Iceland

I remember from sixth grade social studies that Miss Hicks taught us that Iceland was misnamed! The name, Iceland, sounds, well, rather icy! Miss Hicks said that Iceland should have been named Greenland,  something warmer than Iceland. But, now, why, of all things do I remember this and forget the name of a book I just read?

My nephew Sam and my niece Tako, who live in Alaska, are spending the winter and spring in Iceland!

Sam wrote:

We've re-located to Iceland for the  winter & spring and have rented the 1st floor of a fine little house near downtown Akureyri on the northern coast. It is a community of about 20,000 at the same latitude as Fairbanks, but lots warmer due to the Gulf Stream current.  Climate is probably more akin to Kodiak or Juneau.

The houses about are not where Sam and Tako are staying, but aren't they charming?

And here is a turf house. This is indeed sustainable housing. I love it!

Here is the photo of where Sam and Tako are staying:

Tako walks to work each day at the Institute of Natural History, where she is collaborating with others there, mapping Icelandic vegetation and habitats, and working on a couple of papers for publication. Tako was awarded a Fullbright Scholoarship by the US State Department to be here and do just that.  She will also be giving some lectures at the University, and leading workshops in Reykjavik on the subject of using space-based imagery for mapping arctic and boreal vegetation.

Here's Tako fighting wind and gravity:

Sam continued:

I am rediscovering my professional roots studying Geothermal Energy exploration & development.  So far, I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time doing primary research at the local hot-springs  swimming pool & steam baths!

The language continues to evade our tongues.  Many local folks have good use of English so we get along pretty well despite  our lame attempts in their language.  The landscape constantly confronts us with a raw similarity with parts of Alaska or Wyoming, but there is the dichotomy slapping us in the face at every turn, that the land here has been cultivated and inhabited by Europeans for over 1,100 years since sometime around the year 900.  It is also kind of weird to us to be in a sub-arctic scape with no moose, no caribou, no bears, wolves or wolverines wandering out on the land.  It is plenty rugged and remote enough, but the fact is they never were here.  The largest wildlife creature that does exist is an arctic fox whose kitten-sized foot prints we see commonly.

More photos now of supreme beauty everywhere!

From Sam and Tako's photo blogs, I've learned that the name Iceland really means Island. And what Miss Hicks taught in sixth grade does not seem to be true. Iceland does have its magnificent beauty, but, so far, Iceland is indeed cold and icy.  But isn't it beautiful, and don't you want to visit there? In the summer!