[Photos taken 15 – 22 December 2023, posted online 19 June 2024. Pouring rain outside, but did manage to build a “lid” for another veggie-box, so now two are covered.]
Finnur had spent the week in Dublin, Ireland, for work. I decided to use some of that sweet disposable income to join him for the weekend, as I’d never spent any time in Dublin, just flown in and then driven north (also for work).
A day after we returned, the ground split open an a volcanic eruption began. It would be the first of many.
As Christmas got closer, we put up and decorated a tree, as well as did other bits a bobs to prepare. Happily, snow came and covered the ground, meaning the days felt a little brighter.
Friday 15 December 2023
At Keflavik airport at 5 in the morning (ugh).
Chain-mail as an area-divider at one of the newish restaurants at the airport. They keep changing things around there.
The usual mild chaos at the gate.
Unusually good closure around the airplane door.
Winds were high enough to loosen a long bit of wrapping plastic, and it flailed in the wind. Somebody finally showed up to tame it.
During a rather scary taxi ride, where the driver not only scammed me by charging too much to go through a tunnel, but also served himself hot tea in a cup from a thermos, WHILE DRIVING. I was glad to leave the vehicle in one piece.
At my destination. Now to find Finnur!
Everything seemed to be under construction.
Found him, and the most colorful stairs ever!
We camped out in a cafeteria with our laptops for a bit, very romantic.
Out and about, walking to another Google building.
This Google building (actually, a collection of three buildings, all joined together by a skywalk) had a Wonka display in the atrium, as you do.
We went looking for roof access, and this floor number caught my attention.
Yes, it’s woven using electrical wires.
What’s going on here…?
Oh yes, electrical sockets and switches!
After getting lost a lot, we finally found the roof access!
Nice flat view!
Greenery in December, and evidence of heavy construction.
We found a cute map.
Lunch at another Google cafeteria was excellent. I was a lot hungrier than Finnur, having been up well before the crack of dawn!
Walking past a 5-star hotel. I wonder if the person getting out was a “somebody”?
There were buskers placed at regular intervals. They seemed to all have displayed licenses and time-slots to be where they were.
At the entrance to Trinity College, where we’d booked a guided tour.
The entrance is there at the top.
Somebody was getting married!
That tower in the middle of the courtyard was the meeting point. Apparently it is bad luck for students to walk under it.
Our guide had just finished his finals (medicine) and he talked very very very fast. I’d forgotten that’s what the Irish do.
Once my ear-brain filters re-tuned to mostly understand the flood of words, he had a lot of fun stories to tell.
Even this tree had a story (I think).
By the Museum Building, where the masons pulled all sorts of hijinks!
There are things up there that you wouldn’t expect.
We got to enter the building (it was the only building we entered), and this is the foyer. Those are ex-Irish animals. The building is home to the university’s Geology, Geography, Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering departments.
Quite stunning!
You just wanted to lie down on the floor to drink it all in with your eyes.
The columns all have different types of stone covers.
Some civil engineering on display.
The different types of rocks present.
Leaving the Museum Building.
In the Rose Garden, but I vaguely recall that those benches are often used for dumping people?
Looking over College Park. If the weather had been nicer, there would have been students frolicking, and some playing cricket.
Included in the tour was entrance to the Book of Kells exhibition.
It was loaded with information.
Markings have meaning.
There were lots of blown up photos from the book.
Pigments. The book is quite colorful.
So. Much. Detail!
It just went on and on and on.
Inside this chamber was a single glass box, with a page (or the book open to a page? I can’t recall). That was all, and then you walked up stairs to the second floor.
Of course the was a gift store on the lower level, as you exited.
Tempting.
Not tempting.
Outside it was dark. It was time to head to the hotel again.
The shopping street was still full of people.
Festive mall decorations.
I guess you can sell anything these days!
The horses were doing brisk business.
Heading out to dinner. The elevator area at the hotel was… interesting.
Cocktail time!
It took a while to find the entrance, as the restaurant was hidden in the basement.
Excellent food!
Sunday 17 December 2023
We left the hotel at 8 in the morning.
The taxi driver was great, he pointed out some sights, and even played song by a local hero.
I was only traveling with hand luggage, so I left Finnur in line to check in his bag, and scouted up ahead for a place to eat.
More festivities!
Avocado and bacon? Sure!
About to embark around 10:30.
Both accounted for!
Very Irish.
The Westman Islands, off of the south coast of Iceland.
The aluminum smelter outside of Hafnarfjörður, on the left.
Coming in for landing…
… and then we drove straight to a birthday party!
Monday 18 December 2023
That evening, the ground finally tore open, and a massive fountain of lava spewed up into the air. It had been just over a month since a massive amount of lava moved underground on 10 November, tearing apart the ground under the town of Grindavík. It was the start of a series of eruptions, the first few only lasted about a day, but the more recent ones have percolated for longer.
Weather conditions were such that we could see the red glow from our backyard. That was so far they only time that’s happened.
The location of the crack, around midnight.
Tuesday 19 December 2023
Walked into the gym and was greeted by my brother’s face, again.
The view at work.
Snow!
My new “bird table” arrived in the mail.
I added some extra screws to try and make it last longer than the last one.
Emma working on a holographic jigsaw puzzle.
Wednesday 20 December 2023
Everybody at work brought a sweet something to share.
The tree-installation-crew hard at work.
Thursday 21 December 2023
Tree-decoration time!
Lights glinting.
Decoration action.
Lights are fun.
I took Bjarki out to have him practice driving up and down hills in the snow.
Friday 22 December 2023
The world at 3 in the afternoon.
It was frozen.
Ho-ho-ho practice at the gym!
Emma waiting for more presents to appear under the tree?
