Short post today, as I check out soon and then catch my flight to Greenland. My dreams were very sweet, as I am letting Iceland’s charm seep into my bones and heart. I am completely digging skyr, the traditional Icelandic yogurt. It is thick and creamy, almost the consistency of gelato, only it will not melt on you! Sweet with berries, but not too sweet. Best part? Super healthy! The next American health food craze? (It should be, anyways!)
Yesterday I trekked out to the Arbæjarsafn, an open-air museum on the outskirts of the city that was one of the farms until the suburbs engulfed it. Historic buildings are continually brought here and restored, showing the evolution of building materials. For most of Iceland’s history, the people built their homes and churches out of turf. Literally bricks of sod for the walls, earth floors, and timber-beamed roofs layered in sod. The houses look like serene grassy hills, the tall seed heads waving in the wind. The only indication of a house is the door on one end! Inside the living conditions were cramped, dank, smelly and dirty. An entire family would live in one basic room and sleep in the loft. Often the turf barn for the pigs and goats was attached. Imagine 10-15 people huddled into these structures, filled with hazy smoke from the fire! Hunched over in one of these homes I suddenly conjured up an imagine of extended families gathered together in winter for warmth as one of them recited a tale from the Sagas, of blood lust and revenge and love and betrayal and adventure, everyone hanging on their every word to shut out the dank and harshness of living in Iceland. To say I felt the presence of the ghosts of the past is given.
Well, with that little tidbit, I must leave you for now. I have a flight to Greenland to catch! Not sure when I will next have Internet access, so I will post again for sure in a week, hopefully before then.
Chronic Traveler 