Views of the Fjord

The last day of the vacation was bitter sweet.  I didn't want to leave this beautiful and serene place, but was glad to have experienced it.  This is the view in front of the A frame house.

Blue and Gold

Iceland's geothermal industry has produced a lot of electricity and wealth.  Above, an aluminum smelting plant is accused of contaminating the grazing land.  Aluminum smelting releases fluoride.

An international campaign, Saving Iceland, aims to conserve  the natural purity of a mostly untouched landscape which is the largest remaining wild area of Europe.

The blue lagoon, above, was created when the waste water from a geothermal plant formed pools rich in silica & sulfur. In 1981 people discovered that it was good bathing water, particularly as a treatment for psoriasis. The water is replaced every 2 days. This has now blossomed into a large facility including a restaurant, hotel, and conference rooms.  Tourists come for a fun day of soaking and schmoozing.

Geological Aesthetic

A geode found on a rock at the beach on the fjord. Sparkly crystals!

 I love this ceramic crucifix, found hanging in the A frame, where we stayed.  The Madonna & Child image is suggested; it's flowing forms seem to be cut from frozen lava.

 In a Reykjavik store front gallery, above, a display of small vases shows rough textured surfaces.

A plate, also in the house, celebrating the 1100 years of the settlement of Iceland.  Norwegian Vikings and Celts from the British Isles settled Iceland in 874.  Read a short history of Iceland and the world's oldest national assembly, online at the Keflavic airport site here: http://b2b.kefairport

Watercolor

 Attempting to capture the grandeur of God's creation is daunting.

Where We Are Exactly, More or Less

The A frame is located about a 45 min. drive North of Reykjavik, where 2/3 of the population lives.  The house is on a black sand beach which looks out over the fjord, Hvalfjordur.  The enlarged map above can be seen by clicking here: www.mappery.com  There are apparently lots of haunted areas which is not surprising considering the many trolls, elves, and Viking burial grounds.

There are no real towns on the fjord where we are.  Most of the country side is farm and grazing land.  It is peaceful.

Simming in Reykjavik

The public pool is open to everyone via a daily admission ticket.  It is in a beautiful sun filled building with Geo-thermal heated water; it was just warm enough to be comfortable.  Up the stairs at the back are outdoor "hot pot" pools and a sauna.  Sunbathers can also lounge on two separate levels.  

Clouds on Mountains

These are views from the A frame deck.  They are amazing at all hours of the day and night.

Evening at Mariubudur

Dusk

The sun sets at around 11:00 pm.  The A frame looks out over the fjord.  Lots of bushes and trees were grown around the property to break the strong winds.

Next door there are two modern style houses.  Both have sod roofs.

Photographers call dusk the magic hour.  In Iceland the magic hour lasts a long time as the sun seems to hover below the horizon.  This stunning view from the deck shows the small island in the fjord and the distant mountains with clouds rolling down their face.

Driving Around the Fjord, Hvalfjordur

The roads are well kept; there are no pot holes to slow us down.  Hvalfjordur means "whale fjord"; it was used as a naval base for the USA and Britain in WWII.  Driving up North West was an adventure with stunning views.  The next town on the agenda was Akranes, where there is a light house.

We found a church on the edge of a cliff; 80% of Icelanders are Lutheran.  The Evangelical Lutheran Church, the national church, is endowed by the state, but there is complete freedom for all faiths, without discrimination.





The three horses were so friendly; they pranced right up to the camera in a conga line.
It was a surprise to see Mr. Ed and an art gallery in a lighthouse!

 

 Akranes, the town where this lighthouse stands, was originally founded by Norse brothers from Ireland in the 9th century.  Today the smell of fish is overpoweringly strong near the lighthouse.  Fish, cement and aluminum are the main sources of employment.  The lighthouse was recently opened as a gallery!  It was like a tiny Guggenheim.  The stairs to the top were not difficult to climb.

Beautiful Gray Days

Even on cloudy days the landscape is stunning. 

The rental 4 wheel drive parks between the A-frame house and wood fired sauna.  It was recommended to fire up the sauna before going for a swim.

 

 The water is cold and salty on the fjord.  A brave teenager next door took a plunge at the end of the day.  He was back out in about a minute!

Summer Vacation 2014

The first day walking down to the shore was awesome.  The house sits on the banks of a fjord: Hvalfjordur, about a 45 min. drive north of Reykjavik.