My garden before we left (June 29th, 2015) & trip from Kelowna thru Edmonton, then over Greenland to Iceland
(Trip to Heimaey, in the Westmann Islands off the S Iceland coast, follows)
(Above): Trip to Heimaey, Westmann Islands, off S coast Iceland July 2-3, 2015
Trip to NW, N and NE Iceland July 10-12, 2015 (below) Erpstadir Dairy farm (W Iceland) for fresh ice cream, skyr & climbing hay bales :) Norse mythology museum, which Niall studied in Gr 4 Vatnses peninsula (NW), seal watching Myvatn Nature Baths (NE) ...and more in-between. Like a car overheating, getting towed just to be lucky enough to (unplanned) stay on the farm where the famous Erik the Red was born (Viking that was exiled from Iceland in 980, founded Greenland, and his son Leif the Lucky went on to found Vinland, Labrador in E Canada). Funny...on our trip to N Iceland, the rental car overheated & was replaced amazingly quick in the middle of nowhere, a bird flew into the front corner of the car cracking the light somewhere on Hwy 1 in the middle of the midnite sun and the battery went dead when I went to return the rental. This may sound like strange, unfortunate events BUT actually found it humerous, and like an Icelandic's amazing positive attitude that i've grown to notice and appreciate very much: There's always a solution and everything is ok. We are always taken care of, just trust and remember, life is about love. :)
Life in Reykjavik :) (below) Cycling along the Atlantic Ocean to soak feet in hot pot on beach (met an author of 8 books there) Soccer KR (Iceland) vs. Cork City, Ireland Norse mythology museum, Borganes Swimming at the beach, Nordsvolk An artist's grass mount hill, Reykjavik harbour
Reykjavik Sat. July 18 Skateboarding at Harpa Concert Hall, July 18 2015 Kex Hostel Music outdoor marathon
Njáls Saga Museum, Hvolsvöllur, S Iceland (http://www.njala.is/enska). Sun. July 19 2015 It's interesting, Niall's name is Irish, the same name in Icelandic, "Njál", is of a character of the most famous Iceandic saga in the 10th and 11th century. We have read this saga at home, rich in Viking and Icelandic adventures.
S. Iceland - a day trip Sunday, July 19, 2015 (Incl Njal's Saga Museum, above) Visit to Arny & Kjartan's summer house for dinner at base of the famous glacier-covered Eyjafjallajokull Volcano (erupted in 2010) Hike and swim to Seljavallalaug, a pool in a valley under Eyjafjallajokull. Built in 1923.
Hanging out in Reykjavik - The Beach...oh! what simple awesome fun!!! Collecting sea glass, watching snails, digging out what we thought could be an ol Viking sword - Working on project at Askja (Earth Sciences bldg) at Univ of Iceland - Niall often joins me :) how many kids get to hang out at universities? - The WoodBike: met the Designer/Founder by coincidence at the bakery, July 22nd. I want one of these bikes!!! (http://thewoodbike.com) - Harpa Concert hall: watched GusGus (local band) and Reykjavik Dance Productions, July 22nd. (http://gusgus.com) - MJÖLNIR: Niall's afternoons doing Brazilian jui-jitsu, boxing, martial arts, fishing, swimming, etc. What a cool place. (http://www.mjolnir.is/en) - Reykjavik Zoo & Gardens, with Gudrun & family (Daniel, Niall's friend): rides, segway, seals, reindeer, horses, cows, arctic fox. Sat July 25th - University of Iceland, getting work done on my project while Niall hangs out, too, drawing volcanoes! - Another KR (downtown Reykjavik) soccer team game!! July 27 2015
Working @ Univ of Iceland on Surtsey project (seafloor volcano, off S Iceland coast) = Success!!! Last few days in Reykjavik, visit to friends: Gudrun & family (lamb roast dinner!), Arny's dear mom, Gudrun (Selfoss) Aug 1st, '15: S Iceland: Solheimajokull glacier, Vik beach, Dryholey Aug 2-3: Arabaer farm. Dog, cats, Icelandic horses, 3 kids, fishing in puddles. What fun! Aug 3rd: Flying home. Reykjavik - Toronto - Kelowna