Hi! Time is passing very fast. Now it’s more than seven months in Iceland.

In front of President of Iceland's House

Well, AFS in Iceland has held the camp for AFS exchange students named, Cultural Weekend. It was the first time since “Six Week Camp” [from ISL04: My Second Trip, Six Week Camp and It’s Snowing!!!] everyone was met together again.

We have been in the Icelandic President House. We were greeted by President of Iceland [Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson] Talked and took some photos together. before we were looking around this house. This photo in the left hand of everyone was taken by volunteer of AFS á Íslandi, copyright, http://eiriin.ipublish.no

I also had chance to take a photo with the president and his desk and so on in this house. See the photo below.

AFSers in Iceland 2009-2010 with President of Iceland

the President of Iceland and I

I am sitting in his desk!

From Left: Me, Andrea(Italy) and Antonia(Germany)

From Left: Angie(Germany), Antonia(Germany), Yulian(Argentina), Mathieu(France), Andrea(Italy) and Me

Polar Bear's skin, present from Greenland to the President of Iceland

Then we head to the Snæfellsnes, one peninsula before Westland of Iceland. We had accommodation at Lýsuhólskóli. Then we traveled around this area together.

1. Arnarstapi where is a beautiful place with birds and puffins.
2. Djúpalónssandur where has three rocks, related with Icelandic believe if you can lift them up you can be a fisherman, bigger is better. And a black beach with some ruin of boat.
3. Ólafsvík
4. Bjarnarhöfn where are a lamb farm and museum. They also do Hákarl, the shark meat, Icelandic traditional food. I ate here the second time, this is better than I have tried!
5. Helgafell where is a hill (or mountain) The guide said if we hike up there with silent and looking back. Be on top, look at West and wish three wishes. Hike down with the same as hike up. Your wishes may be come true.
6. Ölkelda where has a mineral water. Drink and ‘Forever Young!’

Some summer house in Árnastapi

A lot of birds have nests here!

This is my favourite photo. Burak, my friend who comes from Turkey, he inspired me.

Djúpalónssandur, the path lies down to the beach

Icelandic sheeps

Hanging shark's meat... They're tranfering to Hákarl

I was too lazy to write more, sorry. I will write more about Easter: Páska in Iceland next time soon!
See ya!: Sjáumst!

I was taken photo with the volcano near Eyjafjallajokull. This photo was taken by Stefán Árni Stefánsson, GOS.is

Do you know about Þorri? It’s one month of Icelandic ancient people. This time of every years were the hardest time to find something to eat. So, they had to eat something unusually. Sheep’s heads, sheep’s balls, shark and more, call them, Þorramatur. I cannot bring the taste for you or some smells. But just imagine, Hákarl is smell like pee. (much uric I’ve ever had in my life) The sheep’s balls, blood sausages, liver sausages are smell like something very very sour and the taste also. I think, because they had to keep them with something to make them can keep longer. (maybe fermentation)

But this is just a culture to eat this once per year, to have in mind about how difficult ancient Icelanders were faced in. See some pictures…

Smoked lamp for flat cake and Hákarl

Last weekend, I had a great opportunity to join a camp of finding team, The Youth Rescue Team in Reykjanesbær, KLETTUR. We have been to the training center near Gufuskálar. There are the highest human-made structure in Iceland. It was the highest human-made structure in Europe also.

Left hand, Longwave radio mast Hellissandur, 412 m, 1963

Old oil or water tank, the exit of tunnel

inside cafeteria

I had challenged myself by going up to the 15-meter tower and went down by the rope. Unfortunately, it was so bad weather, I cannot use my camera to take photo that time.

The 15-meter tower, I have climbed up.

Little snow, before we were leaving

It was fun. I got a lot of friends from the camp. And also I was very tried after I’ve backed.

Tomorrow is a completed 6 months day in Iceland. Ég tala bara smá Íslensku. Ég er að læra það!