More from Snæfellsnes. Probably.

Alright. So. Things have been a little out of order. Whatever, I operate by my own timeline. However, the combined photographic efforts of 4 family members has created a timeline that even I struggle to comprehend. I'm doing my best to create some sort of linear progression, but I might just admit defeat. Don't worry. "Defeat" only means that I will smatter this blog with unexplained photographs until I reach the point in my trip where I am the only one contributing to this visual smorgasbord...at which point an intelligible narrative will slowly materialize.

That paragraph may or may not be overdramatic.

Nonetheless. Here we are at the black sand beach, Djúpalónssandur. This is another revisited site from last summer, but it does not become any less mysterious or mystical. I really can´t remember who took which pictures, so all visual appreciation should be directed toward the Brenners as a whole.

I thought these two photographs they were really beautiful examples of Iceland's unconcealed geology, and they really looked particularly impressive placed side-by-side. Sooo I did a lil tweaking and smushed 'em together.

The best part of this beach is the rocks. They look like polished massage stones, and they make an extremely gratifying noise when you stomp on them.

Nathan, braving the treacherous slopes.

The beach is covered in decaying pieces from shipwrecked vessels.

This was a trail that took you over the beach to the other side of a cliff. There, you can see a fish-abundant cove that was once a gathering spot for fishermen.

This was the Norwegian House in Stykkishólmur (as the name implies, it was brought here...from Norway)

The Vatnsafn had some chess tables in quite a picturesque location. Here, we're doing an almost convincing job of pretending to play chess.

This is the restaurant we enjoyed during our stay in Stykkishólmur

Cozy Meal #2

Space Church!

The path to Hvítserkur

Icelandic horse!

these titles are never very effective...

Still far behind in my musings, but certainly catching up...Here are some more photographs from Glaumbær that I forgot to include in the last post.

This is the tea room where we had Icelandic pancakes

Here is the internet's rendition of Icelandic pancakes:

I was also apparently missing a few photos from Akureyri as well. Here is Iceland-Dad and Real-Dad

And ze ladies.

These trolls await tourists on the sidewalk...luring them in with their unavoidable good looks and charming personalities, the typical tourist is hardly immune to their draw. From here, once entranced, the tourist is inexplicably compelled to walk straight into the Viking Store Giftshop. Once they cross the threshold most hope is lost...there is a 85% chance that the victim will end up buying a magnet, facetious t-shirt, volcanic ash, or canned mountain air. Tis a sad tale...

After our time in Akureyri we drove down to Snæfellsnes, a peninsula on the west coast of Iceland. We stayed at a delightful guesthouse in a town called Stykkishólmur

This is where we stayed. A wonderful woman named Greta took care of us while we were here, supplying us with a comfortable room, a soothing hotpot, and an overwhelming (but undoubtedly delicious) breakfast before we left.

We got dinner at Narfeyrarstofa, a cozy restaurant, and Nathan got himself the coziest of meals

During our meal we saw the most wondrous of wonders: a sun-burp from the sky. Nothing is more painful than spending two straight weeks in overcast, cold, wet, and windy weather and watching the sun shed its light somewhere else. If you listen closely you can hear the sound of sunshine laughing at us.

Here's a view of Stykkishólmur from Vatnasafn (Library of Water).

All of these pillars contained the melted ice of different glaciers in Iceland.

And they were fun to frolic through

Here's Nathan looking over his Kingdom.

We visited the Norwegian House, an old house that now functions as a museum. AKA, cool old stuff! And things!

Nathan and I explored the Berserker Lava Field. Berserkers were huge, super aggressive, probably crazy Norse warriors that made a mess of everything when they would enter into battle (hence, the word "berserk"). The Berserkers in this lava field have their own tale to tell. There were 2 Berserkers, brought to Iceland from Norway by a farmer looking for some extra help around the farm. They were too much to handle, so farmer #1 of course decided they would make a nice present for his bro, farmer #2. One of the Berserkers fell in love with farmer #2's daughter and asked for...no, DEMANDED her hand in marriage. Of course, farmer #2 was all like "What? No." But he didn't want to flat out refuse the poor guy because...well, I guess that wouldn't make for a good story. SO, instead, farmer #2 said that if the Berserkers could clear a path through the lava field, the Berserker could marry his daughter. Even though clearing a path through a lava field is extraordinarily difficult, the Berserkers were just like BAM, cleared! So farmer #2 was like "Damn," and decided that he still didn't want the Berserker to marry his daughter. Naturally, farmer #2 locked the two Berskers into a scalding hot sauna (cause it's Iceland! duhh), and then speared the both of them when they tried to escape. Apparently very large bones were found in the lava field a few years ago...thus making the story a bit more possible. Interesting! And so, here's Nathan walking through Berserkjahraun.

Here is some big lava! No story here unfortunately, but I could make one up? But I won't. Because I am tired.

Oh Crap, Blog (Pt. 2)

I was hoping to finish this game of catch-up last night, but since it was the Summer Solstice I felt a stronger obligation to sit outside, drink hot chocolate, and watch the sundip...which is my new word for a summer Icelandic sunset (but it's NOT a sunset because it's a sundip! get it right!)

So, with apologies for disorganization, here's another smattering of photographs from the beginning-ish of my family vacation, pre-students.

Back to jumping at Laufás...

At earth's edge

Another one from Ásbyrgi

Another one from Krafla

At Hverir, a geothermal field

Nearby is a small spa, similar to the Blue Lagoon, fed by effluence from a nearby geothermal plant. It's a really beautiful spot and a great idea, but our experience involved a lot of cold spots followed by a rush of scorchingly hot water at random intervals. I loved the area and I loved the concept, but it was perhaps the most stressful spa experience I've had to endure (well, I don't have many other spas to compare it to) . I felt that my trust in the spa was abused by its manipulative and aggressive behavior. Our relationship will never be the same...

Some pseudocraters...

Sadly, our trip to Mývatn was on a very windy and cold day...I tried to coax the family out of the car to go for an admittedly miserable and grueling walk around the pseudocraters...We didn't get very far. But at least my Dad looked a little silly in his sweatshirt.

We visited my homestay family the first day we were in Akureyri, and here's their house. It's Norwegian. And mega-old (an approximation).

Hof, the cultural center in Akureyri

On Sundays they broadcast a live radioshow from Hof, and the public is encouraged to attend

Outside of Akureyri is Safnasafnið, the New Folk and Outsider Museum. Most fitting adjective: quirky

Tried to get a good picture of this but it was harder than anticipated...Hopefully you can see the tree rings that line up on the wall/ceiling/podium?

Friends!

Things!

Books!

This bowl was filled with water and was supposed to hum when you rubbed your thumbs on the handle. We were unable to crack the code, but it looks pretty!

Also, just in case you forgot that Iceland was expansive and filled with sheep:

We went over to Glaumbær, in Skagafjörður, to see some more turf houses and dine at a teahouse (Icelandic pancakes. Get'em.)

Important people!

Grass and skates growing from the ceiling!

Main hallway through the turfhouses

We traveled over to Hvítserkur, a rocky protrusion in the water and/or a troll frozen in the sunlight. Similar to our Mývatn experience, the beautiful landscape was rivaled by the frigid weather

X-TREME SIGHTSEEING