Northern Iceland today is a bit grey but to me, still stunningly beautiful. In fact I would go as far as to say, that horizontal snow and sleet hitting you face at about 90 miles an hour is a fantastic beauty treatment and far more effective than any Swiss skin peel....
So the White/grey sky prevails, making it difficult to see the top of the mountain, but as the sea is a deep angry grey, it is fiercely demonstrating its power outside the studio right now.
The dark grey in the sky could be a storm ahead, or as often happens, could dissipate and go bother somewhere else!!
The days are certainly getting lighter. It's now 5.10pm and still light outside. I may brave the weather and get some movement shots.
The last couple of days have been quite low key with the weather being a bit difficult and treacherous underfoot. Yesterday was spent editing and organising the final road trip before my return to the UK. It does look fabulous and I'm so excited about seeing the ice lagoon and glacier.
We're staying for 2 nights at Vik, the southernmost town in Iceland and then travelling in to Jokulsarlon to hopefully see some blue icebergs and crashing waves.
There was news yesterday of around 50 tourists getting trapped on ice here. For some reason they thought it was safe to jump on a big piece of ice, floating down a lagoon towards the crashing waves of the decidedly unfriendly sea.... Lots of Icelandic comment regarding the resources needed to rescue them and also more discussion generated regarding the need for better safety etc. Most of what I've read seems to sit on the side of 'what kind of idiots do these stupid things and what difference would a small fence or sign make?'
It seems that Iceland is struggling to come to terms with its increased popularity, particularly in terms of health and safety. From a personal point of view, I'd say let common sense prevail. There's too much in the uk to warn people of everything that could potentially do them harm to the point where any form of risk is frowned upon. When I think of the risks taken as a kid in the 70's, I'm sure it's instilled a level of both resilience and careful common sense.
Sorry for the musings, I suppose it's a little sad that I may come back to an Iceland that's a little more sanitised and nannied. Yes, I'm certainly planning to come back...
Just thinking about safety, I've found out that a beach I thought I wouldn't see on this months trip happens to be 5k from the hotel I'm staying in next weekend just before leaving for the uk.
It's called Reynisfjara Beach and is famous for its beautiful black pebbles and volcanic sand. It's also renowned for the power of the sea and the numerous photographers who have been knocked off their feet by crashing waves. It looks stunning and I can't wait to explore - carefully.
Doesn't that look amazing??
I have now less than a week at Skagastrond, my current home and it feels odd to think I won't be taking the windy walk back to manabraut each evening (or early morning!).
Last night was something of a change from the usual home - studio - home - sleep type of day. Toti, the local (only) publican and restauranteur offered us artists a pizza and beer evening topped off with karaoke, pool and darts in the dark.....(don't ask). We had the place pretty much to ourselves - I've said before, it's very rare to see an actual local, I'm sure they have a parallel universe which artists can't access... Anyway, from 8pm until about 5am there was pizza, more pizza, laughing, singing, more pizza, beer, SALAD!!!!! Yes, vegetables! I was so excited to have something green and crunchy to chew. Vegetables pretty much consist of the frozen variety, which is fine, but this was brilliant and not limp in the slightest.
Anyone who knows me will be shocked at my enthusiasm for veggies (I'm slowly becoming Australian as I'm surrounded by them - veggies are vegetables, not vegetarians) but when everything you've eaten for 3 weeks is white, red or brown, a bit of green is a welcome addition!!
After lots of food, singing and a few beers I wandered back to the house, leaving the young people to sing all night long.
I wasn't inebriated but I thought it would be funny and kind to leave a special trail in the snow for the other manabraut residents to follow when they left the restaurant. I walked in beautiful circles and spirals all the way home and it took three times as long as usual. It was very beautiful - a piece of art if you will...
Then it snowed, so the first comment I heard this morning from the other residents was "it was amazing walking home from borgin last night as the snow was covering everything and we made lots of footprints.....
When I explained what I'd done, I realised I was probably a little tiny bit drunk.
This was me before I started the 'art crop/snow circle'.
Masumi and I, probably singing.
Toti looking after the punters.
Toti's wife who is an accountant also has a cafe right in the edge of the sea which is only open in the summer. She invited us all today for coffee and cakes. Perhaps a nod to the need for hangover food after last night... The space is calm and still, a beautiful haven from the crashing sea just outside. The cakes were fantastic. I won't be eating tonight!
Nadia and Andy playing with Lego in the cafe.
Our many footsteps from the studio to the cafe. All of about 100 feet away. Still needed hats, gloves, scarves, thermals....
I get the impression Skagastrond is never 'touristy' but I think it's so beautiful and would love to be here in other seasons as well as deep winter.
I was going to put a little bit more into this but I've just had a message to go home as the wind is getting too bad to walk across the gap in the houses...
I'll sign off and write some more tomorrow. I'm hoping for a clear walking day.
Thinking lots of the people I love today, while listening to Elvis Presley in my headphones....
"You can do anything but lay off of my blue suede shoes"
Highly relevant considering the only half decent thing I have to wear here are my precious blue suede boots... I carry them in a carrier bad to quickly change into from the stinky disgusting snow boots, complete with crampons...
Ok, that's it for today. Thanks for reading.
Sleep well and think of me, setting off to walk half a mile in driving wind and snow...
Love,
Aly x
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