Thursday Thoughts – Centre of the Earth

19 september, 201924 februari, 2020 / Leya / 32 kommentarer

In Jules Verne’s A Journey to the Center of the Earth, Stapi is the last stop on the route the protagonists take before they climb Snæfellsjökull and enter the interior of the planet through a tunnel in the crater.

We didn’t intend to try any of these possibilities, but to hike along the coast line of the peninsula from Arnarstapi to Hellnar.

We encountered (I think you could say that…) spectacular landscapes this morning – the likes of nothing I had seen before.

Steep cliffs and birds, birds, birds…on this ca 4 km hike.

Amazing colours everywhere, almost no fellow hikers, sun, blue skies and no wind. Who could ask for more?

The further we went, the more the landscape opened up and the magnificent coastline became visible – with all its small rocks and islets –

– a spectacular archipelago.

Struggling through some rugged lava formations, I suddenly spotted three killer whales, orcas, in the blue waters ahead of us. I only got one shot working…then they were gone. But wow, how happy I was! I had never seen them live, in their natural habitat.

Gatklettur Arch

Gatklettur Arch – after some searching, we finally found it on our way back to Arnarstapi.

And the soft evening light kissed the earth. I sat down among the flowers, and listened to the strong feeling of Love for this Country, the stillness in the air, the beauty of this place. I watched the young girl, lying there, contemplating – and wondered if she too had seen the orcas…. To me, they were the icing on the cake this Icelandic summer’s day.

We returned to the two villages, Arnarstapi and Hellnar, the next day – just to savour their beauty once more before heading north… There just might be another post.

Thursday Thoughts – Hidden Hot Spring

12 september, 2019 / Leya / 25 kommentarer

Hunting hot springs in Autumn would have been great – but left them in Iceland. In Sweden it is getting colder now, and there is no more bathing in the sea…so, back to Iceland memories!

We had read about a very little hot pool, hidden in Landbrotalaug not far from the volcano Eldborg on the south coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. We decided to go for it.

The weather was splendid and the beautiful white cottongrass grew here abundantly…

Just when we thought we were lost, the hot water tap finally revealed the place.

With Snaefellsnes in the fond, we spotted the little pool – right out in the wild landscape. Two tents and a couple of people were there already. The bath can only take 1-2 persons at a time, so, Patience – and you will be greatly rewarded!

Wish I were there again!

Thursday Thoughts – The Philharmonic Hall, Szczecin

5 september, 201924 februari, 2020 / Leya / 37 kommentarer

From colour down to black and white – this concert hall is a fabulous piece of architecture. Viveka and I had a good hour’s rest here with a nice cup of coffee.

The architectural design resembles a palace of ice,

and was created by Barozzi Veiga, a Barcelona-based architect’s studio.

Finished 2014, it has two concert halls and can accommodate 1.145 people in all.

The Philharmonic Hall edifice has won many prestigious awards in architectural competitions.

Its greatest success is the European Union prize for contemporary architecture –

Mies van der Rohe Award, 2015.

Thursday Thoughts – Iceland, Life on Earth and at Sea

29 augusti, 201929 augusti, 2019 / Leya / 34 kommentarer

Djupalónsandur beach lets you meet sea, rocks and the remains of the British trawler Epine – that went down off the coast in 1948.

And of course there are enigmatic lava formations. You get a glimpse of snowcapped Snaefellsjökull volcano through the holes.

Once this bay was home to one of the most prolific fishing villages on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. Today this area is uninhabited.

Except for the old rusty debris from Epine, four lifting stones still lie on the sands of Djúpalónssandur, in olden days used by fishermen to test their strength. Today tourists and children roam the beach to look at the rusty pieces, and many of them test their abilities – and possibilities – of getting hired as seamen…

This was quite a special walk where many thoughts were coming and going… The harsh lives of seafarers and society changing fast. And, will there be any fish in the sea for our children?

Thursday Thoughts – Vatasafn/Library of Water

15 augusti, 20196 mars, 2020 / Leya / 26 kommentarer

Vatasafn, Stykkishólmur, Snaefellsnes peninsula. This Library of Water, by Roni Horn, opened in 2007 – a constellation of 24 glass columns containing water from some of the major glaciers around Iceland.

In fact, the first attempts to methodically record meteorological conditions in Iceland started exactly here in the mid – 19th century.

The glass columns refract and reflect the light onto a rubber floor with words in Icelandic and English which relate to the weather. ”You are the weather”, Horn says .

The New York born artist has visited Iceland many times since the mid – 70s, and knows that weather is the prime force in Iceland. Weather often changes mood and personality – good or tough for the residents – but also an important thing to be well prepared for when you visit.

This installation is housed in a pavilion on top of a hill, with spellbinding views of the harbour as well as the surrounding landscape and seascape. I found the Library offers a serene and silent space for private reflection. I easily stayed for more than an hour, alone, but would have loved to come here often.

Weather is a metaphor for the atmosphere of the world; weather is a metaphor for the atmosphere of ones life; weather is a metaphor for the physical, metaphysical, political, social, and moral energy of a person and a place.

– Roni Horn

Thursday Thoughts – The Reykjavik Concert Hall

25 juli, 201926 juli, 2019 / Leya / 15 kommentarer

Harpa is the name of the concert hall and conference center in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The structure consists of a steel framework clad with geometric shaped glass panels of different colours. The distinctive colored glass facade was inspired by the basalt landscape of Iceland.

The opening concert was held on May 4, 2011. As this unfortunately was our last day in Iceland, we could not attend any concert this time.

Harpa was designed by the Danish firm Henning Larsen Architects in co-operation with Danish – Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.

The building is the first purpose-built concert hall in Reykjavík and it was developed in consultation with artistic advisor Vladimir Ashkenazy and international consultant Jasper Parrott of HarrisonParrot. It houses the Iceland Symphonic Orchestra and the offices of The Icelandic Opera.

Needless to say, I was deeply impressed and in awe. The Icelanders are so aesthetically perfect, and so skilled at every possible art form.

Thursday Thoughts – Hraunfossar

17 juli, 201917 juli, 2019 / Leya / 33 kommentarer

There are so many grand waterfalls in Iceland. Hraunfossar are not the highest falls, but maybe one of the most beautiful ones on the island. The waterfalls are located in the Hallmundarhraun lava field in Borgarfjörður bay, West-Iceland. The white uncountable falls originates from Langjökull glacier, the second largest glacier in Iceland, and run in a cascade series down a lava cliff of about 900 meters wide.

The water cascades down from under Hallmundarhraun lava field and runs into the famous Hvítá (White) river. Hraun means lava and fossar mean waterfalls, so the name basically means Lava Waterfalls.

Don’t they remind a bit of each other? The White Cotton Grass is cascading too.

Thursday Thoughts – Going Vestmannaeyar

11 juli, 2019 / Leya / 11 kommentarer

Vestmannaeyjar came to international attention in 1973 with the eruption of Eldfell volcano, which destroyed many buildings and forced a months-long evacuation of the entire population to mainland Iceland.

Approximately one fifth of the town was destroyed before the lava flow was halted by application of 6.8 billion litres of cold sea water.

About 1500 people decided not to come back to the islands.

In 1979 We visited Heimaey, in the archipelago south of Iceland mainland, which is the only inhabited island here, and home to Eldfell. You could still boil an egg in the lava ashes, and putting down a finger would make your skin peeling off.

Our plan was to revisit now, 40 years later, to see in what ways the island had changed.

The photos show the views from the ferry takeoff and in the header, you can spot the whole range of the archipelago islands in the distance.

Thursday Thoughts – Revival

27 juni, 201927 juni, 2019 / Leya / 17 kommentarer

The weather is very warm and inviting for bicycle rides these last days of June. So my daughter and I decided to spend some time with the old Flora in hand. When the children were younger, we always did every summer, so today meant sweet memories.

We brought water as well, and biked for some hours, just enjoying each others’ company in the lovely summer fields. And wow, how much one forgets about flower names…

I used to be very good at their names… We also fell in love with this little, quite lovely, mushroom – looking like it was planted right there by someone, on the road.

And, to our greatest joy, we met some Highland Cattle. My absolute favorites.

Somehow they always look so relaxed, and I love their colours. I am not really comfortable having to cross a meadow where they are grazing though – they are said to be rather grumpy.

A lovely day –

Thursday Thoughts – Midsummer

20 juni, 201919 juni, 2019 / Leya / 29 kommentarer

The most beautiful time in my country, Sweden, is now – around Midsummer. The flowers and colours are abundant and it is a busy time for everything growing and for the animals raising their young.

Tomorrow is Midsummer’s Eve – in olden days a magical night. But also the night after which the bright light will start fading and we are heading towards winter.