One of the things I looked forward to while I was in Iceland was getting a tattoo. With this in mind I planned accordingly. I decided to do the Blue Lagoon on the 12th so that I could get myself cleaned up, relaxed and ready for the next day which was the day of the tattoo. I had made a reservation for around 2'o clock which felt like a good time for me to get ready, have some coffee, write to you guys and then go in and get stabbed a bunch for the rest of the afternoon. The shop that I was going to go to was highly recommended and I was pumped because of the artwork that I had seen come out of that place. 

With all this hope in mind and excited to see what my options were I showed up at the shop smiling and ready to rock and roll. I got to the entrance and with a deep breath, I reached for the door and pulled. It didn't budge but I could see all these people there in the shop. Confused I looked around unsure of what was happening. Were they closed? 

No, no, no....no way. 

I pulled the door again. It didn't budge. Finally, someone noticed me and came over. She opened the door and I explained that I had an appointment today and showing her the message she said it was for Saturday. Confused I looked at the message realizing that it said that. I made the appointment for Sunday so why did this confirmation say Saturday? With my hopes stomped on and my happiness down, I told her that I must have misread and I left the shop feeling defeated. As I walked around town I decided to do some last-minute shopping and while I did I scrolled through the messages and saw that I had asked for Sunday so I did what I had to. I took a screenshot, sent them the photo, and then asked for my deposit back. 

In half an hour they asked me to come back to the shop. I showed up and was shown inside. Quickly she apologized and explained that she was waiting for me to come to the shop yesterday. I never miss an appointment. Ever. I was so upset by this mess up that I didn't have many words to give. She explained that they were always closed on Sundays so she had no idea who told me Sunday and that she was so sorry but she couldn't do the tattoo because they had a guy who was getting his entire back done that day. So, of course, that meant everyone was tattooing him that evening. 

After a few minutes, she then explained that if I ever came back to hit her up and she would give me the tattoo for free. As nice as that was I didn't really want that answer to be given to me. I just wanted to be in that chair. Defeated but understanding I told her I would let her know and left the shop. As I was leaving I watched them start to tattoo the guy through the window. I was so jealous. I had been itching for months to get another tattoo and this guy was getting one. 

That last day felt so dreary. Nothing really got my spirits up as I walked around town. I honestly just felt like going home and I was so glad that I was leaving the next day. It was the cherry on top and one that I didn't want. If I go back I am going to milk the crap out of that free tattoo offer. 

100% 

One of the things I love to photograph is animals. I don't care how simple the photos are but I just love taking photos of them. When you are in different places all the animals are slightly different then back home and I think that is something that I love more than anything. In iceland the biggest difference I saw was that animals were pretty scarce. Specifically pets. I didn't see any dogs or cats at all and the few I did meet were very well trained or they just came and went as they pleased. Towards the end of my stay in Iceland, I made a stop at a campground that was just outside of the city. Immediately I was greeted by this calico. 

The first thing I noticed was the fur. She looked a lot like spice but she had twice the amount of fur that she does and she was bigger. Not like fat, just big. I made friends with her and continued to head in the direction of the kitchen so I could wash my dishes. 

When I was done cleaning my dishes and was heading back to my camper I ran into another cat. This one was a grey fellow and he reminded me so much of Midnight. He just wanted to be scratched, picked up and loved on. If you didn't give enough love he would follow someone else. He also was a pretty big cat. If I had to guess around fifteen pounds. Both cats were pretty similar so I guessed that the breed was similar. It was mostly because of their faces. They reminded me of the grumpy cat a little bit and because of that, I fell in love with them more. They were so cute and someone at the campground was asking if I was going to take the grey one home since he was so attached to me. 

I noted that if I brought another cat home I would probably never hear the end of it so sadly I had to leave him there. Both cats were so adorable and a friendly sight to see. I'm also sure that the cats keep away any unwanted pests and since they had two I'm assuming that they had an issue with them recently. 

Sorry for the late post, things have been hectic today. I slept for about ten hours and then I spent most of my time getting the laundry done, downloading and transferring files, running, showering, eating, and just putting away files that I have had sitting around for the two weeks I have been gone. Truly today was one of those productive days that we all have to do when we get back from a long vacation and now that it is done I will finally be able to rest and spend some time with someone special. 

There are many stories to tell and so many things to do. Soon I will have a video up telling you guys everything I learned and all that you need to know so that you guys can have a wonderful experience over in Iceland (if you choose to visit) and I may even do a trial run with my Northern Lights photos. Im not sure how they will turn out on paper but it might be worth a shot. If anyone is interested in purchasing them please let me know and if the trial run works out I will hit those people up so you can get your very own copy before anybody else. 

I'm excited to share more but for now, I am going to head out and take some time away. Thank you all so much for following me, for supporting me and for continuing to follow along on this journey of mine. I ask that you guys take a look at my art gallery. I have eighteen pieces that are waiting for new homes and I am hoping to say goodbye to more and more of them at the moment. Every piece you guys purchase will help me to recoup my funds and get set for the next trip. 

Where do you guys think I should go next year? 

I just got off a seven-hour flight and I am officially back in the united states. Currently, I'm sitting in Fort Worth waiting for my next flight having some coffee to keep me going and while I am sitting here I want to tell you something I noticed while I was on my flight back to the United States. 

So while I was sitting on the flight reading a book called Tiny But Mighty by Kitten Lady I decided to go ahead and take off my shoes. It was a long flight and my right foot was hurting a little bit so I thought maybe it was from wearing the shoes as often as I was and decided it was a good idea to give my foot a break. With a little bit of a struggle, I got the shoes off and settled back into the flight reading onward about neonates and how to bottle feed them. The book was fascinating but I realized (after a few minutes) that my foot was still hurting and when I flex it the foot hurts in a particular spot. Confused I took off my sock and glanced down at it. 

From the angle, I was sitting at it looked like a blister of some kind but it was hard to tell so after a minute of thinking and considering the options I got up and went to the bathroom to look at my foot more carefully. ALmost in the middle of my foot was a tiny hole. The skin was ripped and it was red but not bleeding. Trying to figure out how I got such an injury I went back to my seat and picked up my shoes and started to inspect. I stuck my hand in, felt around and right away something felt off about the inside of the shoe. It felt rippled almost like the bottom of the shoe but inside my shoe. 

With some questions and interest peaked I turned the shoe over. At first glance, the shoe looked fine but then I flexed it a little. The bottom of the shoe literally had a hole ripped in it. Not enough to rip the shoe in half but pretty damn close. I lifted up the left one, the same damn thing in the same place. 

Everything fell into place right then and there. IT explained all the wet feet, the mud getting in, and the random rocks that would end up rubbing on my toes. I was amazed. They didn't even look broken when I left for Iceland and just glancing at them you would never know, yet here it was, right in front of me all in plain sight. 

Now I know that these shoes, once great shoes, weren't actually terrible shoes but just junk from use. I literally tore A hole in them which means I did well and I used the shoe Until I couldn't anymore. At least I am on my way home now and not out in the wilderness somewhere. 

When I get home, these shoes will go straight in the trash. 

I don't know if any of you have seen the Northern Lights. If you have then you might understand what I am talking about. If not then that is ok, this will help you understand what the Northern Lights look like if you ever want to see them. 

Before I went to Iceland I had read that I might see the Northern lights since I am going during a time when they will be transitioning to winter. The temperatures drop into the 30's and under and if the conditions are right then you might get a chance to see the Northern Lights. Of course, there are a lot of factors that play into this. you have to have a clear sky, the temperature has to be down and of course, you have to have incredible patience to see them. The Northern Lights don't just come out when the sun goes down and dance all night long. They come and they go as they please and it can take all night if necessary for them to appear. So if you are one of those people who go to bed at 9 p.m and just refuse to stay awake well...then you won't see the lights. 

I got very lucky on this trip. The Northern lights were one of those things that I really wanted to see. Its been on my bucket list forever and I really was hoping I would see them but if it didn't happens I knew that I would be disappointed but it would be ok. If I didn't see them then it wasn't fate. 

On my second day here in Iceland I was star chasing. The sky was open and as I was driving to a remote location somewhere In Iceland I noticed this white cloud in the sky. For half an hour I kept wondering what it was. It looked like it was a cloud and I couldn't tell if I should stop or if I should keep going and ignore it. I thought maybe it was the clouds about to cover my stars. I was worried and after a while, I realized that I literally drove into clouds. I could no longer see the sky. So with some determination, I turned around and drove back. When I could see the sky again I pulled over, got my gear out and sat in the shivering cold aiming the camera at the sky. It was around twenty degrees and the wind was making it worse. In five minutes I felt like an icicle. 

I was packing up to leave and head to a campsite when I turned around and froze. Right behind me, I saw this cloud moving. It was the one I stared at for half an hour. With interest and uncertainty, I pointed my camera at it, adjusted it a bit and clicked the button. The image came out with green. 

It was the Northern Lights. 

I stared in disbelief. I was staring at them the whole time. I was literally following them and I had no idea. It wasn't even clear to me that they looked like that. It was a white, fog, like a substance that was hanging in the sky and dancing around ever so slowly. With new inspiration, I took some extra shots (despite the cold) and just stared at them for as long as I could. I saw the Northern Lights. They weren't bright to the eye but they were still very cool to look at. 

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The next night


The next night I made my way to this campground and I was starving. When I arrived I was unsure if the campground was even open because when I got there there was this log in the way. I tried to move it but the log was too big and too heavy to move on my own. So sadly I pulled off to the side and decided to cook some food before I made my way to a different campsite back towards the town nearby. I really thought it was closed. As I was cooking this car pulls up behind me and this elderly man steps out. 

He asks me if I was looking to camp at the campsite. When I told him yes and that I thought it was closed he explained that he had to move the campground because tourists were saying it was "too touristy"  and with a smile he pointed to me where the campground was moved to. We chatted as I gave him my card and paid for the night. Apparently, this gentleman came over to Iceland 13 years ago to check out the country and he had told himself that he was only going to stay here for a year. 

He ended up buying a house and moving here. He's been a citizen ever since. 

I was amazed and as we chatted he then pointed out that there were some free hot tubs down the street that was literally on the water. I thanked him kindly, finished cooking my food and we parted ways. I did enjoy the hot tub that night. I was exhausted, sore and I just wanted some peace and quiet. Since it was a frigid thirty degrees outside the hot tub was so satisfying that I literally melted into it. It was like home.  For two hours I sat and listened to my music and enjoyed the cold vs the hot. I never wanted to leave but knew I had to. When I did I made a decision to go ahead and chase some stars since I was already out and the sky was clear. 

After a quick shower near the hot tub, I got in the car and drove a little aways from the town. I got out and started shooting. Quickly I noticed that there was a bright light in my photos. The camera was having trouble focusing. So I turned the camera to the left and shot some more shots. The photos turned out bright green. I was seeing them, again. As I was shooting I realized that the location I was in was not the best so with urgency I packed up and drove a little bit more aways. Once I got to a satisfying spot I got out, walked into this guy's property (sorry dude, I just wanted to get some good shots) and shot away. Right before my eyes, I could see the lights dancing and they were such a bright brilliant green. It was so surreal and at that moment I understood why people chase the lights. 

It's difficult to describe them. I believe in spiritual existence and even if the northern lights are explained by science all of that went out the door when I saw them so bright and green in front of me. I was like another being up in the sky. It was like I was seeing everything and anything with my own eyes. It wasn't god-like in any way but just very spiritual. It was like staring at a soul or the inside of the universe. It was beautiful, it was moving, it was everything and more. I didn't want to leave. I sat for as long as I could and took as many shots as I could. But eventually, I had to go because I was freezing and it was already past midnight by the time I got to get these photos. So sadly I packed up and a sad goodbye to this brillance I just witnessed. 

Moments like these are why I travel and even if the rest of the trip went sour (it didn't but if it did) jsut seeing the Northern Lights made it worth it. It made the trip complete just seeing them.