The low down on the go around!
Marily MacDonald
360 degrees, 180 days, 40lbs. of gear, 14 countries and one eye opening experience! Over the past six months I have gone from the low ends to the high ends of the globe both geographically and fiscally. Throughout this sabbatical, time and again it has been brought to my attention just how precious life and its relationships are. Clearly, the more you know the more you can appreciate life and all its intricate nuances. We tend to get jaded by wealth, popularity, trends and so forth when rather a wealth of knowledge and culture is what you should be counting. Being humble and open to absorb new and dynamic values will add up faster than dollars or bling. In other words, a sense of classlessness is achieved. Whether it is from a chief of a Thai hill tribe or a hoe while weeding a Burgundy vineyard the lessons are out there, no matter how explicit or trivial.
Coming full circle brought an air of completeness along with a curiosity to seek out more, not only internationally but internally. Landing down in the mile high city was truly the last milestone of the trip. Being able to put the turtle shell-pack down and having time to reflect and absorb the past six months was a much needed reprieve. Living out of my element was amazing but coming home awoke a new realization; I am a mountain girl at heart. Mountains are dynamic and ever changing and I can only strive to live by Mother Nature’s example.
Throughout the trip I noticed the strongest sense of comfort and clarity to be found in whatever mountains I found myself in. Going to various mountain ranges; the Andes, Alps, or Atlas peaks, Lisa and I, both felt a consistent positive energy we could identify with. Something about being on top of a peak brings a sense of comprehension or zenith if you will. Snowcapped peaks, rushing rivers, clear lakes and friendly faces give a greater meaning to our lives. An elevated state of belonging somehow arises at nine thousand feet.
Be it the crisp mountain air, the punctual alpenglow or the friendly local scene, Colorado truly has so much to offer. Exploring new horizons and becoming aware of different point of views has been an extraordinary experience. However, the impact would be lost without a sense of place or home to share it with. Family and friends are the dots that connect the world. This world of ours is truly flat, yet deep. If we are savvy enough to learn from one another then there is only room to progress.
Now that I can step down from the soap box, I’d like to say, “I am now 360 degrees smarter… right back to where I started with more questions than ever!” No matter how far you go one can never appreciate the true benefit without having a home to come back to. With this new world perspective I am seeking out that real world professional career, think I will start semi-pro although there is still one continent to hit……..Antarctica anyone?
EnLIGHTening Ends
Seeing the light of day in Iceland
Marily MacDonald
As our travels were coming to an end we decided to go to the far reaches of the earth for one last thrill at 66 degrees north latitude. Landing in Reykjavik at “dusk” we rented a car and hit the road, or rather the gravel. Within minutes we were in what seemed like a set from Mars Attacks or some extraterrestrial flick. The bizarre landscape was further intriguing as we rounded a bend and came across a steam ridden valley of geysers and sink holes. We had to stop the car to investigate the bubbling puddles first hand; it just did not seem real. Adding to the amazement, literally around the next bend we were assaulted by a huge glacier, its fingers reaching out towards us. We’d only been in the country one day, how many peculiar natural wonders could we witness?
Since the sun never sets in the summer we could have driven on for days. Before we knew it the wee hours of the morning were approaching, despite the relentless beaming sun. We reluctantly pulled over and set up camp along Hwy One (the one and only) and tried to get some shut eye. The sleeping habits in Iceland are very erratic. In the summer they get around four to five hours of sleep and in the winter as many as thirteen. There are numerous troll and ghoul stories that originate in Iceland. I can see how their imaginations could get away from them, especially in those long dark hours of winter.
The next day we pressed on around the island to be captivated by the unorthodox veneers’ of scenery yet again. On this day we drove over a misty and eerie pass that dropped us into the southern coastline. Along the black volcanic beaches we looked for puffin birds but were distracted by the Icelandic ponies. These horses are apparently the purest breed in the world with blood lines that trace back to the Viking days. The stocky, blond fringed horses did have a Viking air about them. Their smooth gait made it easy to take in the green velvety tundra hills dappled with white sheep and blankets of lupine.
Not only are the horses pure but the people claim to be the purest last standing Viking descendant's of the world. Being an island of only about 300,000 the locals have a lot of pride in their ancestry, we lucked out and happen to arrive in Akureyri on their Independence Day. Just about the whole island was in town for the drag races, music and parade. Of course we joined in on the celebrations; there was plenty of daylight to burn!
Rounding the south of the island we thought we could not absorb any more natural beauty but Mother Nature really out did herself when she designed the blue lagoons. In the middle of a black, craggy volcanic plain she placed these hot, milky blue silica pools. Taking a dip in the baths seemed all to decadent but made for a great end to the week.
Iceland truly seems like no one place on earth, rather a kaleidoscope of natural wonders. It makes you want to feel with your mind and think with your senses.
Marily MacDonald
As our travels were coming to an end we decided to go to the far reaches of the earth for one last thrill at 66 degrees north latitude. Landing in Reykjavik at “dusk” we rented a car and hit the road, or rather the gravel. Within minutes we were in what seemed like a set from Mars Attacks or some extraterrestrial flick. The bizarre landscape was further intriguing as we rounded a bend and came across a steam ridden valley of geysers and sink holes. We had to stop the car to investigate the bubbling puddles first hand; it just did not seem real. Adding to the amazement, literally around the next bend we were assaulted by a huge glacier, its fingers reaching out towards us. We’d only been in the country one day, how many peculiar natural wonders could we witness?
Since the sun never sets in the summer we could have driven on for days. Before we knew it the wee hours of the morning were approaching, despite the relentless beaming sun. We reluctantly pulled over and set up camp along Hwy One (the one and only) and tried to get some shut eye. The sleeping habits in Iceland are very erratic. In the summer they get around four to five hours of sleep and in the winter as many as thirteen. There are numerous troll and ghoul stories that originate in Iceland. I can see how their imaginations could get away from them, especially in those long dark hours of winter.
The next day we pressed on around the island to be captivated by the unorthodox veneers’ of scenery yet again. On this day we drove over a misty and eerie pass that dropped us into the southern coastline. Along the black volcanic beaches we looked for puffin birds but were distracted by the Icelandic ponies. These horses are apparently the purest breed in the world with blood lines that trace back to the Viking days. The stocky, blond fringed horses did have a Viking air about them. Their smooth gait made it easy to take in the green velvety tundra hills dappled with white sheep and blankets of lupine.
Not only are the horses pure but the people claim to be the purest last standing Viking descendant's of the world. Being an island of only about 300,000 the locals have a lot of pride in their ancestry, we lucked out and happen to arrive in Akureyri on their Independence Day. Just about the whole island was in town for the drag races, music and parade. Of course we joined in on the celebrations; there was plenty of daylight to burn!
Rounding the south of the island we thought we could not absorb any more natural beauty but Mother Nature really out did herself when she designed the blue lagoons. In the middle of a black, craggy volcanic plain she placed these hot, milky blue silica pools. Taking a dip in the baths seemed all to decadent but made for a great end to the week.
Iceland truly seems like no one place on earth, rather a kaleidoscope of natural wonders. It makes you want to feel with your mind and think with your senses.
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