Today we are anchored on Heimaey, the largest island in the Vestmannaeyjar cluster. We are about 4 nautical miles from the coast of Iceland and directly across from the volcano, Eyjafjallajökull. Yesterday evening the Captain announced that the volcano was beginning to spit out ash again and all folks going ashore today would be issued facemasks. It was hazy and smoky looking but that was all.
It was a beautiful day with warm sunshine. The balcony for reading was wonderful- at last!
Currently this island cluster is home to around two million puffins and many millions of
other birds. Not sure how they do a bird census but someone must have done one.
A shaping event for this island was a volcanic eruption of Eldfell with began on January 23, 1973 and lasted until July. As the situation deteriorated fissures closed up and the eruption became one concentrated lava flow, which headed toward the harbor. During the night 5000 inhabitants of the island were evacuated, mostly by fishing boats. The encroaching lava flow threatened to destroy the harbor that was the main source of the livelihood for most of the town. However, townspeople constantly sprayed the lava with cold seawater, causing some of it to solidify and much to be diverted, thus saving the harbor from destruction.
Before we anchored we heard a great lecture about the history and customs of Scotland in
preparation for docking there in a couple of days.
Sandra Bowern explained the Union Jack
the British flag. The first piece is based on the flag of Scotland- blue background with white St. Andrew’s cross. Next layer is the English symbol of a white background with a red s
ideways t-shaped St. George’s cross. Third layer is a white background with a St. Patrick’s cross for Ireland. Put them together and you get the British flag.
The last part of her talk was about plaids and kilts. Her closing comment was, “People always wonder what a man wear under his kilt. When a woman asked a Scot that questions he replied, “Madame, nothing under is worn, it is all in good working order.”
posted by Jim and Elaine Barnett @ 12:54 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Another good posting! Wondered if you would see any of the volcano eruptions. So it was fun to read you got issued masks! Those poor people in Iceland who have to live with it! Bos, as you know, is 100% Scottish, so we will be interested at what you will see there! Aren't puffins CUTE??!!
Be kind to my ancestors when you get to Scotland. And don't eat any puffins along the way. Sounds like all is going as planned.
Amazing photos and documentary. What a great way to educate so many of us - but I especially think of how much your grandchildren can get out of this - lots of potential for geography reports in these amazing blogs. So the question for your trip to Scotland is - What kind of good wine do they have for the non-scotch drinkers? Sample a few for me!!
We love Mr. Puffin. Thanks for all the great photos.
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