Seeing Nature in Seattle

I also got a chance to see the new installation Middle Fork

which takes the place of the strange suspended cars.

This is much more pleasing.

Upstairs Paul Allen's collection of Seeing Nature had some 

interesting modern pieces. I liked these clouds over an invisible lake.

He also had some Monet waterlilies and a Manet.

The Migration Series

Given the state of Black lives today, 

and the current situation of other migrants 

all over the world, this is a very timely exhibit. 

In 60 panels JL tells the story of how so many Black families

 and individuals left the south post WWI 

to seek a new life in the great north.

It was an exodus, but not without its struggles which continue today.

I was surprised by the small size of the images.

I always had thought they would be larger.

Home Again

Home again to the city of cranes and construction.
Today to finish off the little vacation I headed down to SAM
in the afternoon after an SU faculty meeting.
About ten school buses had beat me there to see the
Jacob Lawrence exhibit.
They were very intent on the art, which was impressive.

Wise Warning Given Recent Executive Orders

This wood mural hangs in the restaurant, and seems to be a fitting warning
to those whose actions could destroy the environment for a very long time
for the polar bears and all living beings. 

Having breathed the purest air, sipped the purest glacial waters,
gazed on pristine natural wonders,
 I can only hold this country and its leaders in the highest regard
for the way they are protecting the earth.
They also just passed legislation to insure that men and women are paid equally!

Faretheewell, Iceland. Mil gracias!

Waiting for Our Return

These lovely natives greet all visitors to the hotel and restaurant and bar.
The  lady in the bar has a big fetching ring on her finger..


     

Ponies on Vacation

These were ponies on their three month vacations, taking the sun.

The Hotel Spa!

The hotel spa was worth the trip. 

Soaking pools of various temps, sauna, steam, and a lounge for resting 

in between treatments or soaks.

The Only Sheep We Saw!

Textile Fashion!

It's not just about sweaters and mittens and scarves.  

There are beautiful designs everywhere!

The Land of Fire and Ice

Iceland is the land off Swimming pools..Outdoor swimming pools!

  Every town, no matter how small, has a pool, or two, one hot, one cold, and a hot pot of very hot water, and all ages and all shapes gather in the rain, the sleet, the snow, to soak year round. often they charge it up by jumping in the lake or the cold pool in between soaks.

No surprise then that there are many bathing suit shops out there...often next to the outerwear and sweater stores.

Yuck!

Supposedly, these are not from endangered groups.

But I cannot imagine eating the national bird or mammal.

Even more disgusting is the putrified shark treat taken with a shot of liquor 

which is supposed to taste worse than the shark!!!

At the Hand Knitting Association

Iceland is supposedly full of sheep who provide lots of fur for all those Icelandic sweaters.

We haven't seen one real sheep in our travels. Just sculptures.

All of you who are knitters, felters, or do things with wool 

would really like it here.

The  hand knitters sell fabulous sweaters, blankets, hats, 

gloves, and even hand felted nativity scenes.

The colors are bright and the prices comparable to the machine  

knitted items  sold in all the tourist shops.

I guess this is a good way to keep busy during  the long arctic winters.

Back to town

Yesterday was a pretty gray Seattle kind of day, sans rain.

Perfect for more retail therapy and art galleries.

Post Golden Circle

After our great adventures in the wilds, like explorers before us we discovered the Happy Hour at the hotel ,as well as some fabulous Reykjavik gin! 

After all, it is spring now, and time for G and T's again!

Jumping the Turnstile

We do not have any Icelandic money. 

It's a pretty plastic world.

However, the National Park Service 

wanted us to charge 30 cents to our cards to use the facilities.

Some very sweet young women gave enough for one entrance fee,

But we made it a 2 for 1 deal and jumped the turnstile!

The youngsters cheered us on!

Icelandair Justice--Old School!

The first courts were severe. 

Capital punishment was frequent and the preferred 

method was drowning in the frigid waters.

The offenses most certainly guaranteed to land you 

in the river? Incest and Infanticide. All I words!
Women suspected of witchcraft were put into gunny sacks and
thrown into the river.

It looks pretty serene now, by comparison.

At Pingvellir National Park

The first Icelandic Parliament met out here surrounded by 

the towering craggy walls of basalt. The early settlers would

set up booths and tents and hold court in the natural amphitheater.

On one side a glacial river flowed out of the glacial streams pouring down

the hill of basalt.

Chasing the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights have been very hard to see these last months. 

As a consequence a lot of evening tours were cancelled. 

I learned that Irene is a weather whisperer.

As you can see they showed up for us, and chased us!

From the night we started hunting them they became visible for everyone.

They say it is because of some new solar storms, bit I still want to give credit to the weather whisperer!

Andy Goldsworthy Would Like it Here!

The ice is starting to melt and creates wonderful designs as it 

breaks apart.