Ice Magic

Smoldering volcanoes, Baltic souls and green valleys Leia mais

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23 de agosto de 2025
Ice Magic
Sydney airport
23 de agosto de 2025, Austrália ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
We in the Airport foyer about to check into a room for 6 hours before our flight leaves at 11pm.

This trip marks the beginning of my travel sketching journaling. Claire encouraged me and gave me a few basic lessons one week before we left Australia. Dotted throughout this blog are a few of the drawings I did. The learning experience began and I love doing it.Leia mais
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Ice Magic
Flight to Stockholm
24 de agosto de 2025, Emirados Árabes Unidos ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
These 2 beers cost us $40 at Dubai airport. This will ease us into paying exorbitant prices for everything in Scandinavia. Arrived in Stockholm and took the express train from the airport to the city. Managed to get the wrong train after getting some advice at the information counter at the central railway station. Eventually got off the train and gave up and called an Uber. Accommodation is comfortable in a quiet residential area. Walked a couple of km to the nearest supermarket right next to a huge IKEA to get supplies for dinner and breakfast. Crashed straight after dinner, in bed by 8.Leia mais
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Gamla Stan
25 de agosto de 2025, Suécia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Up early after good night sleep. After breakfast we caught a bus and train to Gamla Stan, the old city. Had a coffee and cardamon/cinnamon bun and waited for our walking tour to start. The walking tour was very interesting. The tour finished near the royal palace where the changing of the guard was taking place, the most interesting part of which was the mounted brass band. They played a number of ABBA tunes in a short concert. We finally found a vegan restaurant where we had a fantastic buffet lunch- expensive but worth it.
We then walked across to the south island, the hipster part of Stockholm and where there are some really nice views back to the city.
We were starting to feel tired so found a pub where we sat on the street, had a couple of beers, and Jules did some drawing.
Went home and crashed early.Leia mais
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ViajanteLooks like a great first day. The resting pub option is one we often turn to.
26/08/2025ResponderTraduzir
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Stockholm city, Charles XII, archipelago
26 de agosto de 2025, Suécia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Of course the day started with a coffee and two treats from a bakeri followed by a long walk around the city for an hour before the boat ride to the archipelago. The depth of architecturally beautiful buildings around the city is outstanding. What is even more outstanding is the cleanliness of the whole city of Stockholm and how beautifully restored and maintained every thing is. It is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen.

We came across a statue of King Karl XII 1682- 1718(or Charles XII as we know him) in the lovely park we walked to. The city half marathon is about to start from this park. This was highlight for us as we have listened to hours of pod casts from the Rest Is History about this guy who waged war on Russia, Peter the Great and his men. Eventually he lost the war. His army of multiple thousands of men died from starvation , the cold, disease and bullets. The whole country of Sweden was broke at this stage. He was a brave king, just a little gungho and over ambitious.

Swedish open beef sandwiches were our choice for lunch today at the Nordisk Museet. An absolutely wonderful exhibition of Nordic life from 1500’s to current day. Global warming exhibits were well done too but our legs did not hold out. Our visit to this museum alas, was short.

We caught a bus, train and bus home again, stopping on the way for another beer at the Fruangen pub. This time only $30 for two beers. Bargain and delicious.Leia mais
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Riga
27 de agosto de 2025, Letônia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Up early to get an Uber to the airport with a very friendly Turkish driver. Got dropped at the wrong terminal (thanks Geoff) so a bit of a hike to start the day. Uneventful 1 hour flight to Riga. Picked up the hire car and managed not to kill anyone on the way to the accommodation driving on the wrong side of the road (better Geoff). Met Martin the very friendly and helpful owner of the Bnb. We are staying very close to the centre of the city so we walked a couple of blocks to the restaurant area to have a really nice lunch.
Back to the unit for a nap before heading out to a couple of local bars (Nurme and 3 Men in a Boat) for a drink or two before dinner.
European basketball championship 2025 started in Riga today. This is a big deal for the city, apparently it's the biggest sporting event ever in Riga. We watched part of the Latvian vs Turkey game at 3 Men in a Boat but it looked like they were going down fairly badly so we left at 3/4 time. Chatted basketball to a really nice guy while we watched the game.
Then home for a dinner of black bread cream cheese and sardines. Gourmet.Leia mais
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Riga Old Town
28 de agosto de 2025, Letônia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Today we booked 2 walking tours. Old Riga in the morning and the afternoon one was about the occupations of Latvia. Both excellent and both guides had personal experience with great grand parents and grandparents being sent to Siberia or detention camps. Neither families were Jewish but were suspected of other things. No one was safe. The educated , professionals , people doing well etc were all sent to these hell on earth places where most people died of starvation and disease. Both guides spoke about the rise in anxiety in the community since Russia invaded Ukraine. They look back on life 3 years ago as being care free compared to now. Everyone is worried about what will happen next. They support Ukraine 100% and all over Latvia they fly the Ukraine flag next to their own.

So much pain and trauma lies in the psyche of the Latvians. Their past has been traumatic with either the Russians or Germans constantly invading. The lives of Latvians have been an absolute struggle and yet the 1800’s had been very good for the economy. The streets of Riga, old city and new city are filled with sophisticated architecture which is absolutely beautiful in Art Nouveau style.

Lunch today was in The Fish Cafe. We shared fish soup, baked stuffed herring, and potato cakes with rolled slices of smoked salmon. Absolutely delicious.

After the second tour we were exhausted and went straight to the Raddison Blu roof top bar. Two drinks each later, we staggered home for a bread, pickle and sardine dinner. Exhausted we fell into bed.Leia mais
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ViajanteBread pickle and sardine 🥒
05/09/2025ResponderTraduzir
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Riga-Sigulda-Cesis
29 de agosto de 2025, Letônia ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
Packed up and managed to get a scratch on the hire car (possibly 700 euro excess) from the automatically closing yard gate as we left the BnB. Drove to Alberta Iela where there are over half a dozen Art Nouveau houses by the Latvian architect Eistenstein - some better than others but all with excellent workmanship and attention to detail. After looking at the houses we went into a bakery and bought a pastry so we could use their toilet. Unfortunately there was a mixup and we didn't get any change when we paid in cash so we ended up with a $36 muffin. It was delicious, though Jules didn't have any on principle. When we got back to the car we realised we were in a pay parking area so may have a fine coming. It was becoming an expensive day.
On our way out of Riga we did a grocery shop and had a coffee at a really nice bookshop.
We drove a bit over an hour to Sigulda north of Riga to have a look at two castles (Livonian Order castle and Turaida castle) constructed by the Teutonic knights after a crusade against the local pagans in about 1205. Very interesting but tiring. We were cooked half way through the second castle so called a day and drove to our accommodation in Cesis. In an effort to save some money we had a dinner of boiled (no butter to saute with) broccoli and mushrooms seasoned with some pickled cucumber. Not the greatest dinner ever but surprisingly not bad.Leia mais
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ViajanteNice throne. But no picture of the expensive muffin?
30/08/2025ResponderTraduzir
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Cesis and Amata Geological Trail
30 de agosto de 2025, Letônia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Today we travelled through Guaja NP and did a 6k return walk from the Amata tributary. It was a beautiful peaceful walk amongst the pine forest and woodland alongside the Amata tributary. Small caves have been carved into the salmon coloured dolomite rock. Witches Meadow was in the field and needs no explanation. Interestingly the salmon come into the Amata to spawn and jump up the rapids to get out into the Atlantic Ocean once full sized.

We drove to Ligatne which was further into the Guaja NP. The town was nothing special and the lunch at Ziet Hotel was the worst lunch we have ever had. Barrata salad, which was a large ball of soft cheese sitting on stewed aubegine and a bright green sauce. Terrible. The grilled sandwich was not much better but edible. Well, you have to have a low point.

Cesis town made up for the horrible lunch and then some. The old castle looked like a fairytale in appearance and has needed a big renovation. The new work is very authentic and painstakingly slow. It’s a big archeological site given that the original parts were started in 1200’s by the Levonian Brothers of the Sword.

The coolest thing was that we had to use a lantern to enter the West Tower to carefully watch our step as we ascended numerous stone spiral staircases. Also an amazing multimedia projected presentation in the tower immersed us into life and times of Cesis Castle travelling from 1206 - 2019. It was wonderful and so well done. The experience at Cesis pils was quite unique.

The year 1577 saw huge expansion of the whole area, several hectares in fact. Then came the sacking and pillaging and deaths by the Russians, Ivan the Terrible. The deaths were unbelievably brutal. Some of the women and children gathered in one of the towers and gathered all the gunpowder and blew themselves up rather put themselves in the hands of the enemy.

The Swedes came along in the 1600’s and the Russian army again in early 1700’s with much destruction. Livonia remained part of the Russian Empire until 1919. Latvia was then independent.

Home for a quick nap after all that history and aching legs and off to town to watch the Eurobasket world championships and have a beautiful dinner and a gourmet kabab.Leia mais
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Viajante The dolomite rock alongside the river banks.
31/08/2025ResponderTraduzir
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Cesis to Tartu
31 de agosto de 2025, Estônia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
Had a late get up as we both have colds. A nice coffee and walk around St John's church in Cesis before driving north. Stopped for lunch and a walk around another St John's Lutheran church on the border at the twin towns of Valka (Latvia)/Valga (Estonia). Then drove another hour and a half to Tartu, apparently the cultural capital of Europe 2024. It is a very pretty university town with beautiful buildings and town square. This town is the closest we will get to the Russian border which runs through the middle of Lake Peipus (68 klms away).

Both of us being pretty weary had a nap then went for a walk to the main town square for some dark beer before heading home for the now traditional meal of rocquet, toast, pickled gerkin and sardines.Leia mais
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Tartu guided tour and then off to Tallin
1 de setembro de 2025, Estônia ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Kadri our Airbnb host allowed us a late check out which enabled us to keep the car in the garage while we did an early morning Guru Walk. Parking on the street can be tricky. Lots of parking fines are handed out.

We met Stanislav at the Monument of Johan Valdemere Jansen on the other side of the river. He was the man who started the famous Music and Dance Festival in Tartu in 1879. His daughter Lydja , since childhood, wrote meaningful and peaceful music using the lyrics from her poetry. Both the festival and songs are loved by Estonians. It started as a means to unite an isolated population of people.

All the rebuilding after the bombing in WW11 has taken place on the university side of the river , whilst the other side of the river is very bleak.

Tartu was nominated as the Cultural Capital of Europe 2024. This was awarded after a 5 year application process which proved all the infrastructure improvements promised were actually done to enhance cultural activities of the university city. The university was started in 1600’s under the rule of the Swedes. When the Russians gained controlled they continued to build and expand it. All the powers in northern Europe wanted a centre of learning other than the well established classical university cities. Tartu was chosen as the midpoint between Riga and Tallinn.

The old cathedral on Toomemagi hill was started in 1200’s. It also had a castle and walls around the whole thing. The castle is completely gone. No ruins at all. Invaders over the years tried to knock it down with the most damage done by Ivan the Terrible in 1577. Nothing has really changed since then other than some strengthening of the walls etc. It is however a beautiful ruin with rich green grass growing all throughout.

Quick lunch at the Indian with the largest naan I’ve ever soon. Other than that it wasn’t very good. Off to Tallinn now.

We arrived late so just went to our closest restaurant , the Garden Cafe where a lovely man served us, let us taste his beers and Italian Rose , then he went into the kitchen to start cooking our simple but delicious meals. It was a great day despite both of us having colds.Leia mais
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Tallin Old Town
2 de setembro de 2025, Estônia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Did a walking tour of the old town in the morning with our guide, Gleb. Got to learn about the Danish impacts on the history of Estonia. In general, the history of Estonia from about 1200AD is very similar to that of Latvia - conquered during the early 1200s by the Danes as part of the Baltic crusades (German knights took Latvia and southern Estonia at this time). Conquered by the Russians (Ivan the Terrible) in the Livonian war mid 1500s Conquered by the Swedes, then Conquered by the Russians again (Peter the Great) during the great northern war 1721. Independent for the first time in 1919, when Russia collapsed during the Bolshevic revolution in 1917. Invaded by Russia in 1940. Invaded by Germany 1941. Invaded by Russia 1944. Independent after the fall of the Soviet Union 1991. A very sad, dark history.

Fun fact: Through devine intervention, a flag with a white cross on a red background fell from the sky during an early battle between the Danes and the Estonians inspiring the Danes to win the battle. The Danes adopted this as their national flag. Still is. That definitely happened, not.

Had a long chat to Gleb about Russian invasion of Ukraine. Estonians are quite fatalistic about it all. Being in NATO is the only thing that has stopped Putin from invading.
Had lunch at Balti Jamm Turg a local market. While eating our vegetarian kebab we chatted with an older (our age) couple from Finland. A very nice lunch. Then home for a nap before heading out to the old town to have a look at Fat Margaret, one of the gates into the old city. Then a local beer in the old town before wandering off to the new city centre looking for a brewery that Gleb had recommended. Had a really nice beer there and a long chat with a Danish guy, a member of a running club that ended its run at the brewery.
Then moved next door for some tapas for dinner. (Potato fritata and artichoke and goats cheese tart, both very nice).
Then a long walk home via the Bishops Garden for a night view over the city - the view a bit disappointing but a fantastic day.Leia mais
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Tallin Day 2
3 de setembro de 2025, Estônia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
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Finland Finland Finland
4 de setembro de 2025, Finlândia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Last day in Tallin. Had a late get up and took our time to pack up. Went for a coffee to Rocket Bean (small and cold just like Melbourne). The bean was called Pussy Magic so that made up for it a bit.
Got an Uber to the ferry terminal and waited a couple of hours for the ferry. We paid extra for the ferry ride for access to the Lounge. Lots of free food (delicious) wine and beer and bugger all people. The only way to travel - it's great being a boomer!

Ferry ride was about 2.5 hours. Arrived in Helsinki late afternoon. We had booked accommodation within walking distance of the Viking ferry terminal but unfortunately we didn't travel with Viking so we landed about5km from our accommodation. Another $50 taxi ride.

Went for a walk after settling in. Pretty touristy in the centre and not as interesting (depressing) as the Baltic cities from a history point of view. Had a look at the design district (jewelery, clothing etc zzzzzzzzzzz!) Had an expensive beer/wine then bought a sandwich at a supermarket and called it a day.Leia mais
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ViajanteMissed you by three days
05/09/2025ResponderTraduzir
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Reykjavik
5 de setembro de 2025, Islândia ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Another late get up. Feels like a wasted day just traveling with no time to look around. Had a free sauna at the accommodation (super hot- the guy in the sauna with Geoff kept throwing water on the coals. G almost passed out but refused to give up - life is a competition).
Got an Uber to the airport 2.5 hours early for the flight. We're getting more conservative as we get older. 3.5 hour flight to Reykjavik gaining 3 hour time difference so we arrived about the time we left.
Caught the flybus to our accommodation and settled into our $520/night hotel without issue. Everything very expensive here.

Went out to the main drag for dinner. Found a place that served soup inside a loaf of bread. Shared one and had a wine/beer then walked down to the waterfront to see the Viking boat statue. Pretty cool.
Temperature was dropping and the wind was getting up and getting uncomfortable so we headed home. Got to bed about midnight Helsinki time.Leia mais
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Reykjavik Day 2
6 de setembro de 2025, Islândia ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
We only had time for one museum l. The National Museum won the race and what a great choice. It is all about life in Iceland from 800AD, when it was first settled , to current day. It was excellent. We learnt so much and put everything we were seeing and hearing about into context.

Then it was of to the waterfront. A huge storm was coming so Geoff dared me to go on the Reykjavik Eye ferris wheel. I was up for it so we viewed the huge storm from above. Very dramatic sky with dark dark clouds but not a single drop of rain. Otherwise it was a beautiful sunny day.

At 1.30pm we joined a large walking tour. Luckily it was split it two. Our guide was great. An Icelander who had studied acting in London. The Iceland Government pays for all tertiary education and even if you go abroad to study, they foot the bill and you pay 2% of the fees each year for the rest of your life. It isn’t much apparently.

The story is that a man Floki Vilgerdason, in 868, broke the law in Norway, grabbed two huge wooden poles from his house, jumped into his Viking ship and sailed away. Accidentally to to what is now Iceland. When he arrived he threw the poles out of his ship and wherever they landed, he would build his house. Reykjavik ( which means settlement) was on its way. . There a monument to him in the town and all Icelanders are related to him. Current day Icelanders can trace 31 generations to the find Floki as their ancestor.

Young people have an App now to check how closely they are related to the person they are dating. The government recommends 5th generation as the minimum. No laws enforce that. It’s a big deal that young people need to check how closely they are related Population is only just under 400,000 today. This also means that these people are the only Icelandic speakers in the world. They are doing what they can to preserve their language.

Legs were really tired by now. Back to the motel for a quick nap and well earned hot bath then off to reception to meet our group and guide. 4 Canadians, 6 Americans and 4 Aussies.

Dinner at MAR seafood restaurant for us. Delicious seafood meal.Leia mais
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Viajante Street art.
07/09/2025ResponderTraduzir
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Reykjavik - Hali
7 de setembro de 2025, Islândia ⋅ 🌧 11 °C
Big breakfast at the hotel before jumping on the tour bus and heading east.
First stop was a geyser in a town about half an hour from Reykjavik. Cooked some eggs in the water and watched the geyser fire off a couple of times. Ate the eggs with some rye bread also cooked in the hot water oven.
Next stop was the Lava exhibition. Lots of detail about the volcanos. Interactive and very well presented. Great exhibition. Icelanders do not worry about volcanoes. The whole island is formed from continual volcanoes so it is 'c'est la vie' to them. We felt infinitely better with this approach to impending eruptions.
Then onto the big waterfall that we could walk behind. Spectacular.
Finally we had a walk on a black sand beach - fine volcanic sand. No surf unfortunately.
Then it was a three hour drive to the hotel. Arrived about 7.
Dinner at the hotel. Very expensive but delicious.
Big day and very interesting.Leia mais
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Jokulsarlon Vatnajokull Svartifoss
8 de setembro de 2025, Islândia ⋅ 🌧 10 °C
The black ice shows the volcanic activity and layers of ash in previous decades/centuries. There are 30 active volcanoes in Iceland.Boat ride on a lake with glaciers was this morning’s optional tour. It was in an amphibious boat and we drove around floating icebergs all making their way to the sea. Beautiful to be up close.

We stopped at Diamond Beach for an hour to walk amongst the beached icebergs. We had driving rain and wind which is part of the Iceland experience.

The church with a turf roof was next. All houses were made this way once. Rammed turf walls were also used inside badstafas to keep wind out and warmth within. Everyone slept in the same space and sometimes, depending on the farm some of the animals were inside too, for warmth. The winters are long, and bleak and dark for extended periods.

The hike up to Svartifoss waterfall was beautiful with a rainbow beautifully balanced across the whole scene.

Back to Heli farm for a lovely warm dinner with the gang. Still raining but no damp spirits. Heaps of fun.Leia mais
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Viajante Svartifoss waterfall.
09/09/2025ResponderTraduzir
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Glaciers Waterfalls and Beaches
9 de setembro de 2025, Islândia ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
A day on the glaciers, in light rain of course and finally the black pebble beach. Absolutely a most beautiful place. The pebbles ranged is sizes all the way to the waters edge.
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Selfoss, Geyser, Tomato lunch, Gullfoss
10 de setembro de 2025, Islândia ⋅ 🌧 10 °C
Sigridur Tomasdottir (1874 -1957) was born in Brattholt farm near Gullfoss and had no formal education. However she learned to read and draw beautiful pictures of wildlife. She and her sisters guided visitors around the waterfall. She grew up to be an activist who helped save Gullfoss from developers who wanted to build a power station to supply electricity to a large part of Iceland. She was the daughter of the original farm owner. His land contained half of the Gullfoss waterfall . Her father refused to sell to the developer but eventually was tricked into the sale of his property. Sigridur worked huge hours and tirelessly to stop this project from going ahead. We have her and her helpers to thank for saving the majestic waterfall from destruction. She is subsequently known as the first environmentalist in Iceland.Leia mais
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Selfoss to Snaefellsnes
11 de setembro de 2025, Islândia ⋅ 🌬 12 °C
Terrific breakfast under our belt then off to Thingvellir National Park. This is on fault line through Iceland where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. The plates are pulling slowly apart, forming a valley. This is also the location where the initial Icelandic parliament, the Althingi, met in 930AD. It continued to meet there each autumn for centuries. It was very wild and windy. We walked to the nearby waterfall, church and Prime Ministers old summer residence.
We then drove west stopping at a few viewpoints looking at the glacier created ‘U’ shaped valleys. Stopped at one spot to look at some sheep pens created out of stone walls, no longer functional.
Had lunch at a farm (soup and bread-delicious) and a bit of background about farming in Iceland from the owner of the farm. It is a tough life for the farmers and the sheep (which spend 6 months of the year running free way up in the hills and the other 6 months in the shed (winter).
Then it was on to our hotel in Stikkisholmur with a couple of stop offs to look at glacial valleys.
After dropping our gear at the hotel the weather was so good we walked through the town to a light house for yet more stunning scenery.
Dinner at the hotel with the mob then bed.
This was a really long day. Both of us were really cooked at the end.Leia mais
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Snaefelsness Peninsula
12 de setembro de 2025, Islândia ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Beautiful Snaefelsness Peninsula. I could have stayed for a few extra days and just relaxed. It was stunning. If I came back to Iceland I would come back here and continue to the north. Stunning country.Leia mais
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Stykkisholmur to Reykjavik
13 de setembro de 2025, Islândia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Only 2 activities today and a fair bit of driving to get back to Reykjavik.
Stopped off at a waterfall first and spent an hour there wandering along the river. OK waterfall but not as good as we have seen before.
Then, on to a spa where we alternately poached ourselves in the hot spas or sauna and then froze ourselves in the 6 degree plunge pool. Very relaxing and a great way to finish the tour.
Finally, it was a 1.5 hour drive back to Reykjavik where we just had time to settle into the hotel before our guide took us out to a nearby restaurant for a final dinner. As usual the dinner cost us $200, and the food was fairly average. What can you do? It's Iceland. The company was great, though, and it was hard to say goodbye to the guide and the friends we had made on the trip.

Before dinner we had a swim in the local Olympic pool. Heated of course by the thermal water. Icelanders don’t pay anything to heat their houses. They pump thermal water throughout their homes.

Jules was out on the pending doing a water colour coastal view and got so absorbed she was late for dinner. No shower and change of clothes for her.Leia mais
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Reykjavik to Chester UK
14 de setembro de 2025, Inglaterra ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
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Chester to Betws-y-coed
15 de setembro de 2025, País de Gales ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
We have only just arrived in Wales and it is stunningly beautiful. So easy to find beautiful old ruins just around the corner on a little walk to town. Gob smacking.
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Mount Snowden
16 de setembro de 2025, País de Gales ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Up early and a 40-minute drive to Llanberis to catch the train to the summit of Mount Snowden. Didn't see much on the way up because of the fog and rain. Arrived at the top around 10am after an hour train ride. Put on all our cold/wet weather gear before going up to the summit
It was foggy, raining lightly, and blowing a gale at the summit. Visibility zero. Not much fun.
We decided to walk down the mountain anyway even though we had return tickets on the train. The first half a kilometer of the descent was pretty horrendous, particularly for Jules whose glasses fogged up with the rain and whose hair was playing up in the high winds, blinding her. It was pretty slow going. Geoff was having second thoughts at this stage, but not Jules.
Half a km in, the track turned off the ridge and suddenly there was no wind. The rain eased shortly after. The track was moderately hard for us old timers but not for the hundreds of others we passed on the track.
After a couple of km we dropped below the cloud cover and had stunning views for the rest of the walk. We took the easy path down, the miners trail, which was very gentle for the last few km as it was a track used many years ago to supply miners about a third of the way up the mountain.
We finished the walk at Pen-y-Pass and had an ice cream to celebrate Jules crossing another item off her bucket list while we waited for the shuttle bus that would take us 20 min back to Llanberis.
Both pretty tired at the end of it and both happy with what we were able to achieve given our various ailments.Leia mais
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