Viime
viikonloppuna teimme reissun Islannin eteläosiin. Tiestö matkan varrella oli
äärimmäisen hyvässä kunnossa verrattuna viimeisimpään matkaan Golden Circlelle.
Paluumatkalla rupesin kaipaamaan Suomen katuvaloja. Tämän hetkisen kokemukseni
pohjalta voin todeta, että täällä harrastetaan jonkinasteista valaistusta
ainoastaan taajama-alueilla. Toisinaan näkyvyys ajaessa tippui alle kymmenen
metrin, ja oli todella rentouttavaa ajaa samanaikaisesti tiedostaessaan
viereisen jyrkän pudotuksen. Tästä huolimatta nautin ajokokemuksesta jälleen
kerran suunnattomasti. Tällä kertaa kirjoittelin matkakuulumiset englantipainotteisesti.
Tällä viikolla saimme tietää ensimmäisen arvosanan viikko sitten päättyneestä kurssista. Lisää tästä HRM -kurssista myöhemmin muun kurssikatsauksen yhteydessä. Myös Suomeen HY:lle suorittamani osuuskuntakurssi päättyy piakkoin, jolloin vapaa-aikaa jää suunnattomasti. Tämä on oikein mainio käänne kelien muuttuessa koko ajan parempaan suuntaan. Tuntuu siltä kuin aika täällä kuluisi älyttömän nopeasti ja alkuviikkojen tapahtumista olisi iäisyys.
Last weekend we did a road trip across the south coast
of the country. Roads in the south were superior compared to the ones on Golden
Circle. On our way back I started missing the proper lighting in the roads that
we have back home in Finland. The other thing I long for is roads without
tourists stopping unexpectedly to take pics. When the night came together with
darkness and thick fog it was from time to time almost impossible to see more
than ten meters ahead.
On our first day, we travelled 240 kilometers and on the second a bit over 600. So, all in all a lot of driving. This time you could really spot the difference compared to the last trip. There wasn’t any snow (∉ the glaciers) and the roads weren’t icy at all. It really feels like the spring is just around the corner. The temperature is enough to wear ballerinas and I’ve already started to miss my trench coat while sweating with my woolen coat. Although the nights are still quite chilly and the wind can occasionally be freezing.
First day had an emphasis on waterfalls. We visited both
Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss. Those were great but I don’t see the point in
writing about them. After a while you get used to these and they all in some
way are very much alike. As a tip, I can recommend waterproof clothing when
visiting anything outdoorsy attraction. My favorite stop on this journey was definitely
at the Sólheimajökull. We arrived there so late that there was no one there.
You could fully enjoy the silence standing next to the magnificent glacier. My
friend and I could have stayed there wondering for ages but sadly the darkness
came and others wanted to go onwards.
Caused by our little unfortunate misfortune we had not
time to visit Vík or the famous Black Sand Beach. Our car abandoned us cause of
reasons in the middle of nowhere, about 30 kilometers east from Vík to be
exact. So, after the call to the rental company we spend over four hours there.
But then after a while the pick-up truck came with a new car for us and we’re
finally allowed to continue forwards to the biggest glacier of Iceland, Vatnajökull.
Before seeing the Jökulsárlón the ‘glacier lake’ with
pieces of ice floating there, we headed off to the nearby Diamond Beach. For me
these sights were bit too touristy. The places were beautiful but full of
tourist. Also, you couldn’t grasp the whole entity of this glacier just by
standing close to it. Still, I possibly can’t deny the beauty of this lake by
sunset.
The scenery there on our route was something that I’ve
never seen before. It kind of reminded me about the views in old western
movies. There was only a straight black road continuing to the horizon and next
to it dead yellowish soil. Further away you could spot the majestic snow-topped
mountains. During our long drive the landscape varied. At one point, it was
green and hilly. As an opposite to this, some parts were totally lifeless and
black, like something that I could picture in some planet in a distant galaxy. After
this I only yearn for more of these unique, unforgettable experiences…
