I'm on Iceland!!!

[luzula]

So, there's a math conference on Iceland in my field, and I had leftover conference-going money from last year, and, well. Who could resist a free trip to Iceland? Definitely not me.

Iceland = SO COOL. And considering I only capslock very rarely, you know it must be true. : ) The conference is at a hotel out in the countryside, and I just took a walk. There was a little brook with lukewarm water that I followed, and the water got hotter and hotter, and then I found the source--a little bubbling pool that smelled kind of like rotten eggs. And there were all kind of interesting mosses around it! I will spare you my moss-related squee, but I took samples to look at when I get home. Also, there's thyme growing everywhere, which is weird. Thyme doesn't grow at all like this at home. I wonder if it's a different species.

See, I have a thing for places which are similar to where I live, but still different enough that there are lots of new things to look at. It's so interesting to try to understand what the differences are and why. This also goes for the language, and not only the nature. I can't understand spoken Icelandic at all, but when it's written, I can pick out lots of words which are the same.

The spring birds seem to be getting here, and there's no snow left except for up on the peaks. I've seen swans, and snipe, and starlings. After the conference, I'm going to a small village on the coast, and I'll do some hiking and birdwatching and botanizing. Hopefully there will be some interesting sea-birds. Sadly, I probably won't get to see any puffin-birds, because it's too early. : (

Comments

[leafy22.livejournal.com]

Wow, Iceland!

a little bubbling pool that smelled kind of like rotten eggs.

So are there any hot springs around where you are?

I hope you find lots more moss and plenty of other interesting things to squee about during the rest of your trip!

[china_shop]

Oh cool! Yay for moss-related squee (amongst other things)! *g*

[zabira.livejournal.com]

YAY, ICELAND! i've always wanted to go there, and i'm glad it made you capslock. <3

[luzula]

Well, yes, they're all around! You don't actually bathe in the hot springs themselves, though, since they're too hot. But they use that water for heating and everything, so the shower water smells vaguely of rotten eggs. *g*

[luzula]

Yes! I am all excited (and also very tired). : )

[luzula]

Well, now is a good time, I think, when the exchange rate is favorable (for non-Icelanders, at least). Of course, that doesn't necessarily affect the price of the ticket, which is probably pretty expensive from Seattle.

I will probably post with more squee later. : )

[nos4a2no9.livejournal.com]

Iceland! That's very cool! Also: And there were all kind of interesting mosses around it! I will spare you my moss-related squee, but I took samples to look at when I get home.

You are my favourite. ♥

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

That is so cool! Iceland is a very interesting place; I was there once but only in the airport so it really doesn't count, and I'd like to go again for reals sometime. (And, I only posted one moss picture from NZ but we took A LOT.)

[luzula]

Aww, thanks. Me = fangirl for moss. : )

Also, your podfic of "The Border Between Life and Death" saved me from boredom on the plane. I love how expressive your reading is--I got all caught up in it and forgot that my legs were all confined.

[luzula]

I think you'd enjoy it! There seems to be a lot of great hiking--that's what I'm going to be doing the next few days. Just day hikes, though, since I decided I didn't want to bother with a tent and stuff.

Sadly, my camera is broken and I haven't gotten a new one yet, so I won't have any pictures to show. : (