Apologies

Sorry that I haven't posted in a bit.  I will try to fix that shortly.  My photo hard drive seems to have self-destructed.  Fortunately, I am backed up, but it's still an annoying process.

But please let this be a reminder people.  Always have a backup.  Hopefully I'll be back up and running soon, this time with a daily photo!

I´m Newsworthy

Oh boy! Ikea soup!

Here is my Icelandic television debut.  Before you get too excited, it's not a big deal to get on the news.  There was also a story about a bird that got inside a building at the university.  I have also seen a news report on a cat stuck in a tree.  No lie.

Also, here's a picture from my city.  I haven´t posted many of it.

So Much Food

I haven´t forgotten about Siglufjörður, but I have some more timely news to report.

Like many places in the world, Iceland celebrates a few days before lent.  However the customs here, like everything in the country, are quite unique.

Yesterday was Bollurdagur, or bun day.  Basically, everyone just eats really delicious cream puffs.  Some people also eat other round food, like fish or meat balls.  But that´s all there is to it.  Eating good food.  I can handle that.

So good.

Today Fat Tuesday or Pancake Tuesday most other places in the Christian world, but here is was Sprengidagur, literally exploding day, because you eat so much.  Because I´m a good Scandinavian now, I headed down to Ikea.

This is roughly 4 cents Canadian

Guess what my boss and I turned this pocket change into?

Saltkjöt

This is my 2 cents worth.

I was astonished.  For 2 cents, you got a plate of salt cured sheep, veggies and a refillable bowl of pea soup.  It wasn't anything fancy, but it was good.  And 2 cents.  My mind is still blown.  You really can eat until you explode.  The hospital actually takes this day into account with scheduling, as everything is so salty, they do see an increase of people with heart problems coming in.  What surprised me most was that the place didn't look the like Salvation Army soup kitchen today.  It was still pretty classy.  Way to go Iceland.

While sitting at Ikea eating, I was interviewed by an Icelandic TV station doing a piece on the Ikea meal.  I did it in Icelandic, though I'm sure it's awful.  I missed it on the news tonight, but apparently I'll be able to find it online later.

Tomorrow is Öskudagur, or Ash Wednesday.  Here, the kids dress up like it's Halloween, and try to hang small bags of ash on peoples clothing.  The boys are so excited about dressing up, since they don't celebrate Halloween here.  As far as I know, I can take a break from eating tomorrow as well.

What strikes me as odd though, is that the Icelanders don´t seem to understand the concept of giving up something for lent.  Both I and another au pair had a bit of a struggle explaining this.  So whereas the rest of the world is eating and partying in preparation for 40 days of deprivation, the Icelanders are just eating.  I really like Icelandic Christianity.   

Siglufjöður, part 1

Last weekend, I had the amazing fortune to go up north with some relatives of mine to the small town of Siglufjöður.  Other than the rainy day trip to the Golden Circle, this was really my first time out of the Reykjavik area.  While I love the city, it was so nice to get a chance to see some of the country side.  And go skiing!

It was about a 5 hour drive, and we did it mostly in the dark.  We went through a bunch of tunnels along the way, some under the ocean, and some through mountains.  It's hard to imagine how hard it must have been to get around before they were built, though some have been around longer than others.  Like the one entering Siglufjöður.  It's one lane, and scares me.  My cousin apparently used to walk through it, which sounds like a pretty dangerous thing to do.

Nice, safe, two lane modern tunnel.

Terrifying tunnel of doom into Siglufjöður

My cousin is originally from Siglufjöður, and her parents still have an apartment there which we stayed at.  It reminded me so much of Amma and Afi's, right down to the smell.  The place is an amazing time capsule, and a really lovely place to stay.

My room was the best. 

I want to know where everyone got these.  Amma had a similar thing.

Amazing old hand tinted photographs.

The town itself was really lovely.  Originally based on fishing and agriculture, the town is shrinking, but still brings in people with the ski hill.  The scenery is absolutely incredible.  Or I´m just still really impressed by mountains.

Wow.

I´m trying to think in square format again. 

Pining for the fjörds.

You don´t understand how much I want to live in a silver house.

Or a yellow one.

The beautiful church.

The church is really something.  It's the center of town, and for a place that was only 3000 people at most, it's really very impressive.  One of my relatives who plays organ was able to get in to practice on the beautiful old pipe organ they have.  The church also has a full set of German made and designed stained glass windows.  I'm not sure how a town this size was able to get all this, but I'm glad they did.

The organ.

1970's German stained glass

Very obviously a fishing town.

I still have to ask what exactly the hanging boat is about.

I apparently have too much stuff on here now, and blog spot is giving me trouble, so wait for part 2 coming soon!