Photos (29 July 2024)

Some nature photos this week. A few from my uncle’s workshop. And some of Kolka, my sister’s cat.

This walk took place during the rain. Hence the slightly greyer outlook.

The mountain Reykjafjall, I think, wrapped in fog

The view of a path down through a tunnel of trees and to a small bridge

A tree wrapped in the steam from a geothermal spring

A wider view of that tree wrapped in the steam from a geothermal spring

These, however, were taken during a sunny walk.

I’m guessing, based on some of the responses I got to these photos, that people wildly overestimate Icelandic summer temperatures. Like, a sunny 15˚C is a warm summer day and anything over that prompts many mangers to close the shop and give everybody a “sun day” (sólardagur) off. Anything around or over 20˚C is pretty much a heatwave and the all-time warmest-its-ever-been temperature record for Reykjavík is just over 25˚C.

The waterfall in Varmá.

The banks of Varmá in Hveragerði.

What remains of one of the earlier efforts to industrialise Iceland: a ruined house by Varmá

A better view of the river Varmá, makes you almost feel like you can hear the water

I couldn’t resist the temptation during a family gathering this weekend to sneak a few pictures of my uncle’s workshop.

A cropped view of several violin bows on the wall.

The handle of an unfinished violin

Several almost ready violins hanging in a row

Some of the tools he uses.

My sister sent me another batch of photos of Kolka. As Kolka is a bit of a “what are WE doing today” kind of cat, whenever my sister is painting or drawing (she’s an illustrator) Kolka just stares at the proceedings as if filled with curiosity.

Kolka, a black and white cat, by the sofa staring at the photographer with curiosity

Kolka sitting, staring up while clearly thinking “what ARE you doing?”

Kolka sitting and staring again

Kolka sitting and staring, yet again, but this time on the sofa.