Who does not love blue or purple flowers? Join in with Cee’s challenge this week!
Click here for more beauties.
More South Iceland Magic
Leaving Eyafjallajökull, the golden light followed us on our way to Skógar and Skógafoss (60m high and 25m long).
The water sprinkled a cold and frosty shimmer and our shadows grew even longer.
Not many people here – and even fewer ventured close to the foss…icicles formed directly in your hair.
Just around the corner, there is an open air museum where the houses are free to visit. The 18th century typical turf cottages with furniture and all.
The sun very low but our spirits high when we entered the car again for Vik, the southernmost village in Iceland. In my memory, one of the most enigmatic places in this part of Iceland – and indeed it still is!
The chocolate brown cliffs and seastacks…
and the black sand rustling…
in the roaring waves…
slowly turning into gold in the setting sun
Pure magic –
I wanted to stay in that moment alone –
In these surroundings, Njal and Gunnar, in the old Saga, lived and died…Markarfljot is not far away…They did not believe in the same Gods, but the two of them were the best of friends. Standing by the sea tonight I could imagine, maybe…why.
But, within an hour the sun would be gone, and we just had to catch a last glimpse of Seljalandsfoss as well. After all, I believe she is a ”she”, letting down her laced veil for us who cannot walk her to the altar…
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.
Travel theme: Entertainment
The world has, within some days only, lost two giants in entertainment: David Bowie and Alan Rickman. Ailsa’s Travel theme this week is all about Entertainment. The Show must go on. That is the only way to cope with Life.
WPC: Alphabet
Alphabet – our communication depends on it. Printing depended on these…no longer in use, but made into beautiful art – of another kind. For more inspirational alphabets, click here.
Cee’s Black & White Challenge: Lights
Evening lights along the road. For more lights – click here.
SL-WEEK 28: Music
Sylvain Landry – Music.
Music, and concerts offer a great escape – at least for for a moment you can forget yourself… This is Camelot and its brilliant singer 2009, Roy Cahn.
Thursday Thoughts
I’m back home again…from another journey to another country; meeting its nature, architechture and people. I feel I grow with every meeting and every opportunity I get to learn something new. On thinking back, all my life has been dedicated to learning – and sometimes teaching…
Travelling offers a great way to understand other people and other cultures, that we all know. But, do you often reflect on the ”getting to know yourself” more? Do you prepare your journey thoroughly and do you write down what you see, who you meet and what you learn from them? Maybe you are like me: Always preparing everything, sometimes in detail, and then you do not always keep a diary when reality comes along? Does the new knowledge just stay there without you documenting it?
We are all travellers, and we all travel in our own way. I used to be a writer, now I have become more of a memory photographer. Maybe a futile search for the precious moments to stay…a bit longer.
The abilty to reflect and learn is a great gift.
In fact, it is essential.
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