Iceland Winter Wonderland

People ask, why Iceland... and besides why not; it was for scenic landscape and a truly relaxing experience. So my hunny and tried to split the cost of the trip and figure it out. Oh we did! We also spent a good bit of time preparing and packing for the trip. The only real hiccup was that our bags took and extra day to get there. Granted our connection was so close that we barely made the flight! Finding our hotel was no easy task, since Google maps did not realize the normal route was closed for the winter. Once we did find out hotel, it was the start of a pretty perfect vacation. Below are pictures of our first hotel.

 

We splurged at this hotel, it was top notch all around. The Ion Hotel's  service was fantastic, location, remoteness and with a great restaurant and spa. This was the view from our room:

Lucky for us, our hotel was already a bit on the outskirts so we were able to drive and see the local scenery. We also got to see the Aurora Borealis while we were at the hotel but that is for another blog. We spent a lot of time driving around and below are pictures from our first day there driving around: 

Representing my almamater the University of Oregon.

Icelandic horses are a pure breed that are stout and very hairy.

Pictures of Geysir, the one which all are named from are below:

Gulafoss:

Crazy maps:

Amazing views:

 

What I loved so much about Iceland, besides how amazing and sweet the people were, was the light; it was PERFECT! Every moment looked magical and so picturesque. It was crazy how much like walking in a painting being in Iceland was. Add that to the fact that the air was so crisp and clean The next day we took the long way to Reykajavik:

Hanging out at the lava pools.

Enjoying the black sand beaches!

Our next hotel was called OK Hotel. It was more of a 'studio' for the week, we did not have anyone clean up after us but we had all the amenities of home. Plus it was above a great Korean fusion restaurant and bar. Check it out:

A great place to call home, and had all the amenities of one with a restaurant/bar below. Though one should note that the cold water comes off the Glacier run off and taste delicious. While the hot water is from the thermal pools and smells like rotten eggs; granted makes your skin very soft. We really did not take many pictures of the city... but there was some great graffiti:

 A random office building that was also a rock climbing wall.

 All the while, being on an amazing lake with an incredible mountain rain on the other side.

 Plus a jewel of an opera house, that constantly changes colors and lights up.

 So the next day, the day between our 3 year anniversary and Mr.A's 35th, was supposed to be his best day ever. We ended up spending most of it in a record store, him pouring over record and myself talking to any random stranger who walked through the door. This happened to be the bunch of artist who were playing at the festival we were going to at the Harpa (above) called Sonar.

It was great! I got two CD's signed by the artist! Then we went to Tapas Barinn, where Mr.A got to get a special one on one with the local chef and we had an amazing dinner. I know we did not take much pictures while in the city, then we went to dinner and to our first night of the Sonar festival. Which was a lot of fun but we left a bit early so we could go on out the next drive on a drive to the Glacier...

Then randomly... a golf course sign, really wtf?

Our lunch spot:

Long open roads is all we go

The next two days we ran around the city and at night we went to Sonar to listen to amazing bands and DJs like the: Kiriyama Family (signed CD),  FM Belfast, Major Lazer with Diplo, and Trentmollar. On our last day, before heading out of the city on our way to the Blue Lagoon, we snapped a few shots.

Then to the spa to relax in milky steamy blue waters.

Where the air was freezing, the water so warm, and getting a massage while floating in the healing waters. It was so fun after a long weekend partying at a Icelandic festival, Overall, the trip was amazing and great to be out and about with my love, my rock and sweetheart.

Updated 100 things to do

Happy this blog has helped focus me, and helped me get things done. I love that it can keep me a bit accountable with out making myself feel like I have not done enough. I managed to accomplish 37 things in four years, and that is enough to update my list!!! So what is on my 100 now? Check it out:

1. Become a Geocashe expert, personal goal: find 1,000 cashes and stash 100
2. Witness a solar eclipse
3. Jet ski
4. Para sail
5. Sail
6. Write book/play
7. Sign language learn it
8. A martial art more
9. Salsa – really well
10. Tango – really well
11. Expert @ Wii fit
12. Paragliding
13. Cliff diving
14. Northern lights
15. Swim scuba or snorkel a shipwreck
16. Drive the Coast
17. Visit all 50 states of the US
18. X-Country road trip
19. Ride the 10 largest roller costars
20. Play pool well
21. Fly kites for real
22. Learn how to sew
23. Go to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge
24. Fire dance
25. Build a habitat for Humanity Home
26. Learn Photoshop
27. Get married
28. Have and raise a health happy kid
29. Make sushi
30. My retirement plan
31. Buy your own house
32. Watch Movie list
33. Watch Tyra live
34. Race car
35. Be photographed next to 50 landmarks
36. Create scrap memory albums
37. Swim with a dolphin
38. Really surf
39. Write a Kid’s book
40. Own my own business
41. Start a Burning Man Camp
42. Make an original music album with Alex
43. Host a formal dinner party for 8 min no more than 12
44. Find a volunteer project to work with
45. Flip a home
46. Take one photo every day
47. Cover someone’s car in post it notes
48. Write a letter to myself and read it in 10 years
49. Own my own income property
50. Learn how to use chopsticks
51. Go to the airport and take a random flight
52. Make a LED Light project
53. Experience Zero Gravity
54. Say YES to everything for a whole day (with someone I trust)
55. Learn how to pick a lock
56. Try Flyboarding
57. Visit a haunted a house
58. Learn about wine
59. Go on a food adventure
60. Learn how to code (HTML)
61. Para-sailing
62. Become a Marketo expert
63. Become a Salesforce expert
64. Create my own art painting
65. Play Bossaball
66. Attend a murder mystery dinner
67. Run a half marathon
68. Kidnap and treat a friend to a surprise day
69. Become a millionaire


Travel
1. Iceland
2. India
3. Egypt
4. Greece
5. Truly travel Argentina
6. Tokyo
7. Great wall china
8. Machu Piccu
9. Petra Jordan
10. Eastern Europe
11. Chichen Itza Mexico
12. Tibet
13. Russia
14. Kentucky derby
15. Tomatina – Spain last Wed of August in the town of Buñol, Valencia region
16. Ireland
17. Manus - brazil
18. All continents
19. Israel
20. See world wonders natural n man made.
21. Marty Gras New Orleans
22. Carnival Rio/Bahia
23. Grand canyon
24. African Safari
25. Bahamas
26. Germany
27. New England / Chicago
28. Fuji
29. Sol - Korea
30. All State capitals
31. Eat/Sleep in an under water restaurant.

Would love to hear your thoughts on my updated list. For 2014, I am going to focus on:

1. Iceland - Going on 2/9/14-2/17/14!!!!
2. African Safari - wishful goal!
3. Create scrap memory albums - organized needs to be created
4. Write a Kid’s book - have the idea, step one!
5. Own my own business - have the idea, step one!
6. Play pool well
7. Fly kites for real
8. Learn how to sew
9. Fire dance
10. Build a habitat for Humanity Home
11. Learn Photoshop
12. Make sushi
13. Tango – really well
14. Expert @ Wii fit
15. Paragliding
16. Cliff diving
17. Northern lights - hopefully will be seen in our Iceland trip.
18. Jet ski
19. Para sail
20. Cover someone’s car in post it notes
21. Learn how to use chopsticks
22. Go on a food adventure
23. Become a Salesforce expert
24. Create my own art painting
25. Learn how to code (HTML)

4 years = 37 things accomplished

When I created this blog, I hoped it would help keep my life interesting and on track.That it might make a different and open me up to new things... well I cannot tell you how true that has been. I have accomplished 37 things on my list and have started eight things, which is a total of 45 out of 100. Not bad for only 4 years. Let's check  out the list that has been crossed fully off:

1.     Skydiving
2.     Bungee > Learn how to drive stick
4. Meteor showers
5. Snowboard
9. Yoga
15. Try Flying Trapeze
16. Hot air balloon
17. Dance in pouring rain
18. Scuba
19. Fire a gun
22. Grow my own cooking herbs
27. Drive a convertible
29. Be in a flash mob
35. 1st aid course CPR
36. Roller disco
38. Create a UTube Vid
39. Sell Dad’s bags
64. Get my IMC Certificate aka manage 3 classes next term
65. Get my MS of Marketing
66. Get my PR certificate
42. Make a difference in one person’s life
44. Start a blog
53. Send a msg in bottle
54. River rafting
55. LT camping more than 3 days
56. Opaque dinning
57. Burning Man
60. Make my own jewelry
61. Throw a huge party
63. Find my passion
68. Karaoke
69. Visit a Renaissance fair
96. Great beerier reef
90. Vegas
98. New Zealand
99. Australia

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2013 Accomplishments

Last year was a crazy hectic intense ride, and from talking to other people that sentiment seems to hold true for them too. So while I did a lot, and accomplished things that were not on my list, I did make a small dent on my actual list.

If you remember, I started the year in Australia and went to the Great Beerier Reef to scuba dive and check out the coral reef. I swam with turtles, sharks, sting rays, and a ton of other fish. It was an amazing experience and great to start the year crossing off my list.

I came home and started to learn how to drive stick. In the process, I was taught a bit more of a friends convertible. Thus twice I have driven one... I still want a nice crazy sunny day but I got that later while driving a Z4. In February was driving alone by myself, mostly due to adopting our cat Coco and being the only one who could pick her up in time. Coco while not on my list, has always been a life long dream to have a furry companion.

Alex and I went for a special night to Opaque Dinning and thought it was a rather interesting time trying to feel around in the dark. Having to memorize where everything was and being extra cautious with our movements. Trying to use utensils was a nightmare thought!

I also found my passion, or passions I should say. I realized that I will never just have one and actually it is not good to have one or two. Life needs passion to keep it interesting. So what are my passions? Some I am sure you can guess... my love, Burning Man to which I am going to start a camp, and snowboarding. I also realized that I do love planning events and special occasions (hint on my new side business idea), plus thoroughly enjoy marketing, social media, SEO, PR and integrating them together.

I also started many of my goals on my list and while I have not finished them, they are in progress. These would be:

• Creating a scrapbook - I have compiled and organized all the mementos from my life. I realized that one giant book would not work. Thus I have separated out Burning Man, and considering keeping my recent trip separated too.
• I have gotten more into Photoshop but still have a long way to go, which is the same for learning how to sew and play pool well.
• I have started to write a kid's book and am talking with an artist friend to illustrate it.
• I created a classic movie list and now have watch it.