Traveling Iceland: The Snæfellsnes peninsula

For four days I went out of the lab and on the road to explore Iceland's fabulous scenery.

The Snæfellsnes peninsula lies a 2 hours drive north of Reykjavík. Its popularity for tourists is growing. That is not surprising. It is close to the country's capitol and simply beautiful. Still, it is a quiet place and at most of the many beautiful places the number of tourists is still low. The country side is dominated by volcanic mountains and farm land.

Swamps and marsh lands along the coast and the numerous lakes are speckled with cotton grass this time of the year. While most of the birds have already left their breeding grounds by mid-August, the vegetation remains colorful for a while. However, the first trees start to change into red and yellow.

The weather was beautiful, the scenery colorful, often dramatic. Abandoned farms and barn ruins accentuate the roughness of Iceland's environment.

A special view on Snæfellsjökull - the glacier at the tip of the peninsula. It is a small and rather young glacier which can be seen from Reykjavík when the air is clear.

Parts of a wrecked trawler and naturally polished pebbles at the Djupalon beach (south-western tip of the Snæfellsnes peninsula).

A lava field between Grundafjördur and Stykkisholmur (northern coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula). Often the cover of moss and lichen appears like cushion. Protruding black rocks of bizarre shapes add a strong contrast. This kind of scenery can be found all over Iceland.

A small lighthouse on a small skerry called Klofningur, in the west of Flatey. The sea was full of puffins who have recently left their breeding cliffs.

Flatey, a small inhabited island between the Snæfellsnes peninsula and the Westfjords.

On this ferry I went from Stykkisholmur on the Snæfellsnes peninsula to the Westfjords.

Iceland facts 01

Iceland is recognized as a fairly clean country. And it is true that you won't find much rubbish in the country side. On the other hand, there are only few waste-water treatment plants! Almost every drop is pumped in the ocean as it is..

On the streets with the queer.. for equal rights, against discrimination

Two weeks ago Reykjavík was celebrating the Gay Pride Festival 2011. Reykjavík is a place pretty liberal and open minded. The annual Gay Pride has become a fairly big event which is internationally recognized. It was fun to see all the colorful people at the parade and to feel the good mood.

The start of the parade at the bus terminal, Perlan, the hot water reservoir, in the background.

Yes, that is what everybody was looking for this day. Jesus, save me (before I become infected by the 'gay disease')!!!

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The parade on its way through the city center.

Spending time in Reykjavík

Yes - I am still alive. Even though I am struggling.. The time since my arrival more than two weeks ago has been very productive. Besides the work, however, I try to suck in as much of this country's beauty as I can. Let me give show you some impressions..

Tjörnin - the city's lake at the town hall. In the background you can see Askja, the Biology Department of the University of Iceland.

This building at Aragata 9 is where I am working. It belongs to the University, too.

Reykjavík at night (with some color changes). But yes: It is not really getting dark at the moment. However, the days are quickly getting shorter already.

This Building is the Hússtjórnarskólinn of Reykjavík. Instead of a social or ecological year, in Iceland the women can learn cooking and knitting etc. in the year after finishing school. That is the place I was staying at for the first 2 weeks. Now the school has started again after the summer break and I had to move out. Until the second world war this has been the German embassy in Iceland.

See: I am getting perfectly adapted. In the background you see some of the drawings I am stuffing this lab full with.

Another week, another place: Reykjavík, Island

Only a week ago, I was in Sydney. My location changed dramatically in many ways. Now, I am in the small capitol Reykjavík of the tiny country of Iceland, or 'Island' in the local language. Not only is this place as far away from Sydney as it could be on this planet and somewhat different in its dimensions. Iceland is a strong contrast. For one thing, it is 7pm now and still day light (while in Sydney right it would be pitch black) and the traffic uses the right side of the road but that is not, what I mean by contrast. Everything seems so different here. Is it the colors? The colors are more pale. Everything seems to be somewhere between green and grey. There are so many shades I never realized before. Is it the shadows? Because of the low solar altitude there seems to be a very intense contrast. Is it because of the wide visual range? Only volcanoes in the distance limit your sight. Human buildings and plants alike are usually little in grows as if they are awaiting the next storm. Golden plovers sitting on elevated rocks, watching.

Well, I am stunned by this place!