Úlfar Says...

Today we went on a three hour bus tour of Reykjavik and the surrounding areas.  Our tour guide was our best friend Úlfar, who gave us words of wisdom while we rode around and saw the sites.  Now, I knew I liked Úlfar from the moment he said "I live in the house across from the building that looks like a tuhhhrnip." (I don't think I'll ever say "turnip" normally again).  But he came out with some amazing one-liners, today.

We started at the university building where we have been taking classes (above) and boarded the bus.  Two minutes into our journey, Úlfar began his guided tour: "As you can see here, there is traffic jam in Reykjavik."

We stopped at the fields surrounding a very geometric church out on the peninsula, which gave us a panoramic view of the surroundings.  Úlfar named all the natural landmarks around us.  Without missing a beat he said, "And this is my mountain, Úlfarsvatn."

 I had noticed Úlfar was picking flowers along the path as we walked.  The fields were full of wild flowers.  After explaining the views, he named each flower in Icelandic before throwing it on the ground.  I learned that "sóley" means "buttercup".

We got on the bus.  As we whizzed by the beautiful views, Úlfar shared his thoughts on the younger generation: "At one time it was thought good for children to work...now they are taken care of by their parents until they are 18...or 30, or whatever."

We stopped down by the shore, where there was a piece of art called "Swell." It is an overflowing footbath that uses water from the hot springs.  Úlfar happened to have a towel handy for people who wanted to dip in their feet.

In the meantime, I got some candids of my roommate, Alicia.

 Next we stopped at this funny little mound by the docks.  Úlfar told us that it looks like a tiny version of the mountain in Iceland that gives you three wishes if you climb it without looking behind you.  "But there are no vishes here," he warned us.

Maybe no vishes, but there were fishes.  The little hut at the top held fish, hanging up to dry.

 In the middle of Úlfar's speech about the concert hall across the water, one of the sprinklers turned on and made everyone scream.  Úlfar explained, "Yes sometimes it is dry...uh...because is SUNNY outside."  The word "Sunny" was said with great gusto and jazz hands.

I decided to climb the mound without using the path (of course).  It involved scrambling, but my friend Isaac yelled "Áfram, Olivia! Áfram!" which means "Onwards!" and I got to the top.

Next we stopped at the parks around Laugardalur, where there used to be hot springs where women would wash their clothes, before those springs were used for central heating.  This was where Úlfar told us more about his disapproval for the new Liberal government.  He told us, lifting his hands animatedly in the air, "The president now has the prime minister and foreign minister...um...like....PUPPET ON A STRING." (The last phrase was said, again, with great gusto, and a delicate hip swivel.)

Oh, also, this is apparently where Orthanc is.

 We went to Bessastadir Church, which is where the president lives.  Not in the church - on the land behind the church. (Mom and Dad - extra points if you can say what these pictures of the church reminds you of.  Imagine a gray sky, not blue).

Úlfar told us that Iceland's new female bishop was not succeeding in bringing people back to the church.  He said it's because she's not strong enough, letting us knows that, "ICELANDERS LIKES STRONG VIMEN!"

 Our last stop was in view of the university.  It was a path that stretched through a field of Alpine Lupins and ended at a big rocky area that was an art installation.  It is meant to represent the passing of time.  Úlfar told us that many people don't like Alpine Lupins because they are not native to Iceland.  He explained, "Some people have this religion that this flower is the devil."  After hearing at the church that all mentions of the devil had been purged from Icelandic church services, I was shocked to hear it. I picked one and pressed it in my Icelandic notebook.

And then we were left to our own devices!  I think the next time I write it'll be about the language and the weird sounds and faces I'll have to make.  Anyone who is reading will get a fun lesson and will also be instructed in how to say "whore" two different ways, both of which come from sexist etymology (you have to learn the most useful vocabulary first, after all!).