Vestmannaeyjar.

On the 7th day in Iceland, we decided to jump on a ferry to Vestmannaeyjar - Westman Islands. I must say that for me and Peter it was the biggest disappointment of whole journey. The place was nice, but quite boring. It has an interesting history and for sure you should visit it if you have chance, but if I had had a other option to spend that day, I would have gone for it. It was so quiet and small that 5 hours were totally enough to see its length and breadth. We were told that we would see stock of seals and puffins on rocks, but again it wasn't true. So the biggest attraction was climbing on the top of vulcano which created this surroundings not so long time ago. 

Lost airplane, waterfalls & Eyjafjallajökull.

This post is gonna be so long, because our 6th day on Iceland was full of activities. We woke up early and headed off to the first spot of that day - Dakota airplane wreck. Since I had seen some pictures of it online, I wanted to see it so much, but none of our travel guides (we had two and or friends another one) had a single word about it.

Vatnajökull National Park.

Straight from the Jökulsárlón we continue our ride to Vatnajökull National Park, where our friend Pieter wanted to do a glacial hike with small group of other tourists. As Ralph did this in New Zeland some years ago and Peter and I couldn't afford paying 70 euros for the trip, we decided to wander around while Pieter was climbing on glacier. Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Europe and the third largest glacier by size after ice caps of Antarctic and Greenland. With area of 8300 km², it covers 8% of Iceland (or, for example, whole Puerto Rico). It is sooo big, that each of its glaciar tongue is treated as separate glacier with its own name. We had chance to see one of them - Skaftafellsjökull.

Floating icebergs.

I haven't been here for a long time. A lot happened, in a good way I think - we moved out from a small room and now live in a large two-bedroomed flat just 20 metres away. Work is ok, but it could be better and we know that we must find our way to realize our future dreams. In past months I visited Poland for the first time since February, I also spent a couple of days in Amsterdam at my friend's place. Now we have December and I am shocked how time flies this year. 2014 is coming, and I already have some plans for it.

Hearts like ours.

I'm coming back to Iceland today. After first weeks in new workplace I feel much better than without it. It's still not what I am looking for in my life, but it's well paid and people there seem to be so kind so far. I hope to make some friends finally, because I've been craving for some company since I moved to Manchester. Everything is going on the right way now, at least it looks like we both found jobs better than our previous ones, the weather this summer is superb and finally we can stop to worry and think about our nearest future. A few days ago The Naked And Famous released their new song from upcoming album 'In Rolling Waves' and it's been truly the best summer song since many years. I love this positive feelings it gives with every single second.

The last day at Download.

(photo: http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/)

I am again late with a post, but I have a good excuse - Wimbledon ;) From quarter-finals with Jerzy Janowicz and Lukasz Kubot to the final last Sunday. It's such a pity that Novak Djokovic didn't win, but it doesn't mean that he is less handsome ;)

Our third and last day at the Download was full of surprises. We saw a few bands from the past which we hadn't been aware that they still are "alive" and play concerts, such as Coal Chamber and P.O.D. We arrived in the the middle of Coal Chamber set and even if I am not a fan of this kind of music anymore, they sounded great and fitted well into the festival. Then we went to see Graveyard and I finally found what I was looking for the whole weekend...

Download Festival 2013

(photo: http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk) 

It's been over two weeks now since we attended Download Festival 2013. I was about to write this post before, but I have been waiting all this time for first proshot videos on Youtube. It's so annoying, because so far you can find only a few, and at the same time you can enjoy full sets from Rock Am Ring or Hellfest which took place around Download's time. I want to see full concerts from this year, like it was in past, but I won't be surprised if it doesn't happen. I am a bit sceptical about it and the whole event as well, but I gonna explain my doubts below.

Berunes.

Our morning in Berunes is one of the most beautiful memories I have got from Iceland. We woke up in totally remote place, where there were only our four, a nice couple from Paris and hosts. Actually Berunes is an old farm located at the seafront. When you go outside you can admire wonderful landscape created by the fjord Berufjörður. The Old House was built by the grandparents of hosts over a hundred years ago and it has served as a hostel since 1973. If you ever go to Iceland, you must stay there at least one day! I really felt Icelandic vibe there. I mean, for the first time of our trip I totally felt that boundless space, silence, wind and smell of mountains around me.
I would love to come back there one day, the calmness of that place is a treasure.

The North.

On 11th May we left a bit dissapointing, uninteresting Akureyri and headed to the northern peripheries of Iceland, along Route 1 - a main road in the country. Our goal was to reach Dettifoss - the most powerful waterfall in Europe. We were riding a couple of hours and the landscape was different every 5 minutes.

Akureyri.

After two weeks I am coming back to continue my trip around Iceland. Last two weeks were quite hectic - my good friend from Poland visited me for a couple of days, I left a lot of CV in the town looking for any job and finally, last Wednesday I got an email telling me that I won two tickets for DOWNLOAD festival!! :D Unbelievable!! I assume that so many people took part in the Live Nation competition, because I only had to give my email and answer who is a headliner of Saturday's concerts. So easy and they chose me, wow :) But now it looks like Royal Mail has lost my tickets or someone has stolen them, because I should have got them last Saturday. I wrote to Live Nation and they have re-sent them today, so hopefully I will get them tomorrow. Friday will be so busy for me - a job interview at 9 o'clock and then quick change to catch train to Nottingham at 12 pm. Fingers crossed for me!

Hallgrímskirkja view.

101 Reykjavik

Last Saturday I returned from my journey around Iceland. I had this destination in my mind for years, so when I saw cheap tickets last year I simply couldn’t resist. And finally, after 8 months of waiting, thinking and planning, we made it. Our journey started in London where we spent a night at Luton Airport. I find this place as totally inconvenient. But sleeping at airports is generally uncomfortable.

We landed in Keflavik before 9 am, and 40 minutes later we arrived to the capital – Reykjavik. The funny thing happened at passport check – a lady in front of me asked the police officer if she could get a stamp in her passport. The guy was quite surprised and strictly said ‘NO’ ;)

The first thing we did in Reykjavik was check-in at the brand new hostel called ‘Bus Hostel’. Really nice and at the same time the cheapest place to stay in the city. We were tired, but we didn’t want to waste any minute, so after quick breakfast we started exploring Iceland.

Let's run, let's learn, let's do something.

It's not my photo and I unfortunately do not know its author. But I really like it. Source - Internet.

Since I am 26 now, I think it's the high time to start doing something valuable in my life. People say that it's never too late for changes and I agree, but I can't get rid of this feeling that I am already too old to try something totally new. I mean something which help me understand who I want to be in life. I still do not know. I finished university two years ago and I feel like I don't know anything. I can't do anything and the only thing people see in me so far is that I can be a good waitress. Not a good journalist, not an office worker, not a person who can be valuable in good, not retail-related company. How cruel is it? Of course, I do not want to blame anyone except me for this situation, but sometimes I have this feeling that I will be waiting for my "chance" forever. Everyone wants skilled, experienced person, but how can I gain experience when no one wants to open door for me first? Without these possibilities I can not even try and check whether I want to do this or that in my life. So now I am trying to figure out me, doing things on my own. Because I have been unemployed since 17th March I have a lot of time to think about life. Of course I've been looking for a job, but in two weeks I am going to make one of my dreams come true, so I concentrate on it and live from my savings.

Having this spare time I've decided to take up some activities I used to put away for ages. I've already finished some books - one of them is a great reportage about North Korea by Barbara Demick, I've started writing more here and finally - I've started running and learning French. Since I remember I've always hated running. Oh my... this feeling when you have to hurry up, because you woke up/went out late and a bus is not going to wait for you... Or your PE teacher who always wanted to humiliate you and derived undisguised satisfaction giving you another 'E' mark despite your hard efforts. Running was never linked with something pleasant, that's why I avoided it for so much time. Nowadays it is really popular - almost everyone I know runs, at least from time to time and one of my friends participates in marathons with great success. I must admit that I admire all these people and I simply wanted to join them. I thought 'Come on, it can't be that hard, all you have to do is put your joggings and trainers on and go outside!". So I went on Tuesday and it turned out to be very hard. After 700 m I was dying. Yes, 26-year-old person is dying because of a short run. What a shame. But I am not going to give up. Today I run 1,5 km. Small step, but I can't wait for a moment when I feel that running is a pure pleasure for me.

I am also trying to pick up some French vocabulary. I've always wanted to learn this language, but I had only one option in school - German. I don't like German and I've already forgotten a lot of it, but I find it easier to learn than French. French pronunciation is difficult, but I am going to practice as much as I can. I downloaded some application for my phone, I also installed a basic course on my computer, so maybe I will be able to speak a little on my next trip to Paris this August. It would be great :) Fingers crossed for my motivation.

Oxford Rd

Oglądanie wiadomości w tym tygodniu było zasmucającą czynnością. Zamachy w Bostonie i Iraku, trzęsienia ziemi w Iranie i Chinach, wypadek autokaru z dziećmi w Belgii. Odkąd dowiedziałam się o mojej zmarłej kotce, codziennie dochodziły mnie wieści o tragicznych wydarzeniach. Mamy koniec tygodnia i mam nadzieję, że ten nadchodzący będzie lepszy. 

Watching news has been really depressing lately. Terrorist attacks in Boston and Iraq, earthquakes in Iran and China, and then coach accident with children in Belgium. It looks like sad information about my cat was only a prologue of tragic daily news. I truly hope that upcoming week will be better. 

I'll be waving... Goodbye.

Universe (surrounds you)

When you're ready it waits (for us to) leave this Earth

Come on, they're calling your name out

I don't know, I could stay or leave

Either way 'cause the comet can take us either way through

Goodbye, safe, heaven, new

I'll be waiting

Goodbye, safe, heaven, new

I'll be waving goodbye

Return to see, everything looks the same

I don't know if the change it made was grave,

because the craving remains the same

Goodbye

safe, heaven, new

I'll be waving

Goodbye

Safe, heaven, new

I'll be waving (goodbye) I'll be waving,

I'll be waving

Goodbye...

                                                                                                 - Deftones "Xerces"

So cold...

Za 8 dni początek kwietnia, za miesiąc moje urodziny a tu nawet w Anglii, gdzie podobno prawdziwej zimy nie ma, najzwyczajniej piz... zimno! Wiem, że w Polsce teraz norma to -16°C, więc nie powinnam narzekać przy tutejszych 2°C, ale naprawdę taka pogoda niczemu nie sprzyja. Wyjście po zakupy to jeszcze bardziej przykry obowiązek niż zwykle, a mobilizacji do innych zajęć brak. Dziś godzinę debatowaliśmy, czy iść na spacer. Akurat teraz kiedy mam czas i ochotę poznawać Manchester, warunki atmosferyczne totalnie temu nie sprzyjają. W końcu poszliśmy, no bo ile można siedzieć w domu. Założę się, że pogoda diametralnie poprawi się wraz z rozpoczęciem nowej pracy ;]

April is just around the corner, my birthday is in a month and spring hasn't arrived yet! Even here in England, where people don't realize what 'real' snowy winter means is sooooo cold. I know that there is -16°C now in Poland, so I have no right to complain with my 2°C in Manchester, but let's face it - this weather doesn't help anyone. Shopping has become more upsetting duty and we suffer from lack of mobilisation. Everything looks grey and dreary. Today we were debating for an hour about going for a walk. In the end we left our cosy, warm flat and checked our neighbourhood a bit. Of course the weather is always bad when you have a lot of spare time. I can bet it will improve when I start a new job soon.

Laziness – my alter ego :/

Zaległości na tym blogu sięgają kilku miesięcy wstecz. Nie wiem jak to robię, że nic nie robię. Przyznaję się bez bicia, że umiejętność efektywnej organizacji czasu u mnie nie występuje. Zawsze jakieś pozornie ważniejsze sprawy, a przede wszystkim pierdoły odwracają moją uwagę od tego, co naprawdę istotne i warte uwagi. Zwłaszcza jak mam więcej czasu, jak teraz. Pamiętam jedną koleżankę ze studiów, która dojeżdżała codziennie na uczelnię (prawie godzina w jedną stronę), studiowała dziennie praktycznie 3 kierunki naraz (Indywidualny Tok Studiów), udzielała się w organizacjach pozarządowych, robiła staże, kursy, brała udział w konferencjach, miała czas na siłownię, kino a wszelkie nowości książkowe pochłaniała w mig. I przy tym wszystkim miała same piątki z egzaminów. A ja nie byłam w stanie ogarnąć nawet połowy tego ;) Po prostu jestem leniem. Wstrętnym, wkurzającym samą siebie nierobem. I zaczynam mieć samej siebie dość!

Takim oto sposobem nazbierało się sporo tematów, o których miałam wspomnieć już dawno temu. A parę aktualnych przemyśleń też czeka na spisanie. A więc… zaczynam ćwiczyć systematyczność ;)

Zacznę od tego, że już ponad miesiąc (tak!) mieszkam tam, gdzie chciałam, czyli w Manchesterze. Miasto, które spodobało mi się od pierwszej wizyty i w którym chciałam zamieszkać od pierwszej wizyty. Ładniejsze niż Londyn, mniejsze, ale wciąż jedno z najludniejszych miast Anglii. Z długą historią, niewyczerpanymi zasobami kulturalnymi i najlepszym angielskim futbolem. Miasto, w którym po prostu czuję się dobrze, czego nie mogłam powiedzieć ani o poprzednim miejscu zamieszkania (tzw. „dziura”) , czy też o Krakowie. Za cel postawiłam sobie poznanie mojego nowego miejsca jak najlepiej, bo po pierwsze czuję, że Manchester ma mi wiele do pokazania, a po drugie – nie wiem jak długo tu pomieszkam ;) Także można się spodziewać, że przez jakiś czas Manchester będzie u mnie tematem dominującym. Tyle teraz, wracam tu jeszcze w tym tygodniu!