Wednesday, April 26, 2006

More Icelandic Obsessing


This is the Blue Lagoon - fabulous for a soak, but there is a hidden hazard which I posted in an earlier entry...


Sunset off the Snaefellsness pennisula - on the west side of Iceland. The beauty was indescribable.



This was a small church sitting in the middle of nowhere. It was open, and welcomed travelers to sign the guest book inside.


Viking ship sculture in Reykjavik


Any Questions?
I know you are all SICK AND TIRED of my obsession with this tiny country, but I can't help myself. I think after this next trip, I'll do a spread about the food. I was so pleasantly surprised last time - but now I'm prepared. Going for "coffee" at someone's home is more like going to the buffet dinner at the Claremont Hotel in Berkeley... there is so much food you can't possibly sample it all. The countdown is on.

17 comments:

Autumn Storm said...

Oh gosh, these are just the most stunning of pictures, a delight to look at!!! So not bored, Terry, can't help but daydream of faraway places and travelling, few things better than travelling to new places - here, I get to travel. Keep 'em coming.

tsduff said...

When are you taking your trip with M? This weekend?

Autumn Storm said...

Leaving tomorrow morning & will be back Monday evening (my time).
Just saw your countdown timer :-) excellent!

tsduff said...

Have a blast - think of your fellow "internet people" who are there with you in thought :-D

Be safe :-)

Autumn Storm said...

Thanks Terry. Hoping to check in briefly each day :-)

Crazy Me said...

Totally not sick and tired of your obsession. I'm jealous. It sounds like a great place to visit and sooooo beautiful.

ECS said...

If you like the Blue Lagoon, you should try Jarðböðin við Mývatn. It's the northern "cousin" of the Blue Lagoon but is much cooler. Harder to get to=fewer tourists, the water leaves your hair less crunchy, and the view incredible- surrounded by mountains and looking towards Mývatn. It's a lot more barebones than the Blue Lagoon, but that's exactly why it's cool. Then again, I'm not a fan of the ol' BL, due to the sweaty tourists that don't wash, and the hair that's entwined in the mud in the bottom.

Jeanne said...

Right. No blue lagoon for me.

I'm not tired of your pictures either. I'm just tired period. I'm doing the training part of becoming a practical nurse, but with an extremely impractical schedule.

tsduff said...

Angela, the pics don't do it justice of course... but the memories I'm building with each trip help. It really is gorgeous - although a stark kind of beauty. I was sitting around in my yard at lunch today - surrounded by lush green foliage of all sorts... grass, trees, bushes - and even more green across the street and up the hillside. I found myself thinking.. "It's almost too much green". I think I wouldn't do too well in the jungle. I like actually being able to see the wide open harsh rocks and wild landscapes.

Tai said...

I'm so excited for you!

(I really like that sculpture, too)

tsduff said...

Trace - good, because I can't seem to stop posting about it :-)


Elisa - thanks so much for the info on Jarðböðin við Mývatn (I had fun looking at the pictures... couldn't really decipher the Icelandic LOL). I'm squirreling all these great details away in a file, so I can make a rough plan of all the places we want to go. I know we shall never see but a fraction of all the places we would like, but there are a few high points I must see. Your insights are very helpful.


Wow, Jeanne - that is so cool that you are training for nursing. What a whole ball of work that is. Very admirable though. I always wanted to be a nurse - ended up volunteering in the ER because the chemistry and math portions of the required knowledge just isn't in my brain. Keep up the good work - hope you get some sleep.

tsduff said...

Thanks Tai :-) I stood by that sculpture and just was in awe. The rain had stopped for a few minutes, and we just enjoyed the wind on our faces. The sculpture is metal - stainless steel I believe.

Outdoorsy Girl said...

I am totally in love with that church. How adorable! And what a statement it makes standing in the wide open with doors unlocked beckoning visitors to drop in.

We don't mind your Icelandic obsessing at all! :) I think it's safe to say that we rather like it!

Mo'a said...

Tired !!!Never.....When I was young we used to go to the place where the Blue Lagoon is now, to have a picnic in the lava field.
My Father's family comes from Snaefelsnes.....I used to spend summers there on the farm.
I love the church....where is it?
The counter is awsome.....you are so clever.

Agnes said...

Ooo...if this is how you obsess you just keep right at it!!! Wonderful thoughts of beautiful places.
I want to go sit in that church and just be.

tsduff said...

OD - :-) The reception from all the places we went in Iceland was just like that of that little church - open, warm & friendly. There wasn't a soul around for miles upon miles, but the church was obviously active due to the childrens' drawings, hymnals on the benches and various announcements which were posted inside. We wandered in and out feeling welcomed.

Mo'a - That is funny to me that you used to picnic on the lava fields. Kind of "different" picnic spot than we seek out in California, you know, with trees, a stream, picnic tables, shade... LOL I love the lava fields, walking in them, driving through them, looking at their fabulous moss-covered surfaces, caves, etc. but it isn't the usual picnic stopping spot. What sort of foods do you bring on those outings? Hangikjot, I'm sure, lambalaeri, hardfiskur, flatkokur, surmatur, raudkal, reyktur... I'm getting hungry...

That church was somewhere between Grindavik and Thorlakshofn in the middle of nowhere. It was a wonderful isolation.

You like the counter? Me too - just adds to my excitement!

Agnes - You said it as it is... just "be". When I'm traveling over there, seeing the beautiful, raw, open, wild places I am unencumbered by all the YOU KNOW WHAT that I drag around with me all day every day.... and then, when I come and the trip is over, I just jump into any of the memories for a quick escape back into paradise :-)

Spider Girl said...

I love travel pictures---they inspire my list of Place I Want to Go. The list is getting longer...