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| Mount Esja, it looks very close but it is a (short) ride away from Reykjavik, and loved for Sunday hiking by locals. |
The in my opinion ugly Hallgrimmkirkja is also a bit in view (not on picture, the churches shown are smaller ones I don't know). To remind me I am in Reykjavik. It is not that I think it is ugly, but in general I have problems with marks of religion towering over the world. It is too big, too dominant, standing there like an everlasting statement that the church is all that matters. And I of course also feel this ancient pain christians delivered to other religions in the past and still present. I dont hate them, but it is an itchy ancient scar, that hurts with my own feeling to be equal and humble. We are all part of nature and nothing or no one is better or worse unless we pretend ourselfs to be. I am happy though that Icelanders in general are quite liberal concerning religion. In their churches there is place for pagan traditions, the elves, dwarves and trolls and for me that can only be good for the world. To respect one others religions, believes or ideas. Vikingblood runs very strong but wise personalities I guess.
On the other hand, Hallgrimskirkjan, it is Icelandic, and the idea they tried to make it from natures heart, look like Svartifoss and the basalt pillars you find in many places on Iceland does good to me. Because it connects the religion to the nature around it. There is beauty in anything and everything. And I would be the last one to refuse saying that from the tower of Hallgrimmskirkjan you have one of the best views over Reykjavik and its surroundings.
On the other side I view the green hill of Perlan. But I prefer the view of Esja. The sky is looking like it wants to clear itself, that is good because the positivo in me hopes the northern light tour will take on. But I know it will be minor chance the auroras will show tonight. Perlan (the Pearl) is the former hotwater resevoir of Reykjavik, just before the bigger one residing inlands in the mountains was build. Perlan did not have capacity to serve all of Reykjavik. Today it is home to an exposition center, the Saga museum and one of the best restaurants in Reykjavik and if I am not mistaken also of the world, since it is listed in one top 5 of the world list. But I cant remember which one. For sure you can forget about it to just walk in for dinner. It typically is fully booked weeks in advance. But, it is also rather expensive.
But well.... that is some stories I maybe find out later this week....
How I got here on the view on heaven is another story, that will not be a long one. At exactly 14.00 we left on the plane called Surtsey, after the youngest island on our planet. A volcano of 'just' 50 years old (surface age because maybe it is much older but never came to surface before). We had extremely nice views over Holland, flying off north I saw Amsterdam, the province of Northern Holland, and our Dutch isles Texel, Vlieland and Terschelling.
After crossing the sea we flew over clear sky Scottisch Highland, Lch Ness, isle of Skye and the other islands 'floating' there. Scotland was covered in snow.
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| Skottish Highlands just west of the Isle of Skye |
Iceland was densely clouded, I saw Myrdalsjokull clearly, as well as parts of Reykjanes, but picture taking was not able as we did not fly along the coast like last time I went to Iceland. We proceeded landing straigth after seeing the shore of Iceland appearing. Snowy like Scotland. This time we had to make a circle as we would land from northwestern direction, we flew through dark grey clouds causing the plane to shake, but our cute long haired viking like pilot put the plane well on the ground. It was not as shocking as my previous return flight which did give me slight fear to fly to be honest... It is not that I am afraid to fly but when the plane starts to fall down, loosing height or battles the wind, I feel all my blood flow for safety and close to fainting. I don't know why but I am only scared this will be the 'lucky' flight to hit the ground instead of touching the ground. But that last flight to Holland, that was really a moment I almost passed out. I have never ever felt so relieved when we safely landed.
Then finally in Iceland and I was amazed to be out on the flybus in just 20 minutes after the plane landed. In all my happiness I forgot to buy food and change my money and also got caught in an april fools joke about solar activity. I feel so stupid.... but it doesnt matter I am home where my heart is. For a moment forget about all the sorrow and misery back in Holland. Im here to fill my dose of happiness to survive my life. And that is no joke. I really have no clue what my life would mean if I didn't have times like this to be in the place I love so much.
And here I am in my hotel. Waiting to go down to check about a northern light tour. I doubt I will be out tonight. If not, I go have a decent dinner and have a walk here around Perlan. After tomorrow weather will improve, but the promised rain did not yet fall here, so call me happy if I wasnt already.
Not much pictures yet with this blog... I'm sure I can fetch beautifull pictures of Mount Esja later this week, when weather might improve. So I might try, but not in a hurry. Gosh, I'm so happy. But would be most of I had my fuzzies with me. We had a cat on the plane today, transfering to the USA. I talked with a Dutch family who had their single way ticket today. Lucky them. But I hope one day soon I have a one way ticket and 2 cats with me too. I can only hope this luck is on my side.
I had my dinner and I wish I didn't have it. The hotel restaurant is very poor with vegetarian options. Since (I believe) Icelandic meat is more organic than you can ever dream off (cattle is not vaccinated, does only get pure raw food, roam free year round and have time to grow), I do not bother about eating meat here. I even would not mind about eating lamb, but I would not choose it myself. I decided already in Holland I would choose the hamburger. But I was about to make the most stupid mistake of my holiday to choose smoked salmon. While I most of the time get sick of smoked salmon. But this was a special smoked salmon... It was hot smoked salmon. Yes it is always hot smoked. And it is famous as being one of the best in the world. But this one they probably put underground near a volcano steam vent or preferably close to a lavaflow. And leave it there for 'just' a while. What I got here was the most disgusting smoked salmon I ever had in my life. And I was resistantly eating it making my stomach more and more upset. This blubbery decomposed smelly and bad tasting mess. Sorry Icelandics... I do know you have good food, but this is my emotion towards something I ate when I know my stomach has problems with it.
So I turned out to feel terrible the rest of the night. I was even happy for not having a northern light tour, because a bad driving or shaky experience would have made me puke. I felt so bad. Not really sick but just not happy and my stomach didn't tolerate anything after. I fear this will be a very cheap holiday concerning food....
But also I will never eat smoked salmon again ever. Goodnight....
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