I have arrived in Reykjavik- the trip into town was quite eventful.
Joe (my housemate) and I were leaving at the same time, so we rode the bus together. We met at the bus station and said farewell to a fellow resident (Peeter from Estonia).
The bus ride was smooth- our bus driver looked just like Chris Farley though- Chris Farley with a mustache... Joe and I got a good chuckle about that one.
Juanita entertained us for a few minutes and then I fell asleep.
Upon arrival to the Reykjavik bus station, Joe ordered half of a lamb head (traditionally eaten here in Iceland). He offered me some, but I decided that I didn't want to throw up in front of everyone, so I passed. Joe was happy to report that the eyeball tasted strangely sweet and the tongue like sausage. About that time, I pointed to what he was about to put in his mouth and said, "Don't eat that, that's the sinuses" and then we were done.
After the lamb experience, Joe and I schlepped our luggage to the hostel in town- a hostel for artists (cool, huh?). And then we went out on the town for some noodles and a souvenier or two.
Now I'm back in my room, frantically documenting my day, listening to Positive Life Radio from back home and getting ready to hit the hay- gotta get up bright and early tomorrow: 3:45am to be exact.
For those of you who were praying for me and my luggage, so far so good. I did, however, have to say 'goodbye' to my purple bag and narrow everything down to one piece of luggage. It was hard to do, but I couldn't afford the $150 charge to take a second bag to France- gotta draw the line somewhere.
This time tomorrow, I will be dog-tired and ready to cry- but hopefully safe in the harbor of my new residency. I'm looking forward to a new landscape and new inspiration.
Here are some pictures documenting the day.
Follow this starving artist as she continues her world traves. This month: France
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Leaving on a Jet Plane

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....well, kind of. I have one more load of laundry that needs to dry and then I will shut this suitcase and head to the bus station. I go to Reykjavik tonight and then depart for France early Thursday morning. I leave with a fresh roll of canvas that arrived (finally) yesterday and I've somehow managed to narrow-down my belongings to just one piece of luggage. Please pray that my bag doesn't try to kill me on the escalator this time. Thanks.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Wrapping it Up
Things are coming to a close here. I head to Reykjavik on Wednesday and then to France on Thursday. Time between now and then is scheduled for packing, cleaning, laundry, and tying up loose ends. I have 17 paintings ready to send back home and I am hoping to pare down my belongings to fit into just one suitcase- because two bags is just too much for a gal to wrangle.
I thought that today's blog would feature a series of photographs I took the other day- offering you readers a glimpse at the expansive landscape.
Thanks to everyone who watched part of the Open Studio broadcast yesterday. 50 total people watched and it really was a boost for everyone here to get to show the 'world' what we've been up to.
I thought that today's blog would feature a series of photographs I took the other day- offering you readers a glimpse at the expansive landscape.
Thanks to everyone who watched part of the Open Studio broadcast yesterday. 50 total people watched and it really was a boost for everyone here to get to show the 'world' what we've been up to.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Open Studio on Sunday
Sunday is a big day for residents here at Gullkistan. After a month of painting and pursuing our artistic goals, we have a chance to show fellow residents, residency directors, community members, and even website viewers our artwork.
If you would like to tune-in on the http://www.gullkistan.is/ website and watch the open studio live broadcast, the scheduled time is 2-5pm Icelandic time (7am-10am PST). If you do choose to watch via the Internet, please know that it is just like you’re peeking in on a very informal event- so there won’t be much structure to the evening, just artists milling around a studio, staring at artwork… but it’s kind of a big deal for us here.
In case you don't make it to the open studio, here are some examples of paintings that will be shown on Sunday:
If you would like to tune-in on the http://www.gullkistan.is/ website and watch the open studio live broadcast, the scheduled time is 2-5pm Icelandic time (7am-10am PST). If you do choose to watch via the Internet, please know that it is just like you’re peeking in on a very informal event- so there won’t be much structure to the evening, just artists milling around a studio, staring at artwork… but it’s kind of a big deal for us here.
In case you don't make it to the open studio, here are some examples of paintings that will be shown on Sunday:
Friday, August 26, 2011
The One That Got Away

I got up this morning, brewed a cup of coffee and sat down to write today's blog entry. I'd been thinking for a few days what to write about- I wanted to write something fun to read and not just a daily account of my happenings here in Iceland.
Sipping my java, I typed and chuckled to myself for an hour and a half. "This is a good one," I thought as I proof read my blog-masterpiece. I shoved myself back from the computer, headed to the kitchen for a snack and then returned to the laptop one more time to upload the last of the photos for my entry.
And then my computer deleted it- the whole thing.
All my writing from this morning disappeared into the Internet Abyss, never to be seen again. I got that hot, prickly feeling when I realized that my hilarious, funny, poignant, thought-provoking, life-changing essay went bye-bye. Tempted to punch my laptop in the 'face', I fought the urge to shout some choice four letter words and I let out a sigh of defeat. With that, I went downstairs for a piece of chocolate. So much for my Pulitzer Prize.
One of my housemates saw that I was possibly suicidal and tried to cheer me up. "You can re-write it. It'll be better the next time."
I shrugged off his cheer and optimism. He saw me ignore his words of encouragement, so he added, "Ah. The blog probably sucked anyway."
I laughed.
I never tried to re-write what I had intended to post today. Instead, my afternoon included a much-needed nap and cleaning my room. Sometimes things don't go as planned, reminding me to be flexible and to laugh at myself every now and then.
I'd like to propose a toast: "'To the one that got away'".
Happy Friday, my friends.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Iceland vs. Ferry County

I went for a drive a couple of days ago. Steering the residency's 1983 Suzuki down the driveway, I merged onto the rural highway and headed into town. Cruising down the road, I spied an oncoming car. As the driver and I met each other, my hand automatically opened to give a friendly wave at the man in his Audi. He gave me a strange look and obviously wondered why someone he didn't know would wave at him. At first, all I could think of was the disappointing fact that he didn't return the wave- and then I remembered that Iceland is not Ferry County, where people wave... and Audis are scarce.
With my errands finished in the village, I returned back to the residency where my brain continued to compare and contrast my hometown of Curlew, Washington with this island I have called 'home' for the past three weeks. I felt like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz when she suddenly realizes that she's not in Kansas anymore. Iceland differs from Ferry Country just about as much as Kansas differs from the Emerald City.
Hints I know that I am not back home:
-People don't wave at each other
-Trailer parks are scarce
-Severe lacking in blue tarps and orange bailing twine
-No one parks their broken-down cars in their yard
-I can't find a Ford pickup anywhere.
-Churches are almost completely empty on Sundays.
-It's really hard to find a bag of Doritos.
-There aren't any Ponderosa Pine or Douglas Fir trees.
-No one is talking about the upcoming hunting season.
-Children don't yell 'MISS BYRD!!!" at me when I am in the village.
-It's not 90 degrees and HOT!
-Gas costs a lot more.
-People do not decorate their homes with taxidermied animals.
-Shark cheese.
-Chickens don't roam the streets.
-Lava.
-Geysers.
-Hot springs.
-Um...glaciers.
-Groups of old men don't sit around local cafes and chat about their farm equipment.
-I haven't seen any advertisements about upcoming 4-H shows or county fairs.
-Innertubing is not considered a pastime.
-Jumping in the freezing cold ocean and swimming IS consdiered a pastime.
-People die from falling in cravases here.
-Bud Light cans are missing from the roadside ditches.
-Coors Light cans are missing from the local roadside ditches.
-Pabst Blue Ribbon cans ar missing from the local roadside ditches.
-WalMart Popcorn Chicken containers are missing from the local roadside ditches.
-"Holy ennit, cousin?" is not a common sentence.
-A series of extra vowels and are present in the alphabet.
-"Aint" is missing from the local vocabulary.
-I can't drive to see my parents on the weekends.
-Gum costs $3.50 per pack at the gas station.
Here's in celebration of the differences between Ferry County and Iceland- two very different places, but both are filled with very good people.
With my errands finished in the village, I returned back to the residency where my brain continued to compare and contrast my hometown of Curlew, Washington with this island I have called 'home' for the past three weeks. I felt like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz when she suddenly realizes that she's not in Kansas anymore. Iceland differs from Ferry Country just about as much as Kansas differs from the Emerald City.
Hints I know that I am not back home:
-People don't wave at each other
-Trailer parks are scarce
-Severe lacking in blue tarps and orange bailing twine
-No one parks their broken-down cars in their yard
-I can't find a Ford pickup anywhere.
-Churches are almost completely empty on Sundays.
-It's really hard to find a bag of Doritos.
-There aren't any Ponderosa Pine or Douglas Fir trees.
-No one is talking about the upcoming hunting season.
-Children don't yell 'MISS BYRD!!!" at me when I am in the village.
-It's not 90 degrees and HOT!
-Gas costs a lot more.
-People do not decorate their homes with taxidermied animals.
-Shark cheese.
-Chickens don't roam the streets.
-Lava.
-Geysers.
-Hot springs.
-Um...glaciers.
-Groups of old men don't sit around local cafes and chat about their farm equipment.
-I haven't seen any advertisements about upcoming 4-H shows or county fairs.
-Innertubing is not considered a pastime.
-Jumping in the freezing cold ocean and swimming IS consdiered a pastime.
-People die from falling in cravases here.
-Bud Light cans are missing from the roadside ditches.
-Coors Light cans are missing from the local roadside ditches.
-Pabst Blue Ribbon cans ar missing from the local roadside ditches.
-WalMart Popcorn Chicken containers are missing from the local roadside ditches.
-"Holy ennit, cousin?" is not a common sentence.
-A series of extra vowels and are present in the alphabet.
-"Aint" is missing from the local vocabulary.
-I can't drive to see my parents on the weekends.
-Gum costs $3.50 per pack at the gas station.
Here's in celebration of the differences between Ferry County and Iceland- two very different places, but both are filled with very good people.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
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