Days 0-1: E-ville to Iceland

Hello all:

Finally, the video you've all been waiting for: Sea Lion Rescue on Salinas State Beach. 1 minute of four volunteers corralling a feisty sea lion. Of course, that's if it plays! May the force be with you...

Further, before starting the trip, THB is posting the pics of the art purchases from the western New York trip, all by Ashley Lyon:

Photos of "leather hard" ceramic pieces

closeup

closeup

"Contralto" door

closeup

"Leather hard" pillow

VOTD: (yes, THB is now linking to videos...assuming it works!)

Emeryville goes viral  Yep, you can see our immediate neighborhood, live on TV


Now, back to the travel blog!!
 

First glimpse of Iceland from the air

QOTD: The recorded history of Iceland began with the settlement by Viking explorers and their slaves from the east, particularly Norway and the British Isles, in the late 9th century, since Iceland was uninhabited long after the rest of western Europe was settled. Recorded settlement has conventionally been dated to 874 CE, although archaeological evidence indicates Gaelic monks had settled Iceland previously. The land was settled quickly, mainly by Norwegians who may have been fleeing conflict or seeking new land to farm.

Weather: Overcast and clearing in E-ville, nighttime in NY, overcast and 50-ish with a breeze in Reykjavik (ie, cold), followed by light rain (very cold if you're wet)


Business class to JFK, then a short red-eye (4.5 hours) to Reykjavik, arrive around 9am, buy a vodofone mobile (the one we have from NZ trip has conked out) for $60 (includes sim card with $20 worth of minutes; should work in Holland as well), pick up expensive rental car (cheapest one THB could find), and DB guides us right to the house exchange (in this case, an apartment exchange) in a relatively new suburb of Reykjavik. After a bit of confusion finding the key (we knew where it was, we couldn’t figure out how to get it out what we thought was a locked mailbox, which wasn’t locked), we’re in and it is very nice!

We're in 402, top right

Interior shots

 

Head to local market which just happens to be next door to a bakari, which also turns out to make excellent bread. Groceries: $90; Bread: $10.

After lunch of roti chicken (better than the ones we get at our markets), arugula salad, five grain bread, and some soft drink THB hasn’t tried before, we walk to a museum that is just past the market to see an exhibit of clothes and jewelry worn by the Icelandic PM from 1980 to 1996, which also included an interview of her discussing her choices of apparel.

THB has a beer with dinner, it is a dark one!

Dinner in: of pasta, baguette, beer and arugula/spinach salad. Time to collapse in bed regardless of the time and the lack of darkness. 

How dark was it? Since it is daylight 20 hours a day now, and twilight 4 hours a day, DB is predicting we never have to drive at night. THB is predicting we won't ever sleep at night.

Route1 Rental: 

Hyundai

And, two shots from the apartment balcony, time delayed:

Before

 

After

Book Review:  Clever Girl, Tessa Hadley (novel): The highlights of a British woman’s life, full of lots of unwed mothers whose children seemingly come out all right. Starts in mid-1950s and ends 45 years later. Three of the chapters appeared in the NY’er as short stories; the only one THB remembered is the one with sex in it (of course!). Recommended (especially chapter 4)