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Its the season..

October 9, 2015 thevikingconnection Leave a comment

..no not that season.. Northern Lights season!

It has started in full force indeed and it is absolutely stunning! I have been seeing some amazing pictures on Twitter and I borrowed the header photo from Iceland Naturally Twitter page, give them a follow! You can see them just now in Scotland, Norway, Iceland, Finland and other places.. Check out the hashtag #northernlights for great photos.

The colours are stunning.. They can be all sorts, not always the usual green.

If you are going on a northern light hunt I suggest you check out the northern lights forecast on this website. It is quite accurate and gives great information.

Turn your flash off, grab a set off gloves and try your chances!

Have fun!

Takk&Bless!

Cheap things to do in Scotland, Cycling, new favourite

Cycling! My new favourite..

September 29, 2015 thevikingconnection 3 Comments

First of all.. I am so sorry for being M.I.A. for the last few months.. Coming back with a bang!

I bought my boyfriend a push bike for his birthday in March and I decided to take it out for a spin the other day and I loved it.. After carefully googling places to go not too far from where I live (Falkirk, Scotland) I decided to go for a cycle by the Caledonian Canal. This canal cuts through Scotland from Glasgow to Edinburgh and is truly beautiful. There are plenty of people that use this canal to walk their dogs, jog and cycle and it is so therapeutic!

I cycled down Grahams road, on the sidewalk because I am guaranteed to be run over if I cycle on the road and way too scared, and I joined on to the canal there. Cycled up towards the Falkirk Wheel and from there I cycled towards Glasgow.

The canal is perfect for beginner cyclists, or girls borrowing their boyfriends bikes, because it is quite level and not too difficult. The scenery is amazing and it is well taken care of with no “pot holes”. I managed to cycle 24 kilometres and quite chuffed with myself!

I cycled passed a few people fishing, which is something I will probably try out! I love fishing and could be a good laugh.

Definitely recommended for a nice day out in Scotland, perfect for families as well.

Remember my instagram page for more pictures!

Go cycling guys!

Iceland, Reykjavík

Icelandic bands

May 5, 2015 thevikingconnection Leave a comment

When you hear about Icelandic music and bands you probably hear about Björk, Sigurrós, Ásgeir and Of Monsters And Men.. Maybe a few others but these four seem to be most recognised artists from Iceland.

But there are so many more amazing artists I want to introduce you too! Some of them only perform in Icelandic but have a listen and see if you like it first 🙂 If you click on the name of the band or artist it will take you directly to their YouTube channel. This blog includes my personal favourites along with others but have a look and see for yourself who is your favourite Icelandic artist/s.

Björk – I feel like I have to start with her! A great Icelandic artist that performs in English. She has won countless music awards and has performed all over the world.

Sigurrós is one of the most known Icelandic band and very popular around the world. Very relaxing music that most people can connect to.

Valdimar performs in Icelandic but the singer has a very powerful voice.

Stuðmenn have toured around the UK and performed in Royal Albert Hall for example. A few of their songs are performed in English but mostly Icelandic.

Skálmöld are a viking/folk metal band who have toured around Europe, they were even in Scotland this year.

Ásgeir is a young artist who has been very popular for the last couple of years. He has toured all over the world with his band which he performs in English.

Sálin hans Jóns míns perform in Icelandic and are really popular in Iceland as a barn dance type of night out.

Ylja I first heard when they were busking in Kolaportið (flea market in downtown Reykjavik I have mentioned in previous blogposts). I couldn’t help but stand and listen with the others that had gathered around them. These girls have amazing voices and you should definitely give them a listen.

Of Monsters and Men is a five-member, English-language, indie folk-pop band that I just love, literally every single song they release. They have performed in dozens of festivals in Europe and USA and have also performed twice in Saturday Night Live. I have heard their songs a few times on the radio here in Scotland, which fills me with embarrassing excitement in the middle of the supermarket for example.

Mugison is a musician who sings and plays guitar and has won numerous awards in Iceland for his brilliant music. He also started the Aldrei fór ég suður music festival in Ísafjörður and has toured in Denmark, Germany and England for example.

Hjálmar is an Icelandic reggae band which is hard not to love!

GusGus is an electronic band. Their concerts and gigs sell out every time in Iceland and are a great show!

Kaleo makes music very hard not to like, I will never have enough of their song “Automobile” !

Dikta s album “Get it together” will never leave my car, excellent band all together.

If you are interested in visiting Iceland and going to a music festival there are three main festivals you should look into..

Iceland airwaves

Aldrei fór ég suður

Secret solstice

I hope you found at least a few artists you like after reading through this post and had a listen.

Thank you all for stopping by my blog, love to see countries all over the world reading it.

-Takk&Bless!

Callander, Cheap things to do in Iceland, Cheap things to do in Scotland, food, Iceland, Reykjavík, Scotland, Stirling, Summer

Summer is in the air

April 22, 2015 thevikingconnection Leave a comment

Hi everybody!

Recently there have been more and more sunny days – in both Scotland and Iceland. Iceland has been having some storm warnings though so be careful if you plan on travelling around the country, looks like it is only upwards from now on. Bare in my mind the weather changes every 5 minutes.. 19°C yesterday in Scotland yesterday and it looks like it should be the same today!

Anyway!

This blog is about my favourite things to do on a sunny day in both countries of course. Should we start with Scotland?

I love cycling and mostly all outdoor activities. The Forth and Clyde canal is an absolut gem on a sunny day. A walk by the canal or even a cycle is fantastic, very easy cycle since it is pretty much the same level and no steep hills, obviously. The canal is 35 miles long so it is truly up to you how long you go. By the canal you can stop and witness the Falkirk Wheel, The Kelpies and all the towns between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The pond by Linlithgow Palace is beautiful on a sunny day. A walk around the pond, viewing the majestic Linlithgow Palace and grabbing an ice cream after is lovely. There is usually an ice cream van by the pond. Fantastic!

Callander is an incredibly cute little town 1 hour and 20 minutes from Edinburgh, in the region of Stirling. So many things you can do there. You can pack a picnic and sit by the River Teith on a sunny day or grab lunch/dinner at one of the great places to eat there. There are two highland cows that you can feed at The Trossachs Woollen Mill and grab a coffee outside. There used to be three highland cows but poor Hamish has passed away, he had a great Justin Bieber haircut!

Walk around the Lochs. There are so many incredibly beautiful lochs in Scotland and all usually have walking paths and facilities you can use. My personal favourite are Loch Lubnaig, Loch Kathrine and of course Loch Ness!

The Falkirk Wheel needs mentioned again because it is a prefect spot on a nice day. You can sit in the grass and watch the wheel go round, there is a lovely coffee shop there and ice cream vans etc.. You can take the tour and go on the wheel on a boat with a tour guide or just sit and enjoy the sun! Great for families.

The Helix Park is a new park in Falkirk with great activities for children and is great place to go for a walk and see the Kelpies!

Iceland!

Iceland has countless ice cream shops that are great to visit on a sunny day. My favourite ice cream shops are Vesturbæjarís which is both in Hafnarfjörður and Vesturbær. They have an old ice cream recipe which has a much fresher taste than the usual creamy ice cream so make sure you ask for the “old recipe”.

Tjörnin or the pond by City Hall in Reykjavik centre is a great stop on a sunny day. Remember to bring some bread with you or peas to feed the little ducklings but make sure you don’t feed the seagulls!

Austurvöllur is the grass outside the parliament which is usually swamped with people on a sunny day but if you act quick grab a blanket and picnic and secure your spot on the grass for the day! There are a few places to eat there as well so be quick and catch a table by lunchtime and sit and enjoy the sun for the rest of the day.

The swimming pools are perfect for a sunny day in Iceland, with great potential to catch a tan! There are so many of them as well so to find the one closest to you its best to visit itr.is

Kolaportið or the flea market by the marina in Reykjavik is brilliant. It is indoors fair enough but definitely worth a visit. You can shop traditional Icelandic food there cheaper then the supermarkets and catch a bargain on basically anything!

Bæjarins bestu obviosly needs mentioned! it is right next to Kolaportið so combining the two is perfect! Get a hot dog with everything on it with an ice cold Coca Cola! Make sure you read about all the celebrities that have stopped there including Bill Clinton!

If you have a hired car you could go for a drive to Hvalfjörður and walk up to the waterfall Glymur, go visit the Golden circle or the Blue Lagoon!

If you have any more questions please don’t hesitate to send me an email on thevikingconnection@gmail.com or get me on Twitter @thevikingcon – I am more than happy to help and advise 🙂

Thank you all for visiting my blog. I hope you all enjoy it!

Takk&Bless

Iceland, Icelandic tradition, Reykjavík, Scottish tradition

1. apríl! Aprils fools..

April 1, 2015 thevikingconnection Leave a comment

FYI! Everything you will read in this blogpost is the honest truth, I won’t play you for a fool! Tempting, but I won’t 🙂

The 1st of April has always been one of my favourite days to be honest, what can I say, I love pranks!

After I moved to Scotland I started to notice that I didn’t find Scottish people involved enough. No one was pulling pranks to the same extent as us Icelanders.

When I lived in Iceland there was always an excitement to see what the newspapers would put on their front cover on the 1st April. Very high imagination they/we have! Must be one of their requirements when recruiting new reporters, to see what April fools stunt they can come up with! For an example;

Fréttablaðið (https://www.visir.is/section/FRETTABLADID) published their paper today. Their front cover is a big story about building a new Icelandic parliament and a new Valhalla in Þingvellir. Something some people could believe if they didn’t double-check the date!

Morgunblaðið (https://www.mbl.is/english/) has written a story about my personal favourite football team KR. They are known for their black and white colours representing the team, tops, socks etc.. but there seems there has been a mishap! The new strips came out the print and are now blue and white.. Depending on the way you look at it.. Complete replica of the blue and black/white and gold dress story!

The television news are always very inventive on this day.. I remember a few news reports.. One year they were giving out free McDonalds at Kópavogskirkja, when McDonalds was still in Iceland, simply because it looks like a big M (depending on the way you look at it). There were a few people that went up hoping to get a free cheeseburger but were only greeted by the news reporters eager to film the hungry gullible Icelanders who fell for their prank. The blue lagoon was meant to be moved to the city centre one year and Keflavik airport was meant to be moved to Egilsstaðir in the East. Our national language was supposed to change to Danish once and we were going to swap names with Greenland so tourists would stop confusing the two countries..

Very inventive!

Before people blatantly lied to each other the tradition was to make each other run over at least two thresholds to pull off their prank. “Mom the kitchen is on fire”, “the bathroom has flooded” etc.. Basic. We also made little ash bags with a needle hook at the end and the mission was to hang as many ash bags on a strangers back (without him noticing of course) as you could pull off! Me and my sister tried these ash bags once, I was sitting on a bus trying to put an ash bag on a strangers back for about 20 minutes, he was wearing a leather jacket so thankfully I never managed it!

Get more involved Scotland! Please!

If you’re in Iceland make something up and try to get the locals to believe you. If they do shout out FYRSTI APRIL!

Have fun and thank you so much for stopping by at my blog 🙂

Takk&Bless!

Iceland, Icelandic holidays, Reykjavík

Beer day – Prohibition in Iceland

March 3, 2015 thevikingconnection Leave a comment

The 1. March in Iceland is called Beer day. Why? Because up until 1. March 1989 it was illegal, however, strong spirits were allowed. Make sense right? Didn’t think so! Let me tell you the story why the government and the Icelandic nation voted to proceed with the ban.

In 1908 Icelanders voted in a referendum that all alcoholic drinks would be banned from the 1st January 1915. Yes you read correctly, Icelanders voted this upon themselves! In 1921 they however partially lifted the ban since Spain refused to buy Iceland’s main export, fish, unless Iceland would buy their wines. Clever, right? In 1935 the ban was lifted further for strong spirits but leaving beer out of it. Strong spirits yes – beer no!

There was a temperance movement in place and in order to please the temperance lobby beer, with an alcoholic percentage over 2,25%, was still banned. The temperance lobby claimed that if the ban would be lifted off all beer as well it would simply cause chaos and madness in Iceland.

Little did they know that the clever Icelanders had a trick up their sleeve! They simply mixed the 2,25% beer with, wait for it, with brennivín! Brennivín, often called black death in English and light beer, to make a potent imitation of strong beer. I mean I will try, but I highly doubt this will be my drink of choice on a night out. My parents remember this though!

Since Icelanders started going abroad more frequently on holidays they got more in touch with beer so the prohibition lost a lot of its support. Which leads us to..

..1. March 1989 the prohibition was lifted and all alcoholic beverages were now legal and that day has been called Beer Day since.

Now Iceland brews around 27 different beers all made in Iceland from Icelandic water. The main breweries are Ölgerðin and Vífilfell but there are several independent breweries gaining their popularity. My favourite is Kaldi made in Bruggsmiðjan, Fósturlandsins Freyja made in Ölvisholt Brugghús and Víking Gylltur, which is very common on draft, made in Vífilfell.

The Icelandic Bar in Iceland holds the biggest selection of Icelandic beer so if you want to try most of them you should definitely pop in and maybe get a shot of Brennivín to go with it?

Cheers! Skál!

If you are in Iceland I hope you enjoyed Beer Day and the hangover day that follows.

Thank you for visiting my blog, if there is a topic you want me to write about or if you have any questions please leave a comment 🙂

Takk&Bless!

food, Iceland, Reykjavík

Bolludagur! Cream bun day!

February 11, 2015 thevikingconnection Leave a comment

Bolludagur is celebrated 7 weeks before easter and has been celebrated for over 100 years. This celebration comes from our Danish and Norwegian ancestors and the cream buns are quite similar to Danish pastry or profitta rolls.

I remember when I was a kid we used to make “Bolluvendir” at school, which are sticks with multi coloured paper shreds glued on to them. Why? So we could spank our parents and say “Bolla! Bolla! Bolla!” and that automatically meant that they had to make us these delicious cream buns. As you grow up you don’t get away with hitting your parents on the bum demanding cream buns to be made for you so after your about 12 years old just give up, make your own cream bun and leave your poor parents alone!

These cream buns are a taste of heaven! Really they are! I used to eat them until my stomach was sore and I am always just as angry at myself for not booking a flight home for this holiday!

So you take the cream bun, cut it into half. Then you spread jam on the bottom half and top it off with whipped cream. Last but not least you close the bun and drip chocolate sauce over the top. Sounds good right?

I´ll warn you right now it is a very messy delicacy!

So if you are in Iceland right now, go along to the bakers and grab a few. (One is not enough per person) or go to the supermarket where you can get a multipack, a jar of jam, cream and chocolate sauce and have a feast of your own!

Enjoy! Verði ykkur að góðu! Bon apetit!

Takk&Bless!

food, Iceland

Moms Icelandic Meat Soup – kjötsúpan hennar mömmu.

February 6, 2015 thevikingconnection Leave a comment

Hi everyone and happy friday!

For you who didn’t know Iceland has its own calendar which was developed in the 10th century. This calendar is not in official use but it is very traditional to celebrate the forth month “Þorri” and go to festivals called “Þorrablót” The Þorrablót festival is a night with dinner where people attending hold speeches and recite poems, originally to honour the Norse God Thor but in more recent times people tend to make fun of what has happened over the year or mention things to make fun of one another. This is all a great laugh and a really good night out!

The dinner involved is very traditional Icelandic. Such as lamb meat soup, wind dried fish, liver sausage, boiled sheeps head and last but not least fermented rams balls. Yes, rams balls. It is all set as a buffet and you pick whatever you want on your own plate so don’t worry, nobody will force-feed you sheeps head!

Since these festivals are all happening over the next few weekends I thought it would be appropriate to post my moms recipe of the traditional Icelandic lamb meat soup. Nothing fermented about it or wind dried, it is actually very tasty and one of my favourite meals to this day! It is very healthy and makes you strong as a viking. I promise!

So here it is if you want to celebrate Þorri and have your own Þorrablót wherever you are in the world!

Moms Icelandic Meat soup for 4-6 people.

1 liter water

Lamb meat – 700grams.

Carrots chopped – 200 grams.

1 Swede, chopped.

1 cup rice.

6 big potatoes, chopped.

Half a cup oatmeal.

A spoon of soup spices. (option)

1 beef stock.

Salt and pepper.

Boil the meat for 15 minutes, it will foam a bit on the top – scoop that out. Put all the spices in and let that stir for 30 minutes. When that is done put the rest in and let it boil for about 1 hour – 1 1/2..

Thats it! Very simple and very tasty!

PS: It is even better the next day..

Bon apetit!

Takk&Bless!

food, new favourite, Scotland, Stirling

New favourite – The Fat Cyclist Stirling

January 28, 2015 thevikingconnection 3 Comments

I love discovering new places for food! I discovered this place by accident today in Stirling trying to hide away from the snow. Stirling is one of my favourite places to visit for a day and very convenient how close it is for me!

Let me introduce The Fat Cyclist in Stirling, located at 3 Friars street only a 3 minute walk from Stirling train station. Highly recommend this place after visiting Stirling´s most popular visitor attraction – Stirling castle.

The decor is very unique and very trendy. Old bicycles are used as decor and it comes together perfectly. You pick your seat by a comfy sofa, regular kitchen table and chairs or go for the big bar seats! Comes together perfect!

We ordered a TFC bagel topped with smoked bacon, Swiss cheese and a fried egg. Finished with a deliciously creamy mushroom and tarragon sauce. A fillet steak ciabatta sandwich in a mushroom sauce topped with caramelised onions. A cappuccino and a Suki Apple loves mint tea. Two delicious meals and two hot drinks came to around £20.00 which is a brilliant price for the value. We both scraped our plates and can’t wait for an excuse to go back and try other things on the menu.

Thank you Fat Cyclist for a superb lunch! High Five!

For more pictures of the place visit the Instagram page 🙂

Takk&Bless!

Scotland

Loch Ness & the monster!

January 23, 2015 thevikingconnection Leave a comment

Loch Lomond is the biggest loch in Scotland if you measure by surface, but Loch Ness is the largest by volume due to the depth.. Plenty of space for the Loch Ness monster then!

When you hear Scotland a picture of the Loch Ness monster pops up in your head. Scotland has been known for Loch Ness and the Loch Ness monster for centuries. “It” is apparently a “she” and goes by the name “Nessie”.. Popular interest and belief in the animal’s existence has varied since it was first brought to the world’s attention in 1933, so Nessie should be at least 72 years old!

Loch Ness truly is extraordinary both in its winter coat and on a sunny day in the summer where the heat can go up to +18°C but down to 0°C in the winter. If you are visiting Scotland the number one thing on your to-do list should be booking a tour with one of the many tour companies Scotland has. I highly recommend Invent Scottish Tours, you can book a tour on their website and have a look at their amazing reviews on Tripadvisor.

Fort Augustus is a little town of 650 people of the west end of the Loch which is the most popular destination for tourists and tour companies to stop and witness the scenery at Loch Ness. Boat tours from Fort Augustus are extremely popular and highly recommended. There are a few cafés and restaurants right by the Loch where you can refuel after the drive up as well. You can always stay over night or even for a couple of days – here is a list of hotels and b&b´s at Loch Ness.

But why Loch? Why not a lake like anywhere else? Loch is the Irish and Scottish Gaelic word for a lake and a sea inlet and has been in the vocabulary even though the Scottish language has changed from Gaelic to Scottish English and Irish. Loch is used in both Ireland and Scotland but Nessie only in Loch Ness in Scotland.

My personal favourite at Loch Ness is Urquhart castle which sits on the side of Loch Ness, well worth a visit! You can also see it and get great pictures of it from the boat tour from Fort Augustus. Everybody loves a Scottish castle!

Anywhere you travel you should always dress according to the weather forecast and have comfortable shoes on!

Have a great weekend everybody and thanks for stopping by 🙂

-Takk&Bless

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