Postcard #16

June 6, 2002

Well all packed,

My last night in Iceland for a couple months. My bags are all packed, most of my stuff is in boxes at the school. Well I am getting ahead of myself. Lets get back to the West Fjords, the weather was great a little cold but nice and sunny. I was prepared and thinking of sleeping in the Blazer but it was kind of cold and I had seen some information on Breiðavík, a former home for troubled boys that is now a guesthouse. I headed there and was shocked to see a car that I had rented out from the hotel a few days earlier, I must remind you of how BAAAD the roads were. Oh well, it was the only car there. I was able to geta place to sleep and my hosts were fabulous. I highly recommend the trip even with the poor roads. It was another bright and beautiful day so I did not wait for anyone to wake up, I wanted to get going and I thought I would grab a coffee and a bite to eat down the road. I was not able to find a place for coffee until noon but I survived. The scenery of the West Fjords is even greater than I thought it would be. Another thing that stands out is the clear blue sea, it reminds me of the Carribean. I had seen pictures of Dyjandifoss"waterfalls" but seeing is really the best. There are a number of falls and witha little hike up the mountain you can see them all. Of course you have to go to the top to see the main falls and I must say it was really worth the hike. I took a whole roll of film on the hike and I can hardly wait to get the film developed.

I did explore a few other interesting places. Selardalar is different. Samuel Jonsson a farmer and artist made a piece for the national church. It was refused so he decided to build his own church. It is still standing but is deteriorating now. He has some pretty strange art and was said to have been kind of childlike. I can believe it but it is still something to see. I was also able to see Hrafnseyri, the former home of Jon Sigurdsson.I didn´t have tme to visit the museum but I did walk around the yard.

Sunday, Hvitasunnadagur I met with Sunnukór in the morning. The meeting went good and people are looking forward to the trip. I stayed at my cousin Þórdis´but they had other commitments so I was invited to her inlaws for supper. They are going with the Sunnukór trip so they were busy asking questions. Great food and nice visit, they are really nice people.

Monday the weather finally took a turn for the worse. It rained most of the way but I was still able to see quite a bit. I noticed alot of logs on the north coast, I was later told they had come from Russia. The locals collect and make use of these escapees from Russia.

Marks were handed out and posted on Wed. 22nd. There sure was a traffic jam in the parking lot. Saturday the 25th was a really busy day. First I was working the hotel, then I had to go help with graduation at the school. There was also elections for city government and then there was Eurovisison to watch. Iceland was not in the competion but  many still followed on television.

Monday 27th was our Vorferð, spring staff trip. I had heard stories about this trip and they were all true. The teachers and staff really let their hair down and party hardy. We went out to Hvollsvollur and checked out the Njalls Saga area.. We had a great meal, barbeque and lots to drink. The drinking was highlighted with frequent shoots of Brennivin"Black Death" served really cold so it went down smooth. The party and dancing continued on the bus and we even had to stop the bus for a while and had a dance on the side of the road. The bus was rocking so much the driver suggested we stop for a while, no one minded.

It was quiet around the school the next day, I was glad I wasn´t the only one that was a little under the weather.

Even though work is slower at the school there is still lots to do. Preparing for the trip has been keeping me busy. I was able to meet with Walter Sopher from Edmonton and I am hoping we can get some groups over to Edmonton next summer. Also had some visitors from Saskatchewan, cousins of Tim Samson´s. I was able to show them around town and had a nice time with them. Bad news also, the guy I replaced at the school, a Swede who has lived here for many years passed away on the 30th. After finding out he had cancer, he died 10 days later. He was always so active and had travelled to the US and Sweden this past winter. He will be missed and I am sure there will be a big turnout from the school at his funeral on Monday.

Well another weekend another adventure. Friday the 31st I headed north, after getting the Blazer fixed in Hvammstangi I was able to make it to Akureyri, the capital of the north. The weather wasn´t great but it was nice to see friends and family. Saturday I travelled to Grenivik, Husavik and Lake Myvatn. It has been awhile since I have been in some of these areas so it was nice to return. All went well except getting stuck in Husavik, it happens to the best of us. I also managed to explore Kjarnaskogar (forest) in the outskirts of Akureyri. I know one of my great-great grandmothers if from the farm Kjarni but I have not found out if this is the right farm. The forest is on the old farm of Kjarni and was started in the 40´s. On my return trip I took a little detour through Dalvik, Olafsfjorður, Siglufjorður and Hofsos. I was able to watch "Seamens´ Day" events in Hofsos and was able to check out some geneology in the museum there. I stopped for a quick visit with my cousins in Hvammstangi before heading back to Reykjavik.  

Well this week has been quite quiet, except Tuesday summer finally arrived. I went to Nautholvik, the man made beach and there was lots of people there and lots of sunburnt people as well. I headed downtown and there was even more people enjoying the sun there. At night the hotel staff went out. We had supper together and then went to a couple bars. Now you will think that is all I do is party, but that is not the case. I/ we had a good time and it is a nice way to end my stint here. Before packing tonight I delivered a copy of Logberg to the Embassy, with the feature article about the opening. They are planning some activities here for Canada Day. I almost wish I could be here for that but I can´t be everywhere and I am looking forward to going "home"for the summer.

I had 2 different but mentionable "Utlendingur" foreigner experiences. Walking through Kjarnaskogar I met up with 3 children, one was a definite visible minority "Asian". They were all speaking Icelandic and it was the Asian that was friendliest and said hi and have a nice day to me. Icelanders´are alot more private and would not really think to do something like that in my opinion. At the beach there was lots of people, in particular a group of younger adults. They were kind of messy and drinking, the beach patrol spoke with them and I heard them say they have a garbage bag and will clean up. I must also mention that there were some foreigners in the group, but they were all speaking Icelandic. Right after the beach patrol left one of the Asians through a beer bottle in the bay. I was not impressed but I guess he just had an attitude problem, wanted to be tough I guess.

I think I will continue the postcards even while I am in Canada as I will still be thinking and involved with Iceland and Icelanders.

Thanks for visiting,

Kent Lárus