R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 99

Transatlantic — Cape Spear, Newfoundland

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1836 Lighthouse

Our transatlantic voyage was coming rapidly to an end when Vision of the Seas made port in St. John’s, Newfoundland. From here we jumped aboard our latest tour with Ann’s Tours, whereupon we headed out into the countryside. One of our stops this morning was Cape Spear and the Cape Spear National Lighthouse Historic Park.

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Cape Spear National Historic Park

At this park are two lighthouses. The one you see pictured in today’s article is the 1836 lighthouse. The other lighthouse of a more traditional design was built nearby in 1955, and you’l...

Fun Photo Friday — Iceland; Akureyri Favorites 5

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Cruising Eyjafjörður

A last look at Iceland before Vision of the Seas continues on our transatlantic crossing. Next stop: St. John’s, Newfoundland.

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Eyjafjörður Calm

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Photo-Bombing Trolls

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Reindeer Hotdogs — Hotreins?

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Vision and Sculpture

Transatlantic — Iceland; Walking Akureyri

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Vision of the Seas in Eyjafjörður (Island Fjord)

Well, so far, I’ve shown you pretty much everything within a couple hours of Akureyri except for Akureyri itself. That changes today. Most of the photographs you’ll see on our walking tour of Akureyri were taken on Hafnarstræti, which is were most the action seemed to be.

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Akureyrarkirkja

Starting at the corner of Kaupvangsstræti (Shopping Street), near the Akureyrarkirkja, we’ll work our way northward along Hafnarstræti (Port Street) starting with this striking blue building topped with red spires:

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Akureyri, Iceland

Next...

Transatlantic — Iceland; Saurbæjarkirkja

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Saurbæjarkirkja

Well into 19th century it was common in Iceland to build community churches using stone walls and thick turf roofs. While once commonplace, today only half a dozen such structures still remain throughout the country. Saurbæjarkirkja is one of those:

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Saurbæjarkirkja

Saurbæjarkirkja is directly behind the Museum of Sundry Objects, which I showed you a couple of weeks ago. It’s about five minutes’ walk from the museum, and well worth the stroll up the hill.

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Saurbæjarkirkja and nearby hills

In the church yard is a cemetery:

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Saurbæjarkirkja Cemetery

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Saurbæjarkirkja...

Fun Photo Friday — Iceland; Akureyri Favorites 4

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A Study in Horizontal Symmetry

Here is today’s Fun Photo Friday of Akureyri, Iceland favorites:

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Eyjafjörður Fjord

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Hof Cultural Center

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Vision of the Seas in Akureyri, Iceland

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Text Addiction

Transatlantic — Iceland; Jólagarðurinn (The Christmas House) Part 2

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Jólahúsið elves

In addition to the main Christmas decorations store at Jólahúsið (the Christmas House) there is also another storefront catering the kitchen side of Christmas.

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Jólahúsið storefront for kitchens and foodstuffs

Here you will find Christmas-themed kitchen decorations and foodstuffs:

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Jólahúsið kitchen store

This separate storefront was quite popular with our tour group, as you can see:

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Jólahúsið kitchen store

Here is an interesting clock made from a bed warmer, as well as other wall knickknacks:

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Jólahúsið kitchen store

Getting back out of the storefronts and onto the grounds you’ll f...

Transatlantic — Iceland; Jólagarðurinn (The Christmas House) Part 1

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Jólahúsið (The Christmas House)

I’m going to take things a little out of sequence this week. Last Wednesday I left you with a tour of Smámunasafn Sverris Hermannssonar, the Museum of Sundry Objects. Right behind that museum, about a five minute walk, is Saurbæjarkirkja, which is one of only six remaining turf-roofed churches remaining in Iceland. I’m going to save Saurbæjarkirkja for next Monday, however.

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Jólahúsið (The Christmas House)

The reason is because our visit later that day to Jólahú...

Fun Photo Friday — Iceland; Akureyri Favorites 3

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Akureyrarkirkja

Here are some more Akureyri area Fun Photo Friday favorites:

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Icelandic Shoreline

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Iceland Grass

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Saurbæjarkirkja

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Akureyri Mural

Transatlantic — Iceland; Smámunasafn

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Keys at the Museum of Sundry Objects

About 20 miles/32 kilometers south of Akureyri is rather bizarre museum that was put together over some 80 years by a carpenter named Sverrir Hermansson. This is the Smámunasafn Sverris Hermannssonar, which roughly translates to ‘Sverrir Hermansson’s Small Exhibits’, but it is commonly referred to as Sverrir Hermansson’s Museum of Sundry Objects.

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Smámunasafn

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Smámunasafn Sverris Hermannssonar

As one would expect of a museum collection assembled by a carpen...

Transatlantic — Iceland; Námafjall Hverir

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Namafjall Hverir

Next up on our tour out of Akureyri was another geothermal area. This is the Námafjall Geothermal Area, also referred to as Námafjall Hverir. Here, surrounded by steam venting in the nearby foothills, you’ll find bubbling mudpots and sulfur emitting fumaroles.

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Namafjall Hverir

The surrounding terrain is barren and a bit bizarre:

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Namafjall Hverir

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Namafjall Hverir

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Namafjall Hverir

But at the actual geothermal site there is much to see and experience. Here is a particularly popu...