Iceland, Day 2 - The Golden Circle

The most popular tourist route at Iceland is the The Golden Circle and day 2 was dedicated to this.

Our first stop was at Thingvellir which is the site of a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is also home to Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.

The continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults which traverse the region, the biggest one, Almannagjá, being a veritable canyon. This also causes the often-measurable earthquakes in the area.

According to Landnámabók, the settlement of Iceland began in AD 874 when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfur Arnarson became the first permanent Norwegian settler on the island. Over the next centuries, people of Norse and Celtic origin settled in Iceland.

At Þingvellir the Icelandic Parliament or Alþingi was established  in 930 and remained there until 1798. The flagpole on the photo marks the Lögberg (Law Rock) which was the focal point of the Alþingi and a natural platform for holding speeches. The Lawspeaker, elected for three years at a time, presided over the assembly and recited the law of the land.

Our next stop on day 2 was the Geysir area. The old Geysir is no longer active but the water is still very hot.

The present most impressive active "geysir" is Strøkkur, erupting about every 4–8 minutes 15 – 20 m high, sometimes up to 40 m high.

Moving further to the north-east the weather became more and more nice, and for the first time we could see the beauty of the Icelandic landscape and feel the reality of nature.

Next stop was the Gullfoss,  a waterfall located in the canyon of Hvítá river.
The waterfalls are really impressive and the volume of water running over this waterfall is 140 m³/s in the summertime and 80 m³/s in the wintertime. The highest flood measured was 2000 m³/s.

Going close to the river may make your cloths wet, but you really feel nature by staying on the edge and see the water falls into a crevice of 32m.

Normally the Golden circle only include the three tourist attractions above.
We had the opportunity to visit two more on our way back to Reykjavik.

First we stopped at Skalholt, one of the most important places in Iceland. From 1056 until 1785, it was one of Iceland's two episcopal sees, along with Hólar, making it a cultural and political center. Iceland's first official school, Skálholtsskóli (now Reykjavík Gymnasium, MR), was founded at Skálholt in 1056 to educate clergy. This is a memorial at Skalholt.

This old bible in the cathedral at Skalholt is from MDLXXXIIII or 1584 if I still can my roman numbers well enough

Before we returned to Hotel Saga in Reykjavik we had a stop at the Kerid volcano. This is an old crater filled with natural rain water. The caldera itself is approximately 55 m (180 ft) deep, 170 m (560 ft) wide, and 270 m (890 ft) across. Kerið’s caldera is one of the three most recognizable volcanic craters because at approximately 3,000 years old, it is only half the age of most of the surrounding volcanic features. The colors on the steep walls tell all about the variety of metallurgical combinations in nature.

Iceland, Day 1 - Blue Lagoon and getting acquainted with 101 Reykjavik

 Visiting Iceland as part of a tourist group normally start with a swim in the Blue Lagoon. So also for us. The weather was however not very good on Monday 3rd, so photos from the swimming bodies cannot be shown.
An image from outside the geothermal spa is the best I can deliver. As you see the lagoon is not as blue as the raincoat of my wife.

 Well settled down at the hotel it is time for looking at the city for us urban people.
My friends at fru B told us to taste the "Svarti Daudi" when visiting Iceland. I did, and can agree that too much of that  "Brennivin" is an extreme sport with high risk factor. The Viking beer however can be recommended.

 We had a recommended list given by prof Erikur B of places to visit during our stay in Reykjavik. "Snaps" at Odin-quare was a nice place for an afternoon drink, but the menu looked ok if you feel for some food too.

 If only thirsty the "Ølstofa" between the two main shopping streets is an interesting location. Their homemade "Brio" was nice, and the barmaid told us that people came to the pub mainly for that beer.

The last recommendation of relaxing location in Reykjavik must bee "Forretta Barinn" where you also can see and probably buy paintings like these on the wall by the British artist Kirsh.

The locations had different exteriors and this house covered an Italian restaurant. Reykjavik 101 is a place where you can do most of what you can do in every catitals around the world. Try it.

Visiting Iceland

This week I have visited our old western neighbor country ICELAND (where my oldest ancestor: Torarin Finnvidson Bulibak was born around the year 850 at the north western peninsula "Ønundarfjørdur")
We stayed in the capital Reykjavik but visited many very interesting places which I during the coming days will cover here in my blog.

The first thing you will discover after arriving at Keflavik airport is the Lava-landscape created from the volcano activity during thousands of years. This part of Iceland is the youngest lava area and different from areas erupted before the last Glacial Age

The Geysir area is an interesting experience and on this photo the "Støkkur" is just sending it´s hot water up in the air. (every 5-6 minutes)

Waterfalls can be found many places over the island. This one is probably the most famous and called Gullfoss It is located in the canyon of Hvítá river in the southwestern Iceland.

The waterfalls like those in the canyon at Barnafossar give challenges for visitors with vertigo. Being careful, there is however no problems catching great images of the Hraunfossar. These waterfalls are located close to Reykholt (Snorre Sturlasson´s home) in the Borgarfjørdur area.

The last financial crack in Iceland will not be covered, but the skyline of Reykjavik is an example of what some Icelandic people look back to with anger. This area they call "Madhatten".
The concert hall Harpa is to the right of the image

Traveling around by bus gives many beautiful sceneries of almost untouched nature. This photo also includes a part of the everlasting snow areas at the second largest ice cap Langjøkull

In Iceland many people believe in Elves and Huldu folks They may live in stones like this.

Over the centuries, when Icelanders settled the island, they related to their unseen neighbors with respect. Everyone was aware of the fact that if they was not taken into account "Huldufólkene", who lived in stones and cliffs surrounding farms, it could have fatal consequences. 

The lesson of how huldufólket had their homes passed down between generations and they were raised to deal with caution to such places. Farmers who refused to believe that the hidden people were there, experienced illness, loss and other difficulties when they defied the ban and cut the grass around huldufólkenes homes. Loss of cattle and death could be explained by the fact that it was huldufólket who retaliated.

The last photo in this brief introduction to our visit at Iceland, is the group-photo of pensioners from Det norske Veritas in front of Høfdi building.
Here presidents Ronald Reagan of the United States and Mikhail Gorbachev of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics met in 1986. That summit effectively was a step to the end of the Cold War.
Follow me in the days to come where I will blog some more photos from our interesting visit to Iceland; the country where it is said that Norwegians have a dream to visit (after first have seen the rest of the world)

Flowers and Flag

The apple tree is blooming under the National emblem of Norway.

Congratulation Oslo, The new Munch Museum (Lambda) to Bjørvika

Could my yesterday blogpost get a better timing? Probably not.
Today in the Munch Room at Oslo City Hall politicians announced an agreement making it possible to develop and build a new museum for Edvard Munch´s collection close to the Opera House in Bjørvika, Oslo. (photo by Fredrik Buer / NRK)

The museum will be the Lambda project and our city skyline will in 2018 almost look like this.

 It is an historical day for Oslo, Munch´s art and all lovers of this fantastic painter. Congratulation to us all..

Munch at the Cottage

This morning I received my new book telling about the life and works of the Norwegian great painter Edvard Munch. The book is in a way a biography of Munch, and an illustration of Munch´s background and process when creating some of the world´s most fantastic paintings.

The front page of the book which is a 270 pages "comic strips" by Steffen Kverneland produced by No Comprendo Press. A great book about how the genius Munch lived and worked in the artist bohemian environments in Kristiania (Oslo), Berlin and Paris.

I have myself made many paintings imitating the originals by Munch. Partly as training for the painting art itself, and partly to decorate the walls at my cottage. These three paintings are "copies" of: "Summer Night / The Voice" from 1893, "Ashes" from 1894 and the portrait of "Hans Jæger" from 1889 (here presented as my self portrait.)

On the wall in our "living room" Munch´s "The day after" from 1894 are placed together with some of my other paintings.

Kverneland´s drawings and text are a great experience, and the book-price 350NOK gives absolute a return of investment.

Flower day at the cottage

 Today we went to the horticulture to buy flowers for the balcony at our cottage. The result can be seen on these images. The cottage looks more and more as it use to look during summertime.

The negative gardening activity today is that we had to remove host of our Flammentanz roses. The hard and extremely cold winter killed most of them. That is the nature of Nature. Live and let die.

At the cottage

Today we started the summer season at Tullarbo, our cottage at Solvang. The winter / spring grass had to be removed for the upcoming  grass.

Sharing the mowing job between us feels great, but at you see below the activity to remove weeds from  the raspberry hedge is only for those capable to work at that ground level.

Happy 17th of May

We are ready for the May 17th breakfast.
Our Constitution day always starts with a large breakfast together with friends and family members. This year it it only the Bjølsen bunch that will be here so our thoughts goes to the Swansea bunch wishing them a Happy "syttende mai".
The same greetings goes to Calahonda, Ålesund, Moss and where ever you are. :)

An ordinary Wednesday or ???

It is probably not an ordinary Wednesday when a bomb threat was announced outside the Norwegian Treasury in Oslo. However, the suspect bag contained only cloths and personal equipments and our emergency and security personnel  did a professional job.

 More ordinary we may call the visits at the harbor when the newly built (2005) swedish East Indies Ship Gøtheborg could be seen at the Oslo harbor.

 18^th century ship is in full 1:1 scale without any of the original drawings. Tomorrow the crew invites citizens of Oslo to come onboard and see the ship

However, before 17th of May I want to give all my blog readers a warning. Take care of your valuables on the Constitution Day on Friday. A lot of pickpockets are around in the city; around the children parade and in various cafes and restaurants. This warning at our local "fru B" is seriously meant.

Yesterday rain, today sunshine

Same position different colors due to sunshine. The green leaves are still on the birch.

Spring 2013

I have many times during the last months mentioned the word Spring. Is it coming, Is it here, Is it never springtime in Norway anymore, etc
However this morning the real evidence of Spring can be found outside my bedroom window. The green leaves og the birch tree has decided to bounce out on the same day as a historical religious person bounced or ascent to the heaven.
It is Spring for real.

Spring, Summer and 17th of May

Today the temperature outside my kitchen window reached almost +22C and thus was one degree higher than the temperature I had inside my apartment. We felt it was summer, and I visited the Aker Brygge and the newly opened Albert Bistro for a pint of beer.

Some hours later the weather had changed. The spring decided that Summer in the City still was a song recorded by The Lovin´Spoonful.
The band from Uranienborg School was however marching in our neighborhood exercising for our Constitution Day; the 17th of may.
It tis still Springtime.

Sunday walk to the other side of Akerselva

Although my wife is in Swansea together with our family in Wales, I decided to make our Sunday walk  myself instead of sitting on the sofa or visiting the cottage at Solvang. A great choice.
9.55 km as seen on the map in nice weather and temperature up to +16 C. I also included a new area in my walk; Sørenga.

Sørenga is a neighborhood in"The Old City" of Oslo. It is located east of Bjørvika, west of Vannspeilet, south of the street Bispegata and Oslo torg, and west and north of the Alna River. South of the area the Sørenga-pier runs out into the Oslo Fjord.

From Sørenga we have a nice panorama of the new Barcode area close to the new Opera house.

At the Sørenga pier the first step of the building project is finished, and some inhabitants have already moved in. The erection progress can be found Here

On the western side of Bjørvika the Art Nouveau building Havnelageret , the towers at Oslo City Hall and Vettakollen can be seen

Vettakollen is a hill and neighbourhood in the borough of Vestre Aker in Oslo, Norway. The hill lies west of Sognsvann and southeast of Voksenåsen and Holmenkollen, and measures 419 metres above mean sea level. The built-up residential area south of the hill is served by the Oslo Metro station Vettakollen. 

The name stems from the beacon hill's former use as the site of a beacon (Norwegian: varde). Before modern times, such beacons were set alight on a series of hills to constitute an alarm system. The naming is found in other hills, such as Vardåsen, Varingskollen and probably Brannfjell. Vettakollen is the hill rising from our cottage towards Holmenkollen.

The areas around Bispegata and Bispevika are still a building area, but this nice bridge gives an easy access to Sørenga from the Opera House.
It is also in this area that the new Munch Museum LAMBDA have to be located. (if only the politicians can stop discussing and start building.)
Lambda is also the L-letter in the Greek alphabet

The bridge gives you a nice view up the estuaries of Akerselva.

Akerselva, or Akerselven, is a river which flows through Oslo. It starts at Maridalsvannet in Oslomarka, and follows the urban areas Nordre Aker, Sagene, Grünerløkka, Oslo centre and Grønland, whereby it finally ends at Paulsenkaien and Oset in Bjørvika. The river is considered to be a part of the Nordmarkvassdraget, and has the watercourse number 006.Z. The entire river is about 8.2 kilometres long, and has a difference in altitude of approximately 149 meters.

On my way under Akershus Fortress the large yacht Mayan Queen is still at harbor. It was expected that the yacht should have left Oslo two days ago bound for Copenhagen, but as you see it is still here.
Maybe the Owner: Mexican yachtsman Albert Bailleres, 74 year old billionaire, who's inherited wealth (5+ billion dollars) originating from logging and mining enterprises, wants to spend some of his fortune in Oslo and Norway.

My last photo of today´s walk is from Albert Bistro stolen from their FaceBok profile. Congratulation with the reopening of a completely new restaurant. Not much is left from the old Albertine and I look forward to visit you another day.

Traveling to London with SAS and further on

After 83 minutes departure delay at Oslo Airport this morning due to malfunctioned airplane, the pilots made a great effort to catch up and was scheduled to arrive London Heathrow only 49 minutes after estimated arrival time.
However, that was without unexpected delay at Heathrow.
Circling 4 times north east of London before getting admitted to line up for landing ate up all the saved time plus a little more. Traveling to London with SAS can be a challenge.

When grounded at Heathrow as seen on this image from Flightradar24.com , the pace to get the luggage and the National Express bus bound for South Wales became another stressing challenge.

Swansea is far away.

Apple 1 from 1976 still working

According to MacRumors.com one of the 1976 Apple 1 computers are out for auction at $250.000 to $400.000 estimates.

The Apple 1 was originally priced at $666.66 when it was released in 1976, with only 200 units produced. It's believed that there are roughly 30 to 50 still intact.

Quality as always.