Stan and Steve in Iceland, March 2015

Steve Cohan, my brother-in-law (Diane's husband), and I took a short trip to the frozen wastes of Iceland in mid-March, 2015, just as spring was coming to Baltimore.

Actually, it turned out that yesterday, our first day here, was balmy, sunshine and no wind, and, for the first time in 2 weeks, the Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) were available for viewing. The trip had been cancelled for tourists every night until last night and has been cancelled for tonight, but last night turned out to be so good for viewing that the tour guide said she had never seen them so well.  However, as impressive as they were to us, they still looked better on postcards and the web, but it is hard to trust photos anymore. I do know that I froze standing out in the weather taking time exposures without gloves.

Yesterday, was a record for a long day: Arrived in Iceland at 6 am after a 5 hour flight, then spent the day in town going to museums and walking everywhere, had a really special seafood meal, then left for the Northern Lights tour at 9 pm and were dropped off at the hotel at 2 am.  Pickup this morning for an all day tour to geysers, falls, and volcanic parks and just got back for dinner.  Too cold to go looking for restaurants but found a terrific food emporium near the hotel that looked a lot like the prepared food area at Wegmans'.  Salmon lasagna, lox salad, pumpkin salad, and a happy hour beer at the hotel (for just $10 a glass) where we came back with the food and ate in the area in the lobby set aside for breakfast. 

I have inserted a few (very few) pictures of the last 48 hours. 

Along the walk along the water in Reykjavik

Sculpture on shore. 

The glass Opera House. 

City Hall on a lake with hundreds of honking geese.

The city museum with a dress-up corner. 

The art museum with an exhibit by Erro who puts old masters juxtaposed with modern or cartoon subjects (don't ask me what it means, but it is jarring.  I took dozens of photos and can show them if asked on my return).

Catholic church in Reykjavik with Lief Erickson statue.

Northern Lights taken at 1 sec, ISO 1600, f 2.0

These look like the Arctic tundra. Cold and windy, but we were impressed.  I have a lot of this on video.  Will show with ice cream.

Steve and I have another full tour day tomorrow, hope to find a thermal pool on Friday, and then put our winter gear away and return to Spring in Baltimore.