Iceland: Caves, geysers and lights

 Last month I visited Iceland for five days with three friends M, C and L. We have travelled to many places around the world together, having first met in 2009 in Peru. We always use the same company G adventures and this trip was no different. It was a short road trip following the Golden Circle route around the South-West of Iceland that features beautiful scenery and major sites.

I met L at Heathrow airport for the 3 hr flight to Reykjavik. M and C were flying in from Gatwick airport which is what I should have done seeing as how it is my nearest airport. 

It was a clear but cold day as you would expect at this time of the year. It is well known that Iceland is expensive, but it was even worse as sterling had taken a huge dive due to the incomprehensible mini budget of the new (now sacked) chancellor of the exchequer. We opted to take the airport bus to the hotel rather than a taxi, even so, I was surprised that a bus ride of just a few miles should cost £58 ret. All four of us met up in the reception of the hotel and once we'd unpacked we went out to get something to eat.

M had done some research and found a food court in the middle of a bus station. It had a very good choice of food. Being in Iceland I chose the cod which was served with fresh veg and tasted delicious. None of us had a drink. Although the food wasn't too bad pricewise the wine was ridiculous at £36 a glass! I didn't bother drinking any alcohol whilst I was in Iceland as I couldn't justify paying that kind of money.

We didn't meet up with the tour group until the following evening and we spent the next day wandering through Reykjavik and I'll post some photos of the town another day. But it was whilst walking through the town that I lost my varifocal glasses. Disaster! I did however have a pair of prescription varifocal sunglasses with me, so all was not lost except perhaps the perception of me, that other members of the tour had. It was only later in the week, during a conversation with a young man from Nashville, that I learnt that they thought I was trying to be cool wearing sunglasses all the time even at breakfast and in the restaurants in the evening! There were 14 of us altogether on the tour with 2 from Switzerland, 4 from Canada, 4 from the USA and 4 of us from Britain. Our guide was Icelandic and she did an excellent job in showing us so much in a relatively short time.

On our first day we went into a lava cave which was much larger than I expected. Walking through it was not difficult as there was a pathway to follow but you still needed to watch your step as it was slippy in places.

Our next stop was to see some geysers. I was surprised that the smell of sulphur wasn't too bad.

Then on to see a waterfall which just seemed to disappear into the ground.

This is the guesthouse where we would be staying for the next couple of nights. It was in the middle of nowhere and it was hoped that we would see the Northern Lights whilst we were here. A rota was set up so that there would always be someone watching out for them. 

At about 12.30am there was a change in the cloud and a few of us put on some warm clothing and went outside. The lights came and lasted about an hour. I did manage to a couple of photos but most of the ones here were taken by others on the trip with better camera equipment and who happily shared them with the rest of the group. 

I went with no expectations of seeing the lights so was thrilled that on our first night of the tour we saw a spectacular display.

Wales

I have just returned from a few days in Wales where I was celebrating a friend's 75th birthday. There were 40 friends and family staying in three converted barns and farmhouse.

This is the main farmhouse where I was staying along with other friends from the long-distance walking group. It had 7 ensuite bedrooms plus a couple of lounges and a large kitchen etc.

One of the converted barns that housed the majority of the other guests.

This was the other converted barn which also had bedrooms as well as a games room and large dining area which could seat up to 50 people.

It was an amazing place in the middle of the beautiful Welsh countryside. Everyone contributed to the food and drink but one night we had caterers in and on the Sunday a few people got together and treated us to a BBQ. Although because of the rain it had to be cooked in the ovens but it was still delicious.

I managed to go out walking each of the days I was there. It has been a number of years since I have been walking in the Welsh hills and it was a real pleasure.

Lots of sheep in the fields but these looked a little different from the more common black faced sheep.

One evening a casino was set up in the house which was great fun. We all received £150 of 'monopoly money' to exchange for chips to either play roulette or pontoon. The observant amongst you may recognise Paul and Jim as two of my companions on the long distance walks.. I hadn't realised they had hidden talents as croupiers.

All in all it was a great four days to meet new people, enjoy the fresh air and help to celebrate a dear friend's birthday.

Catch up

 Many apologies for not visiting or commenting on posts these last few weeks. This last month has been hectic as I visited youngest grandchild in Leeds on his first birthday then home for one night. Next day flew to Iceland for 5 days then home for one night. Drove to Butlins holiday camp on south coast to meet up with my daughter and her two children for 5 days. Back home for 2 days. Grandson in Leeds unwell drove up there for 5 nights to help cover childcare etc. Back home on Sunday. Monday childcare as the other two grandchildren didn't start back at school until yesterday. I led a guided walk around Mayfair for the u3a yesterday. Today have to catch up on washing, ironing etc as I go to Wales for 4 days tomorrow to meet up with some walking friends. Life should be back to normal sometime next week!

Wellington Arch

 I have been away for a couple of weeks and meant to post this before I left. 

This is Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner. 

This is a Triumphal Arch which now stands on a large traffic island. You can go inside the Arch where there is an exhibition about its history, and you can also stand above the Arch which gives you a great view down Constitution Hill.

The Household Cavalry go through the Arch each day on their way to changing the guard at Buckingham Palace. Looking out of the windows in the Arch I saw the Guards going under the Arch. Then I raced up the stairs to watch them from the balcony as they rode their horses down to the Palace.

The following week I happened to be there again as the Guards came through the Arch.

Walter Sickert

 Walter Sickert (1860-1942) was a German born British artist moving to England with his family at the age of eight. He was recognised as one of the most important artists of the 20th century, helping to shape modern British art. He was a founding member of the New English Art Club and the leader of the Camden Town Group. I recently visited an exhibition of his work at the Tate Britain and here are just a few of his works.

 

 

  

 

Despite his association with the Camden Town Group of artists who took their subjects from the streets of the London district, Sickert rarely depicted the streets of London itself.  'Easter'  depicts Dawson Brothers, a linen-drapers shop on City Road close to Old Street tube station. The shop was in business from the 1840s until the late 20th C. Sickert has painted the almost disserted street at night illuminated by a window display of  Easter bonnets.

 

The Camden  Town Murder was the name given to a real event: the murder of Emily Dimmock in Camden in 1907. The murder attracted huge press attention. Sickert took advantage of the interest and controversy raised by giving some of his paintings titles that allude to the murder. He also reworked them and gave them alternative titles. This allowed the viewer to imagine different narratives and relationships between the figures in their different configurations rather than any kind of illustration of Dimmock's murder. The series has long intrigued audiences because of the ambiguity between title and subject matter. For Sickert, these works furthered his exploration of narrative painting. However, some people are critical of the potential for violence they see within the scenes.

Information from the Guide to the exhibition: Tate Britain

St Mark's Venice

The facade of St Jacques, Dieppe

I did enjoy the exhibition. This is just a small example of the works on display. I was surprised by his range of subject matter from landscapes, portraits, music halls and entertainers to his fascination with narrative painting and reinventing the 'conversation piece'.