Road trip!!

OK, well, it's not like I was able to rent a car or anything, but thankfully the tuition fee for the course here includes a few touristy excursions. Farðu!







The Icelandic flag blowing in the wind.












Me amusing myself and others on a lucky Icelandic rock pile. Thanks, self-timer! Screw you, fat! By the way, this is actually a glacier field.





The above pictures were taken after we visited the ancient site of the original Alþing, or Icelandic parliament, which is believed to have been the oldest democratic parliament in existence (especially considering that it is still running). The sites were amazing; it's no wonder the Icelanders were inspired to write such amazing sagas and such circumspect pop lyrics, given the otherworldly topological environs. The problem, though, is that it was overrun by insects who apparently weren't fond of foreigners. I got mouthfuls. At least I didn't go hungry that day.




I think this is Sayaka, our Japanese representative, amidst some very pretty Icelandic flowers.









How's that for some blue water?







I think there's a good degree of pseudo nature-worship even in contemporary Iceland, or at the very least under the watchful aegis of this program. I think they assume we're all into either Icelandic sagas or Icelandic pop music or Icelandic men/women, so they've really been driving home the unique geology of the landscape. This has considerably dimensionalized my relationship to Icelandic cultural products, as I hadn't previously realized how rife with allusions to landscape the Icelandic pop scene really is. I recommend... what's it called? "I Am the Landscape" by The Sugarcubes. "I wanna be here, right with you, that's where I'm staying... where no one can find me!" (Hopefully I've got the song/lyrics right.)




My homage to the Enjoy the Silence video.












Strange sculptures are in abundance 'round these parts. I intend to do a whole post on the later; shooting for 25 photos with some kind of information about each. Stay tuned!








A shot of the seaside and country structures through the modernist sculpture above.











Corrugated metal makes for warm worship away from winter woe.








The pictures above were taken in front of a famous old Icelandic church. The flux of Christianity seems to be a crux of urbane profanity, but the austere little shacks that the Lord is worshiped in really do install a sense of understated awe with their almost wabi aesthetic. When speaking to an Icelandic guy about my travels, who rolled his eyes and laughed at the idea of touring to see all the little churches, but I found them really fascinating. If I ever get married, maybe it'll happen in a little Icelandic church...






The drive home. Do you see the word "hell" if you enlarge the picture?






To be certain, my mind was alive with speculation and introspection given the drastic change in psychogeography (or changes, many, in one drive!) and the idyllic (and sometimes wild) driving of the bus. One of these days I'll post something of interesting intellectual content, I promise.

In the meantime, expect posts soon about my artful endeavors here in Iceland, and also expect to be BEGGED for care packages. More frettar as it happens. Sjáumst!

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