in person a big and full waterfall to be completely frozen.

So, let’s say it was something as a target for me to see it sooner or later. 

But as you can see it was really pleasant conquering this adventure because I had with me the best assistant ever - Mr. little adventurer Yuki-Doro. 

And yes, I won’t lie, I almost lost my hands and one of my legs from the extremely low temperature.

#dog #hike #winter
Most people are fascinated by the natural beauty o Most people are fascinated by the natural beauty of Yuki-Doro and I don’t blame them, to be honest. 

But as it is said - the devilish creations are the sweetest. Well, I can confirm this through my dog. 

SWIPE to the next picture and witness yourself that I have a true monster as a pet, he is twisted and scary, like a loooooot.

#dog #hiking #winter
Is it a fox? Is it a wolf? Is it Hachiko? No, it' Is it a fox? Is it a wolf? Is it Hachiko? 
No, it's Yuki-Doro conquering Cherni vrah peak at the age of 4 months.

Who would think that this little guy would manage to accomplish this so early stage in his life.

Imagine what he would do in the future, Everest here we come! 😂

#hiking #winter #dog
People have said it well that the dog is man's bes People have said it well that the dog is man's best friend.

This weekend was Yuki-Doro's first real adventure-challenge.

We wandered through the winter landscapes of snowy Vitosha.  Based on the amount of snow he ate, yes, he definitely liked the snow, it's good that it is low in calories, otherwise I would have returned to Sofia with a meatball.

Definitely this little one knows how to brighten up the atmosphere and make the trips more interesting.

I look forward to our next adventures.

Do you travel with your pets?

#winter #mountain #dog
Winter etudes of Vitosha Mountain • So, let us Winter etudes of Vitosha Mountain •

So, let us be clear here - I cannot stand winter and I really do not like the snow and cold. It is probably inherited from my Italian bloodline, who knows, but anyways.

However, I must confess, I have been multiple times in Vitosha mountain but probably for the first time I visit it for a whole hike to the peak during winter. Won’t lie, I enjoyed a lot the nature scenes I saw during my hike but still I was going to loose my hands no matter I had gloves all the time.

Overall, the experience was pleasant because it is good to remind ourselves what a true winter looks like. We all know that because of the global warming we do not have that heavy winter that we used to have back in the early 2000s. So, to see so much snow and peace at one place was a delight for my senses.

As I always say, it is good to challenge yourself and go out of your comfort zone. Only then you can discover many intriguing things, but most importantly -  to learn so many new things about yourself.

#winter #hiking #nature
Cherni vruh, the highest point of Vitosha mountain Cherni vruh, the highest point of Vitosha mountain 2290 m the peak is the fourth highest mountain summit in Bulgaria.

It presents the best spontaneous getaway if you want to go out in the nature. Also is way to good challenge yourself. I myself did it multiple times and must confess every time I climb it from different points it amazes me with the beauty that this mountain contains.

#Bulgaria #nature #mountain
The stone river in Vitosha or also known as The Go The stone river in Vitosha or also known as The Golden Bridges - amazingly beautiful natural phenomenon - the largest stone river in the Vitosha National Park. Massive stones (average size 2-3 meters) flow down from the mountain top to the valley for more than 2 miles long and 150 meters wide.

The stone river is ‘descending’ from elevation 1800 m above sea level to 1410 m at Golden Bridges site.

#Bulgaria #nature #stoneriver
Etudes of Vitosha • Is there anyone who lives i Etudes of Vitosha •

Is there anyone who lives in Sofia and had never visited Vitosha Mountain?

Because clearly this mountain is a pure nature gift for us all!

Vitosha Mountain is the oldest nature park on the Balkan Peninsula. Its gorgeous silhouette is visible from almost all positions in the city and is inseparable part of Sofia’ image.

Vitosha Naturе Park is the most broadly protected territory in Bulgaria, and due to its proximity to Sofia it has turned into a site of education in responsible attitude towards nature.

And don’t forget Sofia is the only European capital with such a big mountain so close to the city center.

So no matter the time and season Vitosha is always a good choice for adventures.

#Bulgaria #mountain #tourism
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