Calling of the North

Hi, I'm Markéta, a free-spirited lass from Central Bohemia (Czech Republic) who is gradually discovering what her calling is, where her heart leads her, and all the places where she wants to leave her mark. Not just through travelling, but through everything she creates and experiences.

Welcome to my very first blog post. This blog began as a journal for my personal experiences, which I'd like to share with anyone who's keen to live life to the full and freely. Whether you want to travel yourself or are content simply to watch others do so. Whether you're an athlete, an artist, or stuck in an office. Or perhaps you simply fancy learning something new and looking at photos of places you might one day venture to yourself. With love, this blog is created for all of us.

For many years now, I've longed for the cold corners of the north. Hot summers have never been my cup of tea, but it wasn't until later in life that I realised why. You simply can't ignore the call of your soul. It all started with a video by the Swedish YouTuber Jonny Jinton (at the time she had barely a few hundred thousand followers; today she has over five million!), who lives in the village of Grundtjärn in northern Sweden, which has about 10 permanent residents. I was captivated by the beauty of the place where she lives, and from then on, I was hooked...

Jonna Jinton's YouTube channel

Nordic culture, and the history of the Vikings and Celts, gradually began to accompany me at every turn. At first, it was subtle – like a gentle reminder of who I am deep down and where I'm heading in this life… Later, it became more intense. I began to feel a longing for places I'd never even visited. German has a specific word for this phenomenon – Fernweh. It is a longing for places with which we are somehow connected, even though we have never physically been there. I believe that many of us have, perhaps whilst looking at a photo of mountains, a city or a coastline, had the feeling that we've been there before, or that we simply must visit that place, come what may. These days, however, we're often unable to grasp this feeling, perhaps not even realising it, let alone acting on that urge. And I'm going to try to subtly convince you that it really is worth it. 🙃

In 2023, I fell in love (once again from afar) with Scotland, which I visited the very next year, and I have no doubt that I will carry it in my heart forever. It's no wonder I keep hearing from various sources that this is a land steeped in Celtic legends and mythical creatures. Their almost magical presence can be felt here from the very first breath and the very first sip of water. Yes, the Scots are proud of everything that is theirs, not least their water… and they really have every reason to be. I could spend years gazing at the landscape of the Scottish Highlands without ever tiring of it. And running barefoot in around 15 degrees Celsius along a sandy beach that looks like something out of the Caribbean is, for me, an experience of a lifetime…

What's more, if you're a die-hard fantasy fan and love the worlds of Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings (or both, like me ☺️), you'll be in your element. A ride on the 'Hogwarts Express' across the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct turned me into a delighted little child, just as much as strolling through the historic streets of Edinburgh. On the Isle of Skye, you'll find the breathtaking Quiraing. This otherworldly rock formation is famous for resembling the misty, rocky landscapes around Tolkien's Misty Mountains.

And then, of course, there's the Outlander book and show series, which is what drew me to Scotland in the first place. The history of Scotland and Celtic traditions, combined with dramatic romance and time travel, captivated me so much that I became – to put it very mildly – obsessed with anything even remotely reminiscent of Scotland. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🙈 (That's perhaps a tad better now.)

And now back to the present. This year has brought many changes to my life. The way things turned out led to my decision to go and work in Sweden for the summer. After several weeks of 'unsuccessful' sending out CVs and looking for seasonal work, I came across WWOOF, an organisation that brings together organic farmers. In exchange for helping out on their farms, they provide you with free accommodation and meals. At the same time, you have time to yourself to explore the natural and other attractions in the surrounding area, or simply to reflect and be creative on the farm.

In exactly two weeks' time (19 June 2026), I'll have my few belongings packed and, together with my canine companion Aron, we'll be setting off by car on a journey through Germany and Denmark. Over the summer, we'll be helping out at two farms in southern Sweden. Between these stints, we'll be travelling for two weeks all the way up to the far north to the little village of Grundtjärn, which I mentioned at the start of this article. We'll be visiting the whole Jonna's team at their gallery and shop in Sollefteå, which is organising an event in July to mark its first anniversary. And I simply can't miss that. Can I? 😁

So I'll say goodbye for now, and very soon I'll start sharing all my experiences from my Nordic 5,000-kilometre adventure with you...

🩵 With love and humbleness, your free-spirited lass
Markét