Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Scavenger Hunt 2014: Iceland


I love December!
But this one has been challenging 
due to illness ~
so I have had to dip into my archives
and choose some photos from Iceland last June.



Approaching Keflavík International Airport
Near Reykjavik 





December's List

1.  Where You Stood
A Hill Overlooking Geysir
in the Haukadalur Geothermal Area


I always have a compulsion to climb 
to the highest point in an area, if at all possible.




So while Terry 
ate a snack,
I was off and running.






From on top of the high hill, I had a panoramic view 
of the Geysir Hot Spring Area and the Geysir Center.
Some of the thermal activities you can see
are bubbling mud pits and active geysers,
like Strokkur which erupts every few minutes
sending a fountain of water 
100 feet or 30 meters into the air.


Geysir Hot Spring Area


Strokkur


Stepmap




2.  Down Low
The Faxi Waterfall
(also referred to as Fossin Faxi or Vatnsleysufoss in Icelandic)



Sometimes you can get so caught up in the big scenery
that you overlook the beauty up close.
This lovely wild patch of flowers 
was down low at my feet.



By the Faxi Waterfall

Faxi is located on the Golden Circle,
a popular tourist trail east of Reykjavik.
The waterfall is on the Tungufljót river.
Wikipedia


3.  A View from Here
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall



Seljalandsfoss Waterfall is located about 18.6 miles 
(30 kilometers) from Skógar.

  The river Seljalandsá drops 200 feet (60 meters) over the cliffs 
  of a former coastline to form Seljalandsfoss Waterfall.  Wikipedia



What makes it special is that you can walk behind it, 
as Terry is doing.


  
Wikimedia



4.   Front Door
Front Door, Reykjavik





5.  A Favorite Thing
Hallgrímskirkja and Leifr Eiricsson 
Reykjavik
  

Hallgrímskirkja took my breath away.  
It is a Lutheran parish church 
designed by Guðjón Samúelsson
and inspired by Iceland's columnar basalt.

The statue of Leif Ericson
was a gift from the USA to Iceland
in honor of the one thousandth anniversary
of Iceland's Althing in 1930. 


Columnar Basalt 
Reynisfjall Sea Cliffs, Near Vik



                  
  Columnar Basalt                                         Nature Imitated





Location of Vik


6.   Sweet
Icelandic Ponies













7.  Christmas
Perhaps a Puffin for Under the Christmas Tree?




8. Decoration
A Vivid Decoration





Splashes of vivid green
brighten a stark landscape near
Sólheimajökull Glacier







9.  Tree
Laugavegur Street in the Heart of Reykjavik


Unusual trees (to me) line Laugavegur Street 
in downtown Reykjavik, 
along with shops, restaurants, cafes,
galleries, and museums.




10.  Tradition
Some Icelanders still believe in 
the Huldufólk or hidden people of Iceland. 
Stories about the Huldufólk appear 
in many traditional folk tales.

The hidden people live inside rocks,
on craggy hillsides, and in lava fields.

On Christmas Icelanders traditionally leave food
for the Huldufólk.

 A Landscape for the Traditional Huldufólk



11.  Black and White
Seastacks Near Vik, Iceland
This is a color photograph!




A Black and White World ~
In Living Color!




Vik, Iceland ~ With a Hint of Green




12.  Whatever You Want

Reykjavik Harbor
from Inside Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre




Hallgrímskirkja from Inside Harpa





National Geographic Student Expeditions





January's List:
Something new,  Landscape,  Words,  Cold,  Bottle,  Up high,
In the fridge,  Texture,  Hidden,  Blue,  Big,  and
What ever you want

Thanks to Jill (Greenthumb) 
and her Made with Love blog 
for setting up the scavenger hunt.

Happy 2015, Everyone!

27 comments:

  1. Iceland has beautiful sights
    Happy 2015 Fundy!

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  2. I've been out of commission the past couple of weeks, but I'll be making the rounds of everyone's blogs in the next few days. May each of you have a happy, healthy, and fulfilling 2015!

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  3. Wow, amazing photos of an amazing place. Iceland is somewhere I'd love to visit particularly as I really really want to see the Northern Lights. My favourite was the photo of the waterfall with all those beautiful lupins - a sign of spring/summer to come - yippee! Happy New Year Louise. x

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    1. Happy New Year, Julie! Iceland is awesome! I so want to go back! The lupins were gorgeous, but they are taking over and crowding out native plants. Northern Lights are one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen, but in June it didn't get dark in Reykjavik, so I had no hope of seeing them in Iceland.

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  4. Such great sights and places to see there indeed. That one pony sure looks to be taking a nice nap or playing dead. Maybe your camera was scary haha happy new year

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    1. Haha! And Happy New Year to you, Pat. I commented to our guide that there certainly seemed to be a lot of ponies relative to the number of people in Iceland. He told me that Icelanders eat Icelandic ponies. Yikes! They eat whales too! Not me! Take care!

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  5. Beautiful images! And OHMYGOSH...those Icelandic ponies. Awwww...sooooo gorgeous. I'd have a hard time detaching myself from there. My camera battery would be drained. Happy New Year, Louise! All the very best for 2015.

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    1. Thanks, Martha! I loved the Icelandic ponies ~ couldn't get enough of them! And yes, it was soooo hard to leave Iceland! I kept up a constant round of battery charging while I was there. I would drain two or three batteries a day. I hope that you and your family have a wonderful new year, Martha!

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  6. I always enjoy your photos and you added some beautiful sights for this month, I couldn't possibly choose a favourite! Happy New Year to you :)

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  7. I am so sorry to hear you haven't been well. I also love December, and I love your posts and photos...it takes me away for a while to another place to relax. I don't get to travel at all, just don't have the money for it, so thanks to your photos I get to have a mental vacation of sorts, and I thank you for that.

    I was sick the entire month of July (I had a bacterial infection known as "C Difficile", so I understand illness and empathize.

    I want you to know how much I love your blog and photos and how much I appreciate your visits and kind comments on my blog.

    Wishing you good health, joy and peace for 2015...and always. Hugs.

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    1. Hugs to you, Linda! Thank you for your encouraging comment! Poor you ~ "C Difficile!" Been there. Done that! No fun! May you have a wonderful 2015!

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  8. First, so very sorry that you have had to contend with illness. Second, what an outstanding post!! Several of your photographs took my breath away.. the first ones in "A Favourite Thing" and "The View from Here to name two, and the 2nd shot of the Icelandic ponies. I've seen three of your Scavenger Hunt posts now, and each time, felt so inspired I thought I might join up the following month. Maybe in 2015. Stay healthy, please. Wishing you continued love, laughter and peace in 2015.

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    1. Thank you, Carol! I'm glad that you are enjoying my scavenger hunt photos! I am feeling a lot better now, and hopefully, I can stay that way! I'd love you to join our scavenger hunt, but I know how life pulls us all in lots of directions! Have a great day to start the year!

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  9. Thanks for taking part in the last scavenger hunt for 2014. I can't pick my favourites as the are all fabulous. Happy new year to you and I do hope your feeling bette Greenthumb

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    1. Thanks, Jill! It's great of you to manage the scavenger hunt ~ I do love it! I hope that you and your family have enjoyed a lovely start to the year. All the best to you!

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  10. Happy New Year! May 2015 be full of wonderful adventures for you and many things to photograph! Your great photos make me long to go to Iceland. Perhaps next year?

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    1. Thanks, Debra! I'm thinking you're home again. I hope that you had a good and safe trip! All the best in 2015!

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  11. Sorry to hear you have been unwell, and I hope you are feeling so much better now and can start a healthy New Year! Nice that you were able to dip into your photos of Iceland... what a memorable trip that must have been. So many unusual sights. The architecture is amazing... and the ponies delightful. A Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family.

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    1. Thanks for your kind comment, Glo! And yes, I'm feeling much better! I found Iceland endlessly fascinating, and I long to go back! Have a great 2015!

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  12. "Standing Into Danger" has been included in our Sites To See #426. Be assured that we hope this helps to point many new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2015/01/sites-to-see-426.html

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    1. What a lovely surprise this morning! Thanks for the shout out! Have a good one!

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  13. Louise! These photos are SPECTACULAR! The church took MY breath away!
    You inspire me you know.
    thanks.

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  14. Thanks, Jim! You are so kind! Iceland makes me look good! You and Tomorrow-Birthday-Guy have to go there! :)

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  15. Sorry you've been unwell Louise- that''s rotten over Christmas. Bravo though for searching the archives for great inspiration. I've been to Iceland but in winter so I didn't see most of the outdoor sights like Gulfoss or those amazing cliffs!!! there was heavy snow when I was there although Mount Hekla did erupt so I got to fly over it in an 8 man plane which was lucky!
    I love the green carpet one and the cliffs!x

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    1. Hi Kezzie! Happy New Year! How cool to fly over Mount Hekla when it was erupting! Our guide said that Hekla can go off any time right now, and that it is currently the most dangerous volcano in Iceland! I definitely want to see Iceland in the winter. I want to experience the long nights. Have a good one! Hugs!

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