Rain, sun, snow, storm, sun, rain, and snow again.
A couple of days ago we had all of this on the same day, and then – One Glorious Day. I will take you for a walk that day…if you want to!
There was heavy frost in the early morning – but the sun promised a lovely winter’s day.
Some miles from home, all frost was gone – the sun had been working hard.
Inside the forest though, in the shadows, it was still very cold. I had to put on my gloves for taking photos.
Do you remember the hair frost? This is even a whole hairbrush!
Lake Värsjön is a lake I have never visited before – and it turned out to be a little gem. Lovely paths to walk and the ice like a painting.
The sun was very strong and made it difficult to even look at the ice. No sunglasses…unfortunately. I did not know I would visit a lake!
And, I found a tiny beach – but the water is not hot here…like in Iceland. So, no bathing!
Instead I enjoyed the silence and the warmth of the sun, listening to the creaky sound of the ice breaking up.
Time to return home for breakfast – to make scones, celebrating the joy of having the rest of the morning for my son and myself.
On our way to Thingvellir this cold and beautiful morning.
Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance. It lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at the northern end of Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.
AlÞingi, the Icelandic Parliament, was established at Þingvellir in 930, and remained there until 1798. The National Park was founded in 1930, marking the 1.000th anniversary of the Althing, and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
The continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates can be clearly seen in the cracks faults which traverse the region, the largest one, Almannagjá, being a veritable canyon. This also often causes the earthquakes in the area.
According to the Book of Settlements, the settlement of Iceland began in AD 874 when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfur Arnarson became the first permanent settler on the island. Over the next centuries, people of Norse and Celtic origin settled in Iceland, and as the population grew there was a need for a general assembly.
The foundation of the Icelandic parliament is said to be the founding of the nation of Iceland, and the first parliamentary proceedings in the summer of 930 laid the ground for a common cultural heritage and national identity. Þingvellir plays a central role in the history of the country.
Þingvellir was the centre of Icelandic culture. Every year during the Commonwealth period, people would flock to Þingvellir from all over the country, sometimes numbering in the thousands. They set up dwellings with walls of turf and rock and temporary roofing and stayed in them for the two weeks of the assembly.
The Drowning Pool for potential witches
Although the duties of the assembly were the main reason for going there, ordinary people gathered at Þingvellir for a wide variety of reasons. There were merchants, sword-sharpeners, tanners and entertainers – and ale-makers brewed ale to them all. News was told from distant parts; games and feasts were held. Itinerant farmhands looked for work and vagrants begged.
A flagpole on Law Rock marks the place where the law was recited from.
Þingvellir was a meeting place for everyone in Iceland, laying the foundation for the language and the famous literature – the Eddas and the Sagas.
A Law Rock of ones own?
In fact, still today, young people can read the old texts from the 12th century – not many languages have lasted that much unchanged. This is possible due to the conservative – and innovative and creative – use of the old words, combined with less borrowed words than any other language. As an example: vegabréf is a combination of veg (road) and bréf (letter) = passport!
The landscape around Thingvellir – magnificAent.
I left Hovdala in the best of moods, heading for Magle, the water and the birds. I imagined the strong cold and the water would make some grand mist.
Driving down the narrow road I saw the sun throwing diamonds my way…
…so, I stopped to collect them…
…and I became very rich…
And, richer I would be, further along the road – at Magle.
The mist had risen from some parts of the ponds, but at the far end – it hadn’t yet. It took me some time to get there though, as only the footprints of one single person were there before mine.
I certainly was richly rewarded. As the sun slowly warmed up the air – unveiling the ducks, swans and cormorants. A heron gliding low in the mist.
The mute swans were showing off their beauty, while the ducks seemed busy just staying warm.
I was looking for the whooper swans, but they were not there. Following the path further on, I finally found them.
Three of them were balancing on the thin ice – while finishing their morning toilet.
The bench where I usually rest, birdwatching, was not very useful today…
Looking back a last time, I realized this was the finest winter day this year. Hopefully there will be some more diamonds to collect this winter… I enjoy being rich.
So, Winter decided to pay us a visit – for one day. 40 cm snow yesterday night – rain again tomorrow…I keep an eye on the weather report at least three times a day, so I knew. Clear sky today and about 5-15 degrees below zero.
Starting out early for the sunrise – very cold. 15.5 degrees below zero.
I was alone up at Hovdala, and nobody had walked the path since the snow – so I got warmed up…
I was lucky to get white frost as well, and no wind.
On walking back I decided to take the road further on instead of the untrodden path. Now the soft, pink light arrived in full splendour.
After two hours, I was heading back to my car, even if I could have stayed longer, I was getting hungry…and my plan was to stop at the wetlands at Magle as well. It took me some 15 minutes and finally some help from a kind man (whatever he did driving out here in absolutely nowhere) to open the frozen door. Unfortunately I had locked it – which was a bad idea in this cold weather. (How unused to this am I…? No snow at all last year)
I went to Magle as well – and saw the fog rising from the water, the swans and ducks slowly floating in the shimmering water, and the frosty herons flying low.
This was a magnificent day, made possible by weather gods and my year off. I’ll save the shining Magle post for a rainy day…
Lights, the subject for Sylvain Landry.
My recent stay in Switzerland meant bright lights every day. This from Weissfluhjoch, 2662 above sea level.
St Gotthardspasset, Schweiz
Leya 
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