Murphy 0, Mother Nature 1...

Yesterday it appeared that we were to be isolated and confined to ship due to fog and pelting rain. In the morning early departees via tender were met on shore by the word that many tours had been cancelled. They took the return journey back to the ship rather than wander through the town in pelting rain.

Meanwhile on board the prospects looked gloomy for anything positive to happen that day were not good.. I was not deterred from attempting to get on-line and see how my two pressing issues were doing in the real world.


On the cabin's TV I detected a gibbled signal from a programme originating from the satellite. I quickly tried for the 15th time to get on-line. SUCCESS, sort of. I was able to get Wally's report before the signal was gone again. That made things better because the news was positive. Later I was able to get on again and heard that the plans for the building were now in the hands of the contractor, that was also good news.

By now the rain had stopped and it was lunch time.


We four made the decision to go ashore. And every minute of the time we were there the weather improved, really improved. Isafjordur is a very neat and tidy town of 4000. We could be anywhere in Europe. The 'town square' definitely had an old world feel to it even though the architecture reflects a modern and monied feel to it.. Somewhere along the way Judy jokingly bowed to an Icelandic Bank that she had some investments in but was fortunate enough to get out before they 'failed', or whatever the term is for what happened to their banking industry.

We spent most of the time at an area of town that has been devoted to the past history of this place, I seem to recall that the first settlers came here about 900 AD, converting to Christianity about 100 years later.

An interesting 1/2 hour film gave a very realistic view of the life of the cod fishermen's life around the early 1900's. It was a brutal existence, similar I suspect to many people's lives in those days who struggled to survive in isolated and unfriendly climatic areas. How fortunate we are to be born when and where we were!

The photos probably give a false impression of the life in this community, they were taken on a sunny summer day. Sort of a snapshot in time, not really fully illustrating what life is like in a northern community. But then, I do not seem to take a lot of pictures when it is raining, foggy or blowing hard.

The cleanliness and pride of the buildings is nice to see. People use colour whenever they can, even in professional buildings.

The foreboding presence of the high cliffs surrounding the town must be very ominous in the winter months with a wall of white no matter where you look in the town.



















Editor's Note: We heard from friend Ruth yesterday, our ex sailing mate who is undergoing cancer treatment. Ruth is doing fine, as bubbly as ever. She told me that she reads the blog each morning to George, who asks for some details of the food situation on the ship. You see, George was/is somewhat critical of the food and preparation of it because at home, he does the cooking. Eventually we got George to use the word 'interesting' rather than complain outwardly.

I also know that my lovely cousin, Peggy, at home has the blog printed by her husband and given to her along with her early morning beverage.

The pressure is killing me to write this meaningless drivel each day! I love it.