Humor, irony and public service announcements fill the streets of Reykjavik. From dating advice to junk food warnings to words of wisdom, Icelandic street art provides a guide for life. Maybe it’s a bit hokey to talk it up like … Continued
Inspiration, regardless of its source is a powerful agent of creativity. For much of western history, the church and more specifically Christ, has served as a creative muse to artists and writers and poets. In Iceland, a country dominated by … Continued
Barren, desolate, lunar with a smidgen of Christ is how I’d describe eastern Iceland. Tiny towns and villages line Highway 1, the main artery that runs through the region and each of these towns, comprised of a few houses, barns, and … Continued
I love to shvitz. I’m not just talking about shvitzing (sweating) on a balmy day or from a good run, but the yiddish kind of shvitz: the place and bodily function melded into the singular experience of sitting in a steam room or … Continued
During a recent visit to Iceland, I arrived on the tail end of a mild winter. Instead of crisp sunny days, we found ourselves inundated by snow, rain and the full force of the North Atlantic’s winter fury. At one … Continued
Peer overhead during the coldest, bleakest winter days and spindly branches splinter the monotonous grey skies like a web of shattered glass. Come spring, when the breath of rebirth blossoms, a riot of color and perfume fill the air. The views of … Continued
If you read yesterday’s post, you know about my adventure getting lost in Harriman State Park last weekend. It’s funny how things change in an instant when you sense something’s amiss. Early in the Green Pond/Boston Mine Long hike, before … Continued
Getting lost isn’t usually intentional but despite its negative implications, it can be the arbiter of good fortune. While hiking in Harriman State Park last weekend, we got lost. Our trail directions were a total fail. I pulled them from … Continued
Roiling steam, trapped in the earth’s belly gushes skyward at Iceland’s Geysir, the oldest documented geyser and natural wonder that birthed the term geyser. In Icelandic, the word “geysir” means “to burst” and encapsulates the experience watching bubbles of steam … Continued
Gale force winds and piles of snow add to the winter beauty of Iceland’s Gullfoss Waterfall. Its unforgiving winter weather can turn in a second, as I learned while to visit Gullfoss. The normally 45 minute drive from Reykjavik took … Continued