Nostalgia.

I woke up today, and photo of dead tree in Torres del Paine was staring at me. 

I miss mountains so, so much. 

There is something I wrote ages ago... It been sitting on my old notepad way too long - I am sharing it now:

"...This is a story from long ago, times that pass but not forgotten. Times that been and times that are, or will ever be...

...Once upon a time, I was hiking rocky path in the mountains. River was rolling over boulders below, and mountain goats were jumping from stone to stone. My backpack was heavy, and my spirits were high.

But clouds rolled in, and darkness swallowed the slopes. Like Woland, spreading his cape over sunset, the world disappeared...

...I was lost, but I was found. 

True friends always find each other. In a middle Here and Now, or FOREVER. 

Fire sparkled in the valley below to show me my way, tent was set, game was roasting and metal cup filled with crisp mountain spring water was waiting for me. 

...And guitar strings were singing. 

I still have them singing in my heart to this day - in my friends words, thoughts and simple hello's.

I am writing this for the love of the mountains, and a tribute to a few true friends I have. 

::Here is to us!::"

To all of you, my friends and ones I love,

For all the good times 

there always be a place in that crazy heart of mine

to remember all the fun.

The streets we walked

The laughs we laughed

The food we shared 

And fights we fought.

You watched me grow

I watched you change

Those are moments I will never replace,

And times I will never forget.

There is a new road just ahead

That is calling my name

And I simply cannot resist

Going for adventure, once again.

I put on a brave face

And I punch thru the walls

I live a thousand miles a day

Just to forget how pain calls.

My soul is lost in a music

My heart is lost in the mountains

And same clouds that make me smile

Make it a bit darker everyday.

Here is a new road, 

Here is my love,

and here is a drink

with my name on it.

What else could I ask for?..

...We live another day.

 

Magic of Darkness and Lights.

Halloween Adventures Recipe.

From the Book of Shadows: 

If you mix a bit of darkness of midnight blue skies, add a spoonful of shimmering lights, trace of violin music that warms hearts & souls, a spice of steamy mulled wine, a whisper of a smoke escaped from fire pit and touched lovers lips right before the kiss, then, and only then, you stir in a wonder of incredible adventure - and let it simmer through the night...

A drift of shimmering bubbling tentacles will escape the pot of magic, and begin to unravel, swirl in the lights of empty fountain, touching unexpected souls and minds, lighting them ablaze, with sparkles of giggles, shades of romance & fog of Wonderland.

I invite you to a world where there is no such thing as time
And every creature lends themselves to change your state of mind
And the girl that chased the rabbit, drank the wine, and walked the dream...

-adapted Shinedown lyrics 

I am that girl. I am Alice, lost in Wonderland of adventures - I still cannot escape it, nor I want to, ever - enveloped in this magical space & time, there everything is possible, and everything is how it supposed to be - nonsense and sense of it all...

It's started with intricate invitation to the unknown, and soon, we were swept away to the night, to the old mansion grounds, and night came alive around us. I invite you to look at it through my camera and my eyes - youaresolucky adventure.

Alder Manor at night.

Incredible architecture.

Lights & music.

Butoh performance at the gazebo.

Butoh performers.

Beautiful music.

Incredible detailing.

It did not end there - Fire of Autumn took over week later, with music & lights of The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze. We got lost once again, in a world that was filled with creatures, sounds, and delicate details...

Entrance.

Spooky shadows.

Butterflies & creatures.

Lost in the woods with lights.

Creatures big & small...

Spooky eyes lookin' at ya.

Spiders, too!

Magical clock & road to nowhere.

Stars!

Is this Wonderland?

The Blaze.

Little wonders.

Curiosities cabinet.

Not your ordinary pumpkin.

Incredible details.

This magic will stay in my heart and my memories, forever.

Hoods, wheels and treasures.

AACA Car Show & Flea, Hershey, PA, 2015

I don't know where my love for cars came from. Neither my grandparents or parents had one, which was a norm back then and there... I mean, nobody wanted headache of owning one when public transportation was almost free, fairly empty and always on schedule.

But there was that version of a Russian bug back in University days...it was rusty old mess - with air cooling "system" and 30 horse power. Yes, you read it right. It often would get stuck in the sand, mud, or other disastrous adventures it was subjected to - like almost falling into frozen river skidding on icy road... but being tiny light car it was easy to push out of all sticky situations.

My university stood on the hill, and unless you really pick up the speed running up, it would not make it, and roll back down. Hilarious moments.

Once, it got buried under few inches of ice, on the way between Ukraine and Russia to my grandparents house, middle of the winter. It was raining, but suddenly, temperatures dropped. Motor stalled, car died, and all water still pouring from the skies turned into ice. There were no lights on highway nor villages near by. Survival at it best, freezing in little tin box. Somehow, I did not even get a cold. WTF?.. In the morning, kind trucker gave us a ride to the city - little car was left behind to thaw. And it did, few days later, and even started back up.

But enough of the memory lane yapping.
I am still addicted to cars. Be it customizing my own Jeep or going to car shows - new and old.

Hot red, mf!

I look at old cars at the shows, at hotrods, steampunked out models, restored to original condition beauties, or old rusty survivors - and I see perfect lines, amazing detailing,  craftsmanship of the past, and pride of the owners keeping it alive and running.

Lines & Details

Hershey's annual car show & flea is amazing opportunity to see it all. Actually, I can guarantee you will not see all of it - it is that big! But it is mind-blowing in its variety. 

(And once again I thank my adventure partner for sharing this with me)

OMG.

We walked miles through Car coral, there owners bring their shined up, streamlined and restored cars for sale.  

Car Coral.

We sneaked into the auction preview first day we arrived and were blown away  by restored cars of all kinds.  

We spend hours exploring flea - there you can find everything your heart (or your car's heart) desire, picking up little treasure for our projects on the way. 

We found the Fury here, and few rusty amazing Fords that been cool to photograph.

...People say that you can build whole car from parts found here - and it was put to the test at one of the insurance company booth, who took up the challenge to build a truck from spare parts found at the market, in 4 days. That was interesting to watch their progress, working 24 hrs a day, both live and on YouTube. Fascinating work.

There are high wheeler race held at the stadium - it is sooo much fun to watch. They all dressed up, and absolutely hilarious. We sat on the bleachers, eating fries, drinking lemonade and watching races - man, this was awesome!

AACA Museum is worth visit as well - several floors filled with old car exhibitions, car plaques, hood ornaments, artist's exhibitions, and so much more!... We had two dinners reserved in their warehouse, which was a great opportunity to see everything at the museum.

AACA Museum.

And of course, last event of the week - actual car show. People line up the street on chairs and bleachers early in the morning as cars arrive. It was cold morning, and we frozen our asses off in just an hour time, till we were way too cold, and made escape into the arena nearby. This is must see, tho - it is great to look at cars at the show, but watching them actually drive in is something special, something absolutely memorable.

We run away to find breakfast... No breakfast trucks in sight - so pizza, calzone, pretzels & lemonade it is, 8am in the morning! Hey, life is good!!!

Sun finally came out - and now it's a beautiful day to walk around - cool, brisk and sunny... and it was one of the happiest days yet. We saw so many beautiful ones, fire trucks, steam-powered wonders, A Models, race cars - everything...

Oh, the beauty!

I am fascinated and in love with detailing, hood ornaments, lines, and reflections. 
 

Hood ornaments.

This is photography heaven - I am surely died and transcended into another universe... I stop as often as my companion - we take millions of pictures, no joke.

 

I am on car memories overload, for sure. Best memories in the making...

Iceland Survival pt4 - West.

Peaceful.

This is the last and most relaxing part of the trip. There is something about West, lakes & fjords - it's quiet and laid back.

Brilliant skies.

It's all embedded in my memories as a story of Sun & Skies. Sun playing with clouds as I drive slowly into mellow shores of the West, streaming silver rays down and exploding into shimmering bells & sparkles as it touches the waters of countless lakes.

Lakeside.

 All washed clean by recent rains and shiny as polished silver set, Iceland finally showed it smiling face - shy but incredibly beautiful and brilliantly lit in this cold sunshine.

Rainbow from hotel window.

Once I arrived to hotel, I jumped right into shower - but as I came out and stepped to the tall, ceiling-high window in my room, I stopped on my tracks, water still dripping from my wet hair. I was enchanted and held hostage by the view of the rainbow spanning across the field, so clear and sharp.

Common area in Hotel Vogur

It is quiet here. Hotel Vogur is newly renovated, it is off-season, so there are no other guests. It is weird but so pleasant to be alone here.

Manager recommends to see old church, not far, but out of the way - so I set of for evening drive.

Road to church is not-existent, as many here, narrow and windy, rocks, grass & puddles. It is getting dark too. But rewards for this: most amazing views and reflections.

Reflections.

Church is old, and so charming. There is a tiny cemetery on the back, and it's all eerie and quiet... 

Red-door church.

Sun is setting, and I really don't want to get stuck in marshlands at night, so I make my way back - with stops, of course. I cannot resist walking across the field and follow noisy clean stream.

Open fields around property and lake just across the way makes perfect setting for sky photography, sunsets, and, at night, for hunting Northern lights, of course.

Sunset at Hotel Vogur.

I did not sleep that night. I keep running to the window and looking at the sky. Finally, I just went outside, set tripod and waited in the middle of open field. Stars are incredible here. And so are the Northern lights!

Lights playing in the sky!

Phew, what a night! As fast as they came, they disappear. Only memory remained... Forever and ever...

In the morning, it's one last drive - to Rekjavik. But I hate driving in straight lines, you know that? So, detour is in order!

Going through Þingvellir National Park, (Thingvellir), and it's mostly F-roads, which means no pavement, no markers, 4x4 only.

GPS keeps spewing warning to turn around if you don't have 4WD.

Oh, hell no, no turning around! It is weird to drive through plateau, black as night sky, in rain (again), with no visible markers of the road. Glacier to the left, mountains to the right - it is simply undescribable.

That's the road, yo!

Views are incredible, but rains stopping me from taking more pictures.

Glaciers & Mountains.

But rain stops by the time I make it to Rekjavik. It's clear and pretty nice to walk around town. It's a charming town, and restaurants here are simply amazing - but if you want to see attractions, everything within 2 hrs drive of the city is way too touristy and crowded - most definitely drive further to the see the beauty of this country.

Rekjavik old town.

But I digress - Rekjavik worth a short stay.

Just a walk around old town... It's great to relax in civilization.

At Kjallarinn.

Must stop & eat at Kjallarinn - food is incredible and drinks are amazing. So as decor and atmosphere!

Rekjavik.

 This was my favorite spot in Rekjavik - just sitting there by the lake...

Goodbye, Iceland, my love.

You are so beautiful. So tough. So genuine. Till I come back, remember me. I will always remember you.