Northern Lights, Balkan Bites, and Icelandic Dreams

Our Nordkapp tour tested life on the road. We ferried from Travemünde to Helsinki and spent 40 days in Finland and Norway. The Arctic pushed us, but reaching mainland Europe’s northernmost point, and seeing the Northern Lights, made it worth it for us.

Our three-month Balkan run was full of contrast: Durmitor’s peaks, the Tara Canyon, and stunning terrain ideal for overland travel. Every pass left us quiet. Not everything was perfect; forests near popular spots were strewn with trash, a reminder that many are focused on getting by before protecting nature.

Food was another highlight: rich flavors, fresh ingredients, warm, generous hospitality. Some meals were unforgettable; others simple and good. The Balkans became a favorite leg.

At last we reached the island we had dreamed of. Iceland gave us lava fields, black beaches, glacial tongues, and hot springs fogging the windows before sunrise. We kept to marked tracks and took our time. Iceland’s grandeur is fragile, so we tried to tread lightly and leave places better.

Now it’s time to swap moss for markets and arctic light for warm evenings. We’re pointing the rig toward Iberia, with slow miles through the Pyrenees, salty days along the Atlantic, and sandy scenes in Almería, then crossing to Morocco for coastal tracks, high passes, friendly tea, and sunrise photos.