England/Iceland 2003

Today we had a relaxing revisit to a few local art galleries (Monday is free entry day). It is great to view both modern and historic Icelandic art and historical items. This country has a long history that has been documented since the Vikings first settled here. There are twelve Icelandic saga's which are rather long, but tell the entire creation of this beautiful land and its people.

Tomorrow I will not be creating an entry since we have to head for home undertaking a 13 hour journey.


For more information about this art gallery visit: http://www.listasafnreykjavikur.is/index.en.shtml

Today was cold and wet, but worth it! We went whale watching about 20 minutes outside of Reykjavik harbor. We had calm seas and clouds which is supposed to be the best for whale watching. The first whale sighted was a calf Minke whale. A short time afterwards we were able to see two adult Humpback whales breech the surface a few times, this was a magnificent sight!

On the way back we stopped by Puffin island to view Puffins.


Reference: THE THREE WHALES

For more information about Humpback whales visit: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/humpback/

Today was a large lesson in map reading! We took a 6 mile walk through and outside of the city of Reykjavik. We started out walking down the main shopping street (Laugavegur) located in 101 Reykjavik all the way out to the 105 Reykjavik area to a music shop I had always wanted to visit.

The walk took us past the normal tourist areas into the sleeping (bedroom) communities. On the way back we stuck to the path along the bay. This path took us directly to the Hofdi House which became famous when then President Regan and Premier Gorbachev had their historic meeting in 1986.


For more information on this summit please visit: http://oll.temple.edu/hist249/course/Documents/excerpts_of_gorbachev_reagan.htm

Today we had a more extensive tour of the lava fields and a trip out to the Blue Lagoon. The Blue lagoon is a geothermal spa. The water in that area normally is about 500 degrees, but it is mixed with cold well water and was turned into a resort.

Geothermal use in Iceland is widespread. The streets in town are currently being torn up to add more sewer lines, but in the process they are renewing the hot water pipes that run underneath the sidewalks to prevent freezing during the winter months.

From our many trips we have noticed that there are hot steam vents everywhere! The geothermal steam provides hot water and steam heat for all of the residents of the island.


For more information about this area visit: http://www.bluelagoon.is/english/

Today was a tour that any teacher (who loves geology and dinosaurs) would love! We took an 8 hour trip far outside of the city to some very interesting sights. We were able to visit two lava fields and study the layout of what lava will do to the land. Next we visited the geyser springs. One important note was that the main attraction was called Geyser, and all such events have been named after this one. When the eruptions occur, the most beautiful aqua marine color is displayed. Most of the ground (even in the city) is lava rock, and some very large and distinctive volcanic rocks were anywhere, so was the ever present smell of sulfur!

Next we visited the queen of all waterfalls Gullfloss (golden waterfall). This is the run-off from the nearby glacier. This is a massive two step waterfall that was donated to Iceland by a farmers daughter who wanted to prevent a hydroelectric plant from being built at this sight.

For more information about this area visit: http://www.south.is/gullfoss.html

Trying to find lunch and attempting to take a local bus was quite a job today. Supermarkets and local shops closed at about 7 pm today, we were not expecting such early closures.

This afternoon we took a tour of the city. It was interesting to see how a city this remote functioned. We visited a glorified thermal water tank reservoir that was added on to include an observation tower, restaurant and museum relating to the Icelandic Saga's (stories how Iceland was founded). The tanks are located at the highest point of the city and provides the cities residents with home steam heating. The observation deck also provided a breath taking view of the entire city.

Most Icelanders are taught 3 different languages in school: Icelandic, Dutch, English. Not all Icelanders keep up on languages other than their own, so getting around or even trying to get a simple thing like lunch can at times become very frustrating.

For more information about The Pearl visit: http://www.randburg.com/is/or/

We left London's Heathrow airport yesterday for a 3 hour journey to Iceland's capitol Reykjavik. Getting here was easy as was getting around. Pronouncing the street names and towns is something else. Language acquisition is a chore. My wife wanted milk and we had about 10 types to choose from, we had to ask the clerk which was the regular milk, having to do this is difficult and rather frustrating. Not knowing the native language makes your life hard and takes away from the beauty of your surroundings.

For more information please visit: http://www.ismal.hi.is/malsten.htm

Today we spent the day 6 miles outside of London in Kew Gardens, The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG). We took a guided tram tour then walked around the gardens for about three hours. Flora and forna from all over Europe was displayed including a large Japanese garden.

I was finally able to get close to a guinea foul as mentioned in our new open court reading series. It indeed has beautiful spots that does make it different from other foul. We were also able to observe other bugs and plants that use camouflage for protection. The walk was long but very, very relaxing.

For more information about Kew Gardens visit: http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/

Today we did a re-visit to the Imperial War Museum. The reason for the revisit was to view the Holocaust exhibit. Much like the Museum of Tolerance, it was an extremely solemn setting. Multiple films were being previewed in each separate area. Many artifacts from prisoners were on display along with a rather large scale table model of the Auschwitz death camp.

The silence of viewers was amazing, no family commentary, no running screaming children. The exhibit was very powerful in its presentation of that time in history.

Reference: tolerance

For more information please visit: http://www.iwm.org.uk/ and http://www.wiesenthal.com/mot/

Today we took British Rail outside of London to Cambridge. I got to revisit a favorite museum the Fitzgerald. I was lucky enough to visit on archeology day. I was able to watch a lesson on how Egyptians used powders to paint a piece of art. The thick and lumpy paint was not only used to create color, but was also used to create textures and levels (creating individual grapes were used during this lesson).

The museum also had paintings of many of the British governors of the colonies in America.

I was also lucky enough to catch the end of a masters degree ceremony at Kings College, a college of Cambridge University. The ceremony was similar to mine, but seemed to have more order and importance with the way the universities staff conducted themselves.

For more information visit: http://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/cambridgeuk/ and http://www.cam.ac.uk/cambarea/trains/

Today was a spare-your-foot day. We spent most of the day on a bus tour stopping off at what ever sight caught our fancy. A stop at the National Gallery snap shotted a piece of history that showed why many people had left mother England for the freedom of other places.

The Tower of London had more than needed examples of how the commoners were persuaded to see the royalist ways. Anyone being oppressed, as some were in the 1600's, needed to seek freedom or die trying.

Reference: Any open court story concerning people needing to be free

For more information visit: http://www.bigbus.co.uk/uk/html/uk_home.html and http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

Today was a rather wet and cold day. Rain changed our plans, so we had decided to do some inside sight seeing. It was museum day. First stop was the British Museum where we got to see some very extensive Native American (Southwest & Pacific Northwest) exhibits. Native clothing and wampum were displayed, and about a three story high totem pole was displayed within the stairwell. This display closely followed THE FIRST AMERICAN'S open court story.

The next museum was a last minute decision. The Imperial War Museum was by far the best museum I have ever seen. It had the impact of THE MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE, and only displays 3% of its articles. My trip there lasted 3 hours, and another trip is planned to finish the rest of the exhibits.

Reference: The First Americans

For more information visit: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/ and http://www.iwm.org.uk/

Today was a very busy day that started early. We learned how to use the London train system (the underground) We made a trip to Waterloo station to take a ride on the London Eye and then take a 45 minute boat ride around London.

While we were waiting for our ride on the Eye, we visited the London aquarium where we got to see fish like the cuttlefish and the butterfish mentioned in our open court stories. We ended our touring day at St Johns Wood station by traveling down 3 blocks to come upon Abby Road and the Abby Road recording studio.


Reference: Can you see me?

For more information visit: http://www.londoneye.com/default.asp and http://www.abbeyroad.co.uk/

Over the last 24 hours we have traveled 5,359 miles via a United 737 jet from SFO to London's Heathrow airport. The trip lasted 10 hours and space was very tight. The weather in London is warmer then I had ever remembered living here during the early 1970's. Driving in London is very difficult! The weather is far hotter then I had remembered also. Perhaps a nice cool walk in Kensington Gardens will help cool things down.

Reference; open court story A PIECE OF HOME

Mike

For more information visit: http://www.visitingphx.com/gp4p.html and http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/heathrow/