Klackmonkey Personal Log

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-17T00:31:00

2011-09-17T07:01:28Z

Turf Houses

Some old turf houses on a farm, west of Núpsstaður.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/10304707368)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-16T00:30:00

2011-09-16T07:00:04Z

On the Ring Road

On the ring road, driving through fields of moss-covered lava.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/10268074659)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-15T00:30:00

2011-09-15T07:00:04Z

Brunahraun

Brunahraun, a huge field of moss-covered lava. The field stretches for kilometres, and I think I recall seeing a couple farms amidst it.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/10230949333)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-14T00:32:00

2011-09-14T07:00:03Z

Þverárfjall

The southern cliffside of the hill Þverárfjall. I couldn’t find a name for the farm in this area.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/10193256591)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-13T00:31:00

2011-09-13T07:00:03Z

Huge Boulders

I was impressed by this collection of huge boulders at the bottom of Foss á Siðu (literally, “waterfall at Siða”). The fence ladder on the bottom is also a common sight in Iceland.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/10155215113)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-12T00:30:00

2011-09-12T07:00:08Z

Foss á Siðu

Foss á Siðu, or “waterfall at Siða”, just off the ring road east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The wind was blowing this one all over the area. Some of the waterfalls in Iceland are reputed to “flow backwards” when the wind is strong enough.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/10116523267)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-11T00:30:00

2011-09-11T07:00:03Z

The Sisters

A sculpture of the two sisters who have quite some fame around Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Folk takes state that two of the nuns in the area were sinful - one sold her soul to the Devil, while the other spoke blasphemously of the Pope.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/10068857104)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-10T00:32:00

2011-09-10T07:00:03Z

Glen with the Horses

This was the first time we had a chance to get close to some Icelandic horses. They were curious at first but got bored quickly.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/10024366585)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-09T00:30:00

2011-09-09T07:00:04Z

Rusted Handle

At the edge of Systravatn (sisters’ lake) above Kirkjubæjarklaustur, we stumbled upon a small hut housing some kind of pump, or water device. The window was covered in a beautiful layer of mould, accompanied by this amazing handle.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9985841149)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-08T00:30:00

2011-09-08T07:00:04Z

Systravatn

The shore of Systravatn (sisters’ lake), a small lake on the plateau above Kirkjubæjarklaustur. When the lake overflows, it runs down the stream in the foreground and falls down the cliff to form Systrafoss (sisters’ waterfall).

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9948015534)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-07T00:30:00

2011-09-07T07:00:13Z

School and Swimming Pool

This centre forms one of the two hubs of Kirkjubæjarklaustur (the other being the gas station), and functions as a school, public swimming pool and possibly a hotel. Kirkjubæjarklaustur is the only population centre in the area, and it only has about 140 inhabitants.

The river Skaftá runs in the background.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9908380056)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-06T00:31:00

2011-09-06T07:00:08Z

Kirkjugólf, or church floor, was particularly awesome. We saw basalt columns all over southern Iceland. It makes me want to go see the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9867670796)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-05T00:32:00

2011-09-05T07:00:03Z

Sheep!

More sheep on the plateau above Kirkjubæjarklaustur. There were lots of them, scattered around, grazing late at night.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9822049865)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-04T00:30:00

2011-09-04T07:00:08Z

Sunset Sheep

We found a flock of sheep wandering around on top of Kvennaklif (womens’ cliff), above Kirkjubæjarklaustur. They wouldn’t let us get near them, but they were really cute.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9777020965)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-03T00:32:00

2011-09-03T07:00:03Z

Breiðbalakvísl and Keldunúpur

A few out east from Kvennaklif, above Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The marshy land is Breiðbalakvísl, and the hill in the far background is Keldunúpur. This was taken during dusk, with some amount of cloud. Iceland never really got much darker than this during my trip.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9735373262)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-02T00:32:00

2011-09-02T07:00:04Z

Lava Mound

A big mound of old lava. Taken in the field near Kirkjugólf, in the small community of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. The cliff rising up on the right is the east end of Kvennaklif, which runs above the town.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9695790746)

emperorkefka @ 2011-09-01T00:30:00

2011-09-01T07:00:12Z

An Icelandic Forest

Across southern Iceland, we sometimes saw little lots with houses, densely surrounded by trees. In the normally tree-less landscape, they really stand out. This one is just outside Kirkjubæjarklaustur.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9656387262)

emperorkefka @ 2011-08-31T00:31:00

2011-08-31T07:00:15Z

Group Shot!

The three of us, hanging out on a fence ladder on the plateau above Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Nice Icelandic summer-sunset in the background.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9616667724)

emperorkefka @ 2011-08-30T00:30:00

2011-08-30T07:00:08Z

Kirkjugólf

Kirkjugólf, or church floor, is a small field of smooth basalt columns in a field in the small community of Kirkjubæjarklaustur. They are formed when fresh lava cools really slowly, and cracks form throughout them, similar to how cracks form in dried mud.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9576192805)

emperorkefka @ 2011-08-29T00:32:00

2011-08-29T07:00:08Z

Skaftá at Kirkjubæjarklaustur

The river Skaftá, as it passes through the small community of Kirkjubæjarklaustur (that means “church farm cloister”). I believe the big rock in the centre is called Systrastapi (“rock of the sisters”), apparently where two sinful nuns from the old cloister (from which the community takes its name) were buried.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9534498347)

emperorkefka @ 2011-08-28T00:30:00

2011-08-28T07:00:03Z

Lupines Along the Ring Road

Lupines grow all along the ring road in southern Iceland. This flat expanse, east of Vík í Mýrdal is known as the Mýrdalssandur. There’s a stretch just along the road where the lupines grow, but outside of it, it is a sandy wasteland.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9488785030)

emperorkefka @ 2011-08-27T00:30:00

2011-08-27T07:00:13Z

The Church at Vík

The small church at Vík í Mýrdal. Typical for a small icelandic church. Fields of lupines grew all around it.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9443827854)

emperorkefka @ 2011-08-26T00:34:00

2011-08-26T07:00:17Z

Vík í Mýrdal

The church at Vík í Mýrdal is iconic, and one of the most photographed things in the area. I thought the rusting and run-down vehicle and sheds make for an interesting contrast, as well as the fence poles and antenna. The fields of flowers are lupines.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9404734484)

emperorkefka @ 2011-08-25T00:31:00

2011-08-25T07:00:03Z

Crushed by Falling Signs

While wandering around the beach at Vík í Mýrdal, Glen was horribly crushed under a falling-rocks sign. Poor guy.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9364384287)

emperorkefka @ 2011-08-24T00:30:00

2011-08-24T07:00:03Z

The Coast at Vík

The coast along Vík í Mýrdal, at the base of the hill Gyldarhóll.

(Original entry: http://nichtsnirgendwo.tumblr.com/post/9323211676)