Jen at WordPress asks us in what season we are now. In Sweden we are still in Winter, but with glimpses of Spring. The ice is breaking up and the sun is getting warmer. A beautiful time with the colours returning.
For more seasons, click here.
Winter
Caught through the window – but not in the act…
There were some soft, grey feathers lying under the feeding tree yesterday. There were quite a few suspects as well: the magpies, the sparrow hawk and the goshawk. Today I spied a fourth suspect-
I gave a loud shout and grabbed the camera before he jumped off the trunk. A beautiful cat, but that is no excuse…
CFFC: Things that are Cold
As I am still in Iceland…at least in my mind – here is the frozen Gullfoss. And I assure you, it was COLD. Hang on to the tiny left corner to warm you up… For more cold things, click here and visit Cee.
SL-WEEK 29: Snow
The challenge this week at Sylvain Landry, is Snow. Just returned from Iceland, naturally my entry will be some sturdy, Icelandic horses. 15 degrees below zero – they stand close together against the strong wind, awaiting the night fall.
Heading for South Iceland
As we only had a few days in Iceland, we wanted to show our friends a piece of Route No 1. Luckily we were blessed with a sunny day, even though the sun this time of the year only is up between 11 a.m and 4 p.m.
We started off around 10 a.m to be on the road for the sunrise.
And soon, the sky turned yellow and orange, revealing the hot springs steaming.
On our right side, the sun was awakening, and I waited for the first rays to hit the mountains on our left side. A creamy lilac across the snowy white.
Soon Hekla, the most famous volcano – and one of the most active ones (last eruption 2000) – crowned the wheaten landscape in all her glory. The farms still there below her snowcapped face.
Faraway at sea – a glimpse of Västmannaeyar with Heimey. We wanted to go there with our friends, but unfortunately the ferries took a longer route this time of the year. And I can still, vividly, remember how heavy the sea was last time we went. And, how sick I got from it…
These islands are otherwise well worth visiting. Maybe best in summer though. Puffins and other birds nesting, and you can still see the lava stream from the latest eruption burying houses and almost the harbour as well.
Along the south coast, the road is straight and easy to drive. The beautiful low, golden light followed us throughout the journey.
For today, we finish at Eyafjallajökull. Further along the road we will visit Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss – and of course Vik, with its black beach and roaring waves.
A Taste of Reykjavik
My greatest love in this beautiful city is of course the symbol of Reykjavik, Hallgrimskirkja (1937, 74,5 metres, and named after the Icelandic priest and writer Hallgrímur Pétursson.) by architect Guðjón Samúelsson. The church is spectacular in many ways – not only from the outside, but also the inside is serene and breathtakingly beautiful.
We arrived late in the evening this time, and walked slowly up to her in the freezing cold, Icelandic darkness.
In front of the church stands the Leif Eriksson statue. A gift from the US 1930 when the Icelandic Parliament, AllÞingi, celebrated its 1000 year jubilée. The Viking Leif Eriksson was the son of Erik Röde, who settled in Greenland. Leif himself was the first white man to discover America.
Let us go inside. My greatest love here is the magnificent organ.
Houses in Reykjavik have to be strongly built for the rough climate. Some old wooden houses are being restored to show the old architecture – on which of course the new one is built. But I doubt any new house here has a wooden structure.
Restored old architecture
Not wood – but still beautiful
New materials – being repainted
The Concert Hall
Parliament and the Cathedral
What is difficult to see in these snowy pictures, is the typical Icelandic colourful houses. In my summer memories, Reykjavik looks like this:
Tjörnin is the lake in the middle of the city. There are always people here, playing, feeding the birds, or just walking and chatting.
The main shopping street ends with Hallgrimskirkja. And that is where we too end our snowy, first walk in Iceland and Reykjavik.
SL-WEEK 25: Macro
Merry Christmas !
4 Days to Go – Thursday Thoughts
Soon the winter solstice will be here. Much longed for, maybe more than ever this year. No snow – except for one single, great day – and many dark and drizzly days.
Here a series from one of the better days, this week in fact. Notice the play of warm and cold this time of the year. Warm colours if you turn in the direction of the thin rays of the sun – and the cold colours or darkness if you turn towards the sun itself.
One of my favourite spots in ”my” forest, is the passage between two of the grass meadows to the west. Here, Mille used to stand waiting for me by the big oak tree.
The other spot is on my way back from the open landscape to the forest path. The majestic beech trees all aglow with the last rays of the low sun. 2.30 pm.
A Fine Forest Day
We found a new hiking track today – at least we had never walked there before. I was totally excited – many mice to dig for… Many nice scents as well, and – a horse! I adore horses, and this one stood, solid as a rock, quietly watching me.
I stopped often to do some digging, but I could feel …that maybe I shouldn’t. The yearly Christmas bath took place yesterday, and I was still rather good-looking…or so I felt at least.
Anyway, going home again at 2.30 pm meant darkness approaching. And Fast.
A fine day it was.
Regards,
Totti
Leya 
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