David and Linda Escaping the Norm: August 2016

We flew from Bergen, Norway to Reykjavik, Iceland on Monday morning. There are absolutely wonderful views of this dramatic country from the air. We will be here for one month.

From the airport in Reykjavik to our Workaway location in Western Iceland, we traveled on 4 buses and covered 100 miles. Below is a picture of the countryside we saw along the way.

We arrived! This is the Grabrok Guesthouse/Country store/Restaurant/Gas Station where we will be working this month. There are 5 French "kids", 3 Germans, 2 Polish, the manager is from Holland and now 2 Americans working here. 6 of them are leaving this week so we will probably stay busy. We will be working 7 hours a day for 4 days and then have 3 days off. There is a car the manager lets the workers use to go out and see the countryside. We're looking forward to that!

The worker's quarters are in the upstairs part of the restaurant/store. Since there are so many workers here right now, there wasn't a room for us so we were given one of the rooms in the hostel. This is our room until Thursday when 3 of the girls will be moving out.

After settling in, we took a hike up to the Grabrok Volcano Crater close by. Its last eruption was in 1148 so I think we're safe!

Perfect view of the sun going down over the crater

Here are just a few views from the top

The white building below is the hotel/restaurant

Stairway to the top

We were told to start work at noon so we got up on Tuesday morning and went for a run to a nearby lake.

Old lava fields covered in moss

We started working and our first job was to gather eggs. They have 34 chickens out back. In the afternoon, Linda helped make homemade bread in the restaurant.

David was given a fun job! One of the rooms has a plumbing problem. They've had plumbers come out but it has not been fixed. David to the rescue, but he may be at it for a while. The whole bathroom will need a new floor when he's done!

On Wednesday morning before starting work, we took a hike to Glanni Waterfalls.

This is on the main highway coming up to the hotel. The buildings on the left are Bifrost University. It's a very small university and the only Liberal Arts University in Iceland.

Back at the hotel. Looks like it will be a beautiful day!

More to come.....

On Wednesday, our host Charly drove us to Bergen, the 2nd largest city in Norway. It is about 50 km away and across the fjord. He wanted us to have a "tourist day". It rained on us all day, but we made the best of it and saw many sights.

Bergen's Harbour

This was a shopping and artist gallery district. The historic harbour known for its colorful wooden-clad boat houses

We found a Norwegian Troll! Did you know if you can make a troll laugh, he will explode?

A farmer's and fish market in the city center

We got to try some whale meat. It was very much like beef jerky only tender. We loved it but it costs about $75 a kg.

The city square

Bergen's Opera House

St Mary's Church

This was the residence of Norway's first Prime Minister

This is called "Fantoft Stave Church" built in 1150. It was burned to the ground in 1992 by a heavy metal band, but rebuilt to its orginal condition and completed in 1997.

We visited the museum of Edvard Grieg, a Norwegian classical composer from the 1800's

Edvard Grieg's house

A 12th century monastery ruins

Not sure who was buried here at one time???

Just one of the tiny narrow roads we drove

Back across the fjord and in Strandvik

We didn't get to post about this house on our first day because our phone (camera) died. This was the first project we worked on after arriving. This house was built in the 1800's and is owned by a friend of our hosts. We just worked on replacing some rotten wood at the front of the house.

On Thursday, we took the bikes out and came across these hairy sheep

We rode to this nearby beach area. We're told it's a good place to swim but at 62 degrees it's just a little too chilly for us!

On our way back we stopped at our favorite cafe in town to get an afternoon cappuccino. We placed our order with Patricia and she brings us out this plate of food. She said she wanted us to try a typical Norwegian dish. This is called "Komler" and is typically eaten on Thursdays all over Norway. It's potato dumplings served on rutabaga puree with salted lamb and Norwegian sausages. Wonderful!

On the days that Kirsten works, Linda cooks dinner for us all. She gathered these vegetables in the greenhouse and garden and fixed a wonderful meal.

Stuffed bell peppers, baked beetroot and tomato and feta salad

Charly has grapes growing in his greenhouse so on Friday morning he picked some and made us fresh squeezed grape juice

Friday was a rainy day so David set up his workshop in the greenhouse. He was able to repair a hammerdrill and 2 chainsaws.

These koi are big pets and come to the surface wanting food everytime someone walks by

Saturday morning David got out a welder Charly has and was able to weld some holes in the exhaust system of their car

Our last day in Strandvik and Charly wanted to take us on one of his favorite hikes. It's near his house and around a bird sanctuary. Very nice views of the fjord!

Proof that you can workout anywhere

A slippery spot on the trail but there was a rope to help us down

Emil goes everywhere with us and he loves to get in the photos!

We have a new "favorite"! This is Norwegian "brown cheese". Our host introduced us to this and we will be looking for it or ordering it when we are in the U.S. They gave us this block to take home with us, but we're sure it will be gone before we get back home!

Saying goodbye to Charly and Kirten and to Strandvik. We're sitting on what they call their "King's Chair." They found this piece of stone in the forest and had it brought to their house.