On Friday evening we flew out on what turned out to be a ride with a bumpy take off - blech. I am beginning to wonder if they are always going to be like that. Other then that it was uneventful and Zelia slept for the short trip. We took a cab to Edda's house and made ourselves some dinner. She was out at a graduation party and left us a full fridge - amazing. After dinner we got Zelia ready for bed and in her stroller for a walk on Laugarvegur (the main shopping street). It was pretty empty we thought for a Friday night but as we got further down the street it began to liven up. After a while I felt hungry so we stopped at a little short order place for a burger. While we were sitting in there there was an earthquake. At first I thought Jacob was bouncing his leg, but no, it was all over the news the next day. As we walked out Jacob decided he needed to eat as well and we waked around the corner and saw a falafel place! As we were walking by a woman came out and said, Andrea, Jacob. It was Helga who had been a teacher for the program in Arpil. Inside were her friends and brother and we ended up having a long conversation with them while Zelia slept outside. We returned to he house around 11 in the full day light.
By the way, there is no darkness anymore. The sun is at its lowest point around 1:30 but never sets, just bounces off the horizon!
The next morning we ate some breakfast and headed out to the bus to go to the petting zoo. It is a huge public park with the zoo, botanical garden, sports arena and amusement park - very, very nice. We finally found the right entrance and began walking around waiting for Katri and Pyry. Zelia liked looking at the seals, rabbits and chickens but otherwise was unmoved by the lambs and goats and all their babies. OMG, baby goats are the cutest things ever!!!!! Zelia was more interested in all the people around. After a train ride and some lunch we decided to head out. It was not a very nice morning, a bit drizzly but the place was getting VERY crowded. By the time we got to the main entrance there was a line down the walkway to get in!
The rest of the day we spent walking around town, going to the flee market, getting really hungry and having another ok burger and then headed home to relax. That evening we had a nice dinner with Edda before she went out for a concert.
Sunday we woke and walked to Katri and Jukka to get the car and then headed for brunch before beginning our drive home. When we got the car we also got all of Jukka's camping gear and decided that instead of staying at a hotel on the way home we would camp. Expecting to go to the market we all of a sudden realized that it was the Pentecost and everything was closed! Edda basically packed up her kitchen for us so that we would have food. Her hospitality is incredible! As it turns out the gas station was open and we got a few supplies there. The drive was beautiful along the southern part of the Westfjords and Zelia was great. The roads were not easy, lots of pot holes and sections weren't paved, but the views are hard to describe especially when we would cimb a pass and look out over the fjords from above. We passed through lava fields, brush and wild flowers, lakes up in the mountains and areas that looked like the moon. I am sad to say we have no pictures to share as we just kept driving.
Eventually we stopped in an area with two waterfalls for water and set up camp. We had bought monk fish at the flee market (fish market inside) and had some great food that we bought in an amazing Thai grocery in town. There is a pretty large Thai community here. So for dinner we had monkfish and bean curd noodles (I call them slimy noodles) and we had a snickers bar for dessert, perfect. We headed to bed and found ourselves lying awake in the light and listening as cars just kept driving by - until 2:30am!!!!! We were also a bit cold as we were unprepared for camping, oh well.
Jacob woke at 4am and eventually woke us as well (not to worry it was almost 8 I think). We had eggs and potatoes and packed up to head home. About 20 minutes into the drive we saw a hotel so we stopped for some coffee and to figure out our options for the trip we will take with Dennis and Marie in a few weeks. The next mountain pass was spectacular and LOOOOOONG and we saw the river that becomes Dynjandi waterfall where we went in the fall with Terri. When we got home we showered, ate and all fell into bed for a nice family nap.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
The end of May
Well, the last few days have been grey and rainy but we have been assured that we did not just experience the shortest summer ever!
Tonight we are flying to Reykjavik and staying with Edda for two nights. Tomorrow we have plans to meet Katri and Pyry at the zoo and also a woman with her baby who went to Commonwealth. She wasn´t in school with Jacob but he just found out about alumni in Iceland. Check out the website for the zoo http://www.mu.is/in-english/
On Sunday we will have brunch with Lana (Bates alum) and Erling her husband and another Bates alum who is here visiting before we head on the road in our CAR!!!!! We are "renting" Katri and Jukka´s car until August when they are selling it to the dancer who will be taking Katri´s place.
We plan on heading to Lautrabjarg, the bird cliff and staying Sunday night ina hotel there and then continuing the drive home on Monday. Sunday and Monday are holidays here, the Pentecost.
We had a wonderful anniversary celebration on Wednesday at the Tarhouse, where we ate very well and had a blast sharing the celebration with Gerdur and Gisli who have the same anniversary!!!!!! Danielle, Astrid, Henry and David also joined us. The meal was 5 courses, each one delicious. We began with plokfiskur, then bisque and then three main courses, steinbita (I think lump fish), a flat fish and then monkfish. Then we headed back to the house to enjoy a chocolate cake that Danielle and Astrid made for us with blueberry/rhubarb compote Jacob made.
Last night we had Emil, Jacob´s professor over for dinner and it was another delicious meal. Jacob made the Indian chicken we love, wheat berries and a spinach, chickpea curry dish. mmm, mmm, mmm
Unfortunatley I woke this morning with pink eye, so I am off to the doctor´s at 1. When I couldn´t open my eye early early this morning I thought, I haven´t felt this since I was like 4 years old!!!
Tonight we are flying to Reykjavik and staying with Edda for two nights. Tomorrow we have plans to meet Katri and Pyry at the zoo and also a woman with her baby who went to Commonwealth. She wasn´t in school with Jacob but he just found out about alumni in Iceland. Check out the website for the zoo http://www.mu.is/in-english/
On Sunday we will have brunch with Lana (Bates alum) and Erling her husband and another Bates alum who is here visiting before we head on the road in our CAR!!!!! We are "renting" Katri and Jukka´s car until August when they are selling it to the dancer who will be taking Katri´s place.
We plan on heading to Lautrabjarg, the bird cliff and staying Sunday night ina hotel there and then continuing the drive home on Monday. Sunday and Monday are holidays here, the Pentecost.
We had a wonderful anniversary celebration on Wednesday at the Tarhouse, where we ate very well and had a blast sharing the celebration with Gerdur and Gisli who have the same anniversary!!!!!! Danielle, Astrid, Henry and David also joined us. The meal was 5 courses, each one delicious. We began with plokfiskur, then bisque and then three main courses, steinbita (I think lump fish), a flat fish and then monkfish. Then we headed back to the house to enjoy a chocolate cake that Danielle and Astrid made for us with blueberry/rhubarb compote Jacob made.
Last night we had Emil, Jacob´s professor over for dinner and it was another delicious meal. Jacob made the Indian chicken we love, wheat berries and a spinach, chickpea curry dish. mmm, mmm, mmm
Unfortunatley I woke this morning with pink eye, so I am off to the doctor´s at 1. When I couldn´t open my eye early early this morning I thought, I haven´t felt this since I was like 4 years old!!!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Outside in May
Here are MANY, MANY pictures.The first are Jacob and Zelia walking to school in the morning, the second group is form our garden!
Some are from the music morning last Saturday. We were singing some songs in Hebrew and doing Ugah, Ugah, which she likes, but apparently wasn't in the mood for - she lay on the ground!!!!
And finally today at the park with Katri and Pyry
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Outside time
It has been a really beautiful weekend in Isafjordur. On Friday I got out of class at 4 and went to meet Jacob and Zelia and we went to Samkaup for a few ingredients for dinner. I hadn't made Hallah in a long time but it was rising at home ans we were going to have a nice Shabbat dinner. We enjoyed another one of Baki and Angie's gift steaks - delicious. And we discussed how this was the best present EVA!!!! On Saturday morning we all played/worked in the garden for a short while and then went to music time at Edinborg. In the afternoon, when Zelia and I woke from our nap (Jacob kept sleeping, he wasn't feeling well) Zelia and I walked to Gerdur's new store and helped her build more of her furniture.
Last night we had a nice dinner with Katri and Jukka. Jukka leave today and Katri in two weeks. The are excited to move back to Finland but we will miss them both. Everyone else in the country was attending Eurovision parties to watch the finals! Iceland, Israel and Finland were all in. Norway won, Iceland came in Second and Azerbaijan came in third.
Jacob left at 6am with Tray to do some sampling at low tide for a class, then need to go out again this evening. Zelia and I have had leisurely morning, eating oatmeal and Zelia has been enjoying playing on the porch.
She has changed so much with her walking. We were saying how when we first met Katri and Jukka, Zelia and Pyry couldn't play together, but last night it was great. At one point we laughed at how nice it was, the four adults were eating and the two children playing in another room! We have passed to another stage. This other stage also includes Zelia walking off wherever her little eyes lead. She has no problem walking off the porch and out into the world:) It's great but we have to keep an eye on her. She loves to walk outside and pick up rocks, sometimes taste them, but mostly give them to us to keep.
Jacob and Tray just returned with buckets full of clams and mussels so apparently we are having a BIG early dinner tonight. Zelia loved the mussels:)
Last night we had a nice dinner with Katri and Jukka. Jukka leave today and Katri in two weeks. The are excited to move back to Finland but we will miss them both. Everyone else in the country was attending Eurovision parties to watch the finals! Iceland, Israel and Finland were all in. Norway won, Iceland came in Second and Azerbaijan came in third.
Jacob left at 6am with Tray to do some sampling at low tide for a class, then need to go out again this evening. Zelia and I have had leisurely morning, eating oatmeal and Zelia has been enjoying playing on the porch.
She has changed so much with her walking. We were saying how when we first met Katri and Jukka, Zelia and Pyry couldn't play together, but last night it was great. At one point we laughed at how nice it was, the four adults were eating and the two children playing in another room! We have passed to another stage. This other stage also includes Zelia walking off wherever her little eyes lead. She has no problem walking off the porch and out into the world:) It's great but we have to keep an eye on her. She loves to walk outside and pick up rocks, sometimes taste them, but mostly give them to us to keep.
Jacob and Tray just returned with buckets full of clams and mussels so apparently we are having a BIG early dinner tonight. Zelia loved the mussels:)
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
What weather!
For several days we have had some wild wind blowing and some rain through the sun. I started running about a week or so ago and went for a run on Monday night after dinner. In a bit of a pissy mood I head out with some music and decided to run up the brekka (hill). After two rounds up the hill I continued on the high road toward Bonus and was it ever windy! As windy as it has been here there were gusts that still shocked me. Interestingly I think it took the pounding out of the run.
The next day we woke to similar weather, lots of wind and sun and rain all at the same time. As I was walking to work I saw the most incredibly rainbow I have ever seen. It was clear, bright and I could see the full arc - breath taking. I laughed to myself as just this week I have been singing rise and shine and bring god your glory glory to Zelia and she loves waking to it - so the rainbow was appropriate.
now, today was a day to behold. We woke to blue skies and sunshine and it was 11 degrees when we I check at 7:30. I do have to mention that the sun was shining at about 4 am. We were walking outside with only sweaters and flip flops. The sky was blue and the clouds were making formations like I have never seen. As a lot of the snow on the mountains has melted the contrast now as I look out is stark, the dark earth of the mountain, the white snow on the peaks or running down gullies and then this blue sky. It is hard to describe accurately, at least for me.
It is 7:30, Zelia is asleep after a long day with Harpa. I have to mention that she walked to Harpa's today with Jacob both of them in their sun glasses - too cute. AND, she didn't cry, not even when he left her. Jacob is outside with Danielle working in the garden and the sun is still shining. the wind picked up a lot this afternoon so it can be funny to walk out there.
Lastly, I began a 3-week Icelandic course that meets from 1:30-5, it's meant for unemployed immigrants so there are some activities built in. Today we went to this house that the municipality set up for the unemployed so that they can gather, have things to do and a place to go and not get depressed. It was pretty amazing. There were 3 rooms, each with different possible activities, fiber art, mosaic, computers, planting, jewelry making, etc. So, I got to do make first fiber art product, I made wool "beads". It was really fun, so I brought a bunch home for Zelia, so far she is uninterested!
The next day we woke to similar weather, lots of wind and sun and rain all at the same time. As I was walking to work I saw the most incredibly rainbow I have ever seen. It was clear, bright and I could see the full arc - breath taking. I laughed to myself as just this week I have been singing rise and shine and bring god your glory glory to Zelia and she loves waking to it - so the rainbow was appropriate.
now, today was a day to behold. We woke to blue skies and sunshine and it was 11 degrees when we I check at 7:30. I do have to mention that the sun was shining at about 4 am. We were walking outside with only sweaters and flip flops. The sky was blue and the clouds were making formations like I have never seen. As a lot of the snow on the mountains has melted the contrast now as I look out is stark, the dark earth of the mountain, the white snow on the peaks or running down gullies and then this blue sky. It is hard to describe accurately, at least for me.
It is 7:30, Zelia is asleep after a long day with Harpa. I have to mention that she walked to Harpa's today with Jacob both of them in their sun glasses - too cute. AND, she didn't cry, not even when he left her. Jacob is outside with Danielle working in the garden and the sun is still shining. the wind picked up a lot this afternoon so it can be funny to walk out there.
Lastly, I began a 3-week Icelandic course that meets from 1:30-5, it's meant for unemployed immigrants so there are some activities built in. Today we went to this house that the municipality set up for the unemployed so that they can gather, have things to do and a place to go and not get depressed. It was pretty amazing. There were 3 rooms, each with different possible activities, fiber art, mosaic, computers, planting, jewelry making, etc. So, I got to do make first fiber art product, I made wool "beads". It was really fun, so I brought a bunch home for Zelia, so far she is uninterested!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)