Lake Effect

We got about 5 - 6 centimetres of snow in the wee hours of the morning and it continues to fall lightly.  While the American east coast is bracing for a major winter storm, Toronto is bone-dry and Hamilton has received the kind of snowfall you pray for on Christmas Eve.  Not enough to break your back shoveling, just enough to call you out to play.

Hamilton Harbour, January 2015

It's a lonely time of year at the waterfront.
Even so, it holds the promise of the spring to come with every minute more daylight shining on the frozen bay.

Huldufólk

Surveys suggest that more than half of Icelanders believe in, or at least entertain the possibility of the existence of, the Huldufolk - the hidden people. Just to be clear, Icelandic elves are not the small, green, pointy-eared variety that help Santa pack the toys at Christmas - they're the same size as you and I, they're just invisible to most of us.

Contrary to popular belief outside of Iceland, 

these would not represent a good choice for an elf house.  

They just use them to get out of the rain like everybody else.

Ráðhús Reykjavíkur

At the Reykjavik City Centre, the municipal buildings are the focal point of an enormous reflecting pool filled with wildlife and framed by living walls.  Although the offices are only open during regular business hours, the buildings themselves are open to the public every day.  An enormous 3D topographical map of the country is the centerpiece of this public space.

Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavik at sunset

Completed in 1986, Hallgrímskirkja is the second tallest building in Iceland.  

With it's position on a hilltop in the centre of the city, 

it serves as a distinct and singularly imposing landmark 

which never fails to help hapless tourists 

get their bearings and find their way.

It is arguably the most architecturally attractive modern religious structure I have ever seen 

in spite of its austere Lutheran sensibility inside and out. 

The bells can be heard throughout the city on the quarter hour.  

A statue of Leifur Eriksson stands as a sentinel in front of the church and predates it by 56 years.  

A gift from the USA, it was erected in 1930 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary 

of the 'Thingvellir',  

Iceland's (and the world's oldest continuous) parliament.

Iceland Adventure

Sólfar

Sun Voyager

The Journey Begins

After seven years we have returned for an extended stay in Reykjavik.  

We'll be here until the middle of October.  

I'm hoping there will be lots and lots of excellent images to share 

along with my impressions of and thoughts about the journey.

For those of you who check in every once in a while and have wondered where I have been, 

you should be seeing and hearing lots from me over the next few weeks.  

I'm looking forward to sharing the adventure.

In the meantime, 

check out my new link to an excellent online Icelandic language training program;

"Viltu Laera Islensku?"

An interactive and immersive program that's sure to impress.

We've been using it to prepare for the language program we're doing while we are here and it has definitely helped break the ice a bit.

The Big Pause

I can't believe it has been almost a year since my last post.

Lots of changes.

Lots of water under the bridge.

The next few weeks should see me making up for lost time.

Check back real soon.