Fun and Fika

Hello, fellow adventurers! We’re Ellen and Ted, a couple with a shared love for the great outdoors, road trips, and discovering new places. We’ve been dreaming of taking the leap for a number of years, and finally, it’s happening! We’re taking an entire year in our off grid sprinter camper van. And the best part? We’re not doing it alone—our lovely Hungarian Viszla, Fika, will be with us every step of the way.

Meet Fika, our Travel Buddy

Fika is our fabulous snuggle pup, a five year old Hungarian Viszla, and wanna be lapdog. If you’re a dog lover, you’ll know that there’s no better travel buddy than a four-legged friend who’s always up for an adventure. And if you’re a Viszla owner you know what a wonderful, friendly, affectionate breed they are. Whether we’re hiking up a mountain, strolling through a new city, or just sitting by a campfire, Fika is always there, bottom wiggling, tail wagging, ready to explore. Her love for the outdoors, unending curiosity and joie de vivre are a big part of what inspired this journey in the first place. She’s the kind of dog who thrives in nature, and we can’t wait to share all the new sights, smells, and experiences with her.

Over the next year, we’ll try and keep this blog updated with details of our adventures, what we are getting up to, and anything we learn along the way that might help other travellers about to take the plunge and are hitting the road.

Origins of the name Fika

In case you haven’t already heard the reason why our beautiful girl is called Fika, it all comes from a trip we took back in 2019. We were in Sweden as part of our summer holiday, and while we were there we learnt about “Fika”.

Fika, pronounced “fee-kuh,” can be used both as a noun and a verb. In English, it translates to “having coffee” or “a coffee break,” but its meaning goes deeper, encompassing relaxation, social interaction, taking time to enjoy the simple things in life. Fika is more than just sipping a cup of coffee (or “kaffi,” the Swedish word for coffee). It’s a cultural ritual in Sweden, offering a moment to relax, take a break, and connect with others while drinking coffee and enjoying a sweet treat with friends.