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Iceland - 2017

October 2017
  • Linda Kohl
A short but fine adventure by Linda Read more
  • Linda Kohl

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  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 1 Blue Lagoon, part 1

    October 22, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C

    After a particularly stressful immigration check in (too many people), I made it to the Blue Lagoon just after it opened at 8 am.
    The warm waters are rich in minerals like silica and sulfur and bathing in the Blue Lagoon is reputed to help some people suffering from skin diseases such as psoriasis. The water temperature averages 37–39 °C (99–102 °F). The rich mineral content is provided by the underground geological layers and pushed up to the surface by the hot water used by the plant. Because of its mineral concentration, water cannot be recycled and must be disposed of in the nearby landscape, a permeable lava field. It is renewed every 2 days. The silicate minerals are the primary cause of that water's milky blue shade.
    To avoid overcrowding, the Blue Lagoon sells only a set number of tickets for each hour, although you can stay as long as you want. The roads and sidewalks were frost covered. I had bought the cheapest package which covered entrance and a silica mask, and transportation from airport to BL to Reykjavik: $118 (without bus ride it was $80) I rented a towel (additional $7) and stored my stuff . It’s a beautiful setting out in the lava fields with steam rising. Yes,it was quite cold getting to the lagoon in your wet suit but then very nice. You walk around, can get drinks, get your mask, can get a massage and more. I watched the sunrise at about 8:50 and then 15 minutes later I was basically done. The silica in the Blue Lagoon does make you and your clothes sticky.
    Pictures: sunrise over BL, 2-5: Blue Lagoon, 6: Lava field at Blue Lagoon    Read more

  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 1 - part 2 In Town

    October 22, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 2 °C

    By the time I left the Blue Lagoon, the sun was out and shining. It was an absolutely beautiful, calm day in town. The temperature was high 40’s. After getting dropped off at my hotel, I changed my clothes and helped myself to the leftover breakfast pastries on the bar for lunch. Then I set out to explore. Since it was Sunday and I knew some of the museums were closed on Monday, my main focus was those museums.

    I headed off to the Settlement Exhibition, following the excellent hotel instructions and my trusty map. I made it to City Hall right next to the Reykjavik City Pond to buy a Reykjavik Welcome Card. I bought a 2 day card and went off to the National Museum of Iceland. Then I headed back to the Settlement Exhibition and then the Culture House. After that I walked back to the hotel and took a little nap before my evening adventure.

    Some info on Iceland/Reyk: If it weren’t for the sunlight issue and the high prices, Iceland would be an awesome place to live. Crime is basically non-existent. While there is a police force in Reykj. I never saw one. They’ve had 1 murder in about 3 years. They are quite progressive, beating us to women’s voting and their legislature is almost 50% female.
    The water is totally drinkable throughout the country. It is underground springs. However, often the hot water source is different and sometimes tourists will complain about the smell of the hot water. Tipping is not typically done and there is absolutely no reason to convert money. I used my credit card the entire time, even out in the boonies.
    Reykjavik is an amazing capital city. About 2/3 of the 355,000 natives live in the area but the streets, particularly the main street, are like a small town. There is just 1 way traffic and 1 small lane with angle parking. Traffic was not heavy. There was only 1 stop light the full 3/4 mile I walked on the main street before turning. The buildings are pretty much the same style and, just like other countries, I’ve visited the streets change their names a lot. I think our guide told us that most learn English in grade school so that was great. Unemployment is near zero. Purchasing a Reykjavik Welcome Card is a great way to see the museums for “free” and save money (24 hour ticket: $27.; 48 hrs: $34).

    Pictures: 1-main square, 2-founder of Reyk, 3-city hall, 4-5-city pond, 6-Culture House museum    Read more

  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 1 part 3: Northern Lights Extra tour

    October 22, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 2 °C

    In an effort to make sure that I did see the Northern Lights, I book my own bus tour for 9 pm – midnight my first night in town. There are many many bus tours offering this effort. My choice was $55 (about the same as others), had ipads in 12 languages to explain phenomena, extra coats to rent and free tripods. Also, if we didn’t see the lights, we could reschedule anytime in next 2 years. We stopped 3 different places and saw some minimal NL. [3 pictures of myself wouldn't be downloaded here. They are posted on the tour's website https://www.facebook.com/reykjaviksightseeing/ . Scroll down to the photos, click see all, and search for the album for Oct. 22nd (I’m in a black hooded coat, maybe glasses).] At all the stops, it was quite cold and windy. As opposed to the daytime, the nighttime weather out in the boonies was chilly.
    Part 1 of NL explanation; (see Day 2 for more): Created by strange storms on the sun, the Northern Lights need clear winter skies to appear. Great storms on the sun (i.e., solar winds) send gusts of charged solar particles hurtling across space. If Earth is in the path of the particle stream, our planet’s magnetic field and atmosphere react. When the charged particles from the sun strike atoms and molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, they excite those atoms, causing them to light up or move to a higher-energy state (similar to what happens in the neon lights). When the electrons drop back to a lower energy state, they release a photon: light.
    The otherworldly colors of the Northern Lights and Southern Lights have fueled folklore for millennia. In Norse mythology, the aurora was a fire bridge to the sky built by the gods. Actually, colors are made when charged particles from Sun excite/ionize oxygen or nitrogen. Red is oxygen at 200km or nitrogen below 90 km. Green is oxygen at 90-200 km. Purple and blue: nitrogen under 90 km. Pink and yellow: mix of red and green or blue.

    Pictures: 1-3: city from my hotel room, 4: Northern Lights and me    Read more

  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 2, part 1 - City Tour

    October 23, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    Until 6 pm that night, I was still on my own so I chose a 10 am free walking tour (CItyWalk, the #1 Tripadvisor thing to do in Rey.). I had a quick breakfast and scooted out to find the meeting point for the free walking tour. I did have to ask a few times to make sure I was going in the right direction but eventually found the little park in front of Parliament. The group was limited to 20 and run by college history majors who take a donation at the end.
    The tour focuses on the history of Iceland, the evolution of Reykjavík as a town and Icelandic culture in general. Here is some history I learned. The Vikings were criminals who plundered, raped, etc. other lands. They found Iceland and then went to Ireland and Scotland to plunder and bring back women and others to be slaves/servants. So, when exploring Icelandic roots, scientists find Norse and Irish/Scotch backgrounds. This background does help to explain the accent that Icelanders have. Also of note is the factoid that the Viking helmet did not have horns. It is believed that a priest referred to the plundering Vikings as devils and someone then drew them with horns.
    Politically, Iceland is quite progressive. Almost half of Parliament (one of the oldest in the world) is female and they got the right to vote before we did. The day after I left there was a big election because of a scandal with the prime minister who was tied to the Panama Papers and something about a pedophile. As a result, coalitions with different parties fell apart so that a majority voting block was not happening. On top of Parliament are the 4 symbols for the coat of arms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_I…) The supporters are the four protectors of Iceland (landvættir) standing on a pahoehoe lava block, representing north, south, east and west. The protectors are bull, rock giant or eagle, a dragon, and a giant. Some believe that the four Evangelists, Luke (bull), Marc (lion, became dragon), John (eagle) and Matthew (man became giant).
    Pictures: 1-Parliament;
    2- Jon Sigurdsson statue: led the campaign for independence;
    3-govt. building (yes, you can just walk right in);
    4-Harpa concert hall (described later)
    5-harbor
    6: Statue of Viking Ingolfur ArnarsonViking who settled Iceland in 874.    Read more

  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 2-Part 2, City Tour (more)

    October 23, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    More on the free tour: Hey, did you know that trolls aren’t real but elves are? Elves are not short but look like normal humans. They are happy, have great jobs, and great homes. You can only see them if you believe in them. Iceland actually has 1 full-time elf specialist who is consulted for certain decisions. For example, road construction was halted on one project because campaigners warned that the homes of elves and a chapel would be disrupted if the road continued on its present course. A local elf talker talked to the elves who agreed to the project as long as the chapel was moved intact, which it was. Btw, there is an elf school that one can attend in Reykjavik.
    Of particular interest to tourists is the very tall and looming: Hallgrímskirkja Church. The Icelanders took 40 years to complete the building. They began in 1944 when they declared independence from Denmark which was Nazi occupied at the time and Iceland knew they couldn’t do anything about the declaration. Anyway, determined to show that Iceland could function on their own, they did not seek any help in building the church so it took a while.
    The women’s right to vote began in 1913 and earned in 1915, about 5 years before ours. They weren’t allowed to join any political party so they formed their own. Picture 3 depicts their symbol which was knitted and given to some of the activists. In addition, they have absolutely no armed forces (NATO protects them) but they do have 3 Coast Guard ships for fishing/water issues.
    **** Picture 4 is the Blockhead statue, a representation of a bureaucrat (I hope you get the joke)
    Pictures: 1-grey coast guard ship; 2- Hallgrímskirkja Church; 3-symbol of women’s lib
    4-our guide; 5-blockhead; 6- Hallgrímskirkja Church    Read more

  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 2-Part 3 Sightseeing on my own

    October 23, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    On my way back to the hotel, I went into the Hallgrímskirkja Church and took some pictures. After moving to the second hotel, I decided to walk to some more sites along the coast line.
    Pictures: 1-3 leif Ericson statue and Hallgrímskirkja Church
    4-6: ocean walk, some architecture, lava rock    Read more

  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 2-Part 4 More sightseeing

    October 23, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    On the walk along the coast line I saw Solfar or Sun Voyager sculpture, the Harpa concert hall. Note on Harpa concert hall: the windows are meant to look like fish scales. They are also individually computerized to display different colors and present signs. When a terrorist attack happens, the building will display in lights the flag of that country. It is quite beautiful inside and out.
    Pictures: 1 Sun Voyager statue (Solfar) 2-6 Harpa concert hall outside and in    Read more

  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 2-Pt 5 I'm too tired to walk anymore

    October 23, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    Then I had to go in the completely other direction to go to the zoo. With time expiring and my legs getting tired, I opted to stop just short of the zoo (not really enough time to enjoy it) and go to a very nearby Ásmundur Sveinsson Museum and visit the thermal pools of Laugardalur. The next several shots are from indoor and outdoor sculptures at the house-turned-museum of well-known sculptor Ásmundur Sveinsson. I don’t have all the titles but I do have some:
    Pictures: 1-6 some sculptures, 4 is “Trollwoman” and 5 is “David and Goliath”    Read more

  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 2-Part 6 Meeting the group

    October 23, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    Exhausted I made it back around 4 pm and just laid on my bed to rest my legs. My roommate, Beryl, showed up about 30 minutes later. She does some kind of health insurance underwriting. It turns out she also spent the previous night at Skuggi Hotel and had seen me a few times. At 6 we went to the lobby to meet the group There were 14 us, mostly women traveling solo. There was 1 couple celebrating the Lisa’s 40th birthday and 2 friends who do pediatric prosthetics. There was 1 other male, Chris, a photographer from Toronto. Jonas, our CEO (i.e., guide) went over some information and said he had 2 o 3 rules, one of which was that we had to sit in a different seat each day in the van so we’d get to know everyone. He suggested we all go out to dinner just around the corner. All of us but 1 (??) didn’t go. We went to a bar type restaurant with 30 different types of hamburgers (and some other fare). I had a hamburger and fries for $25. Prices are expensive and VAT is high. It was interesting how we paid. Maybe all the restaurants do that for tour groups. We go up to the cashier, tell her what table we were at and what we ate. Then you pay that amount right there. There is no expectation of tipping and most of us didn’t (you couldn’t add it to the charge slip anyway).
    Pictures 1-4: more sculptures 5: a muffin (yes, a muffin) at the hamburger restaurant    Read more

  • Linda KohlLinda KohlIceland - 2017

    Day 3-part 1 Lava Caving

    October 24, 2017 in Iceland ⋅ ☀️ 2 °C

    We got up early to pack the van and trailer (for our luggage and the food for our country-side stay) and headed to the Golden Circle, the top touristy thing people do in Iceland. It has waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs, and more and takes probably 1-2 days to drive around the circle and see the main attractions. None of our rides lasted more than an hour at a time. The weather was absolutely beautiful and sunny and warm (upper 40’s).
    Lava Caving by the Blue(Bláfjöll) Mountains Þingvellir
    Our first stop was Lava Caving found in the middle of a barren lava field. There was a steep rocky climb down into the cave that Janet did not really want to do. She was encouraged to make her way down and then decide. She did stick it out. We walked and crawled through the Leiðarendi cave that was carved out by flowing volcanic lava, & marvel at multi-colored rock formations left in its path. At one point a goat’s skeleton had been found deep inside the cave, causing years of speculation on how that could have happened. Compared to the caving Rachel and I did in Costa Rica, this was very pleasant but hard. There was no water or guana to walk through and absolutely no live creatures to deal with.
    Pictures: 1-Blue Mountains; 2/3- cave ; 4-lava field where cave is located; 5-6-map of Þingvellir National Park and scenery    Read more

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