Reykjavik & Golden Circle in Iceland

#ReykjavikGoldenCircleIceland

Solfario
As we get to leave on our Golden Circle Tour, i first visited the seaside boardwalk in Reykjavik to view The Sun Voyager which the artist Jon Gunnar Arnason created as a dream boat to represent
 hope, progress and freedom

 

The Golden Circle
It takes about one full day to complete taking in Thingvellir National Park,
Geysir Geothermal area and Gullfoss Waterfalls

The Best Selection
On the road for a 300km (190 mile) journey
Rental vehicles are an option, but i took a Tour Bus with professionals who know the road conditions (depending on what time of year) plus are familiar with the route and all admissions paid up front
 (for parking your rental) so saving time to actual see this amazing geography 

Thingvellir National Park 
Its that part of the world where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet
(it moves 2.5 centimeters or 1 inch apart per year) thus creating
 a dramatic landscape

Daily Quakes
In this area earthquakes happen everyday but are too minor to be felt plus there has been no volcano eruption for over 2000 years, but still are not considered extinct

Underwater Site
Another fact i did not know many people come here for the diving and snorkeling because of the tectonic movements which has formed ravines
So from that they fill up with the meltwater from Langjokull Glacier, which has travelled underground through a very porous lava rock that acts like a filtration system which creates the clear
blue waters to explore

Silfa
It is the most famous of these ravines and is considered one of the worlds top dive sites
But it requires a drysuit certification ( because the temperature is only 2C of 35F ) at least ten logged dives and then verified by a qualified guide on site

 Park Rangers on Patrol

Why you ask the strict rules;
1) The moss that covers the lava rock throughout the area is incredibly delicate, so those who decide to veer on the marked routes have damaged much of it which will take years to recover

2) When people throw coins into (i guess they think its a wishing well 😕) the heavy metals have seeped into the lake which has raised it to unsafe levels

3) People staying at the campsites here have been known to leave behind their waste, hard to believe that humans are this stupid or ignorant 

 Gullfoss Falls 
The early history of this area; some foreign investors wanted to harness the falls for electricity which would have destroyed this marvel of nature

Sigriour Tomasdottir
She was the daughter of one of the owners and was strongly against this idea and through fierce determination plus eventually through her lawyer Sveinn Bjornsson
(who would become later the first President of Iceland) they got the contract annulled

Property of Iceland
Then Gullfoss became the property for the people 

KeyTip;
 There is a sculpture memorial for Sigriour that sits by the falls, so look for
 that on your visit

 Gullfoss Falls Facts
1) In Icelandic Gullfoss means Golden Waterfall as it has a yellow-brown color due to the fact that the glacial water carries a lot of sediment carved from the earth

2) It has the largest volume for a waterfall in Europe, plus was named in the top ten of the world for
just its awesomeness

3) It was protected as Nature Reserve in 1979 for all of us to enjoy

Ring Road
We were traveling on the Route 1 that circles the entire island
The 1300 kilometers (821 miles) connects most of the inhabited areas  this country

The Thaw
Iceland has hundreds of rivers with many originating from glaciers, spring meltdown fed
streams or runoff type waterways

Earth Heat
Because of its unique geological setting, Iceland gets to leverage its geothermal energy which provides heating plus hot water to 90% of homes and businesses here

White Water Rafting
There are rules to follow if your considering doing this sport here in Iceland
Depending on the river there are age restrictions, safety procedures and of course
 environmental responsibility

 Reykjavik
 It translates to smoky bay and with some interesting facts

1) Its the most northern capital city of a sovereign nation

2) First settlement here was in 874 AD

3) The language comes from a North Germanic history which is related to Norwegian, Swedish and Danish, so from Old Norse that was spoken by the Viking settlers

4) The country does not have a military (but is part of NATO) plus the police here do not carry guns thus why the city and country was named the safest in the world

5) Beer was banned until 1989 because of prohibition era.
But the fishermen returning from overseas would return with some gifts 😅 while others would come up with their own mixture of using non-alcoholic beer and a shot of
Icelandic Brennivin (schnapps)

 The Harpa Concert Hall
 It uses a glass facade in geometric shapes that changes color during the
day with the sunlight 
It opened in 2011 and is home of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra plus Icelandic Opera

 Brokey Yacht Club
 It is the oldest and largest in Iceland

On The Road 😀
Thanks Iceland for many amazing adventures and memories

Churchill War Rooms London

 

#ChurchillWarRoomsLondon
Winston Churchill (1874-1965) rallied the British people during World War 11 from the
 brink of defeat to victory

Defeated Nazism
With Franklin D Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin  he shaped the the Allied strategy to defeat
 Adolf Hitler  during those times
He remained Prime Minister until 1955 when ill health forced his resignation

The Cabinet War Rooms
 It was built in 1938 as underground complex beneath the Whitehall Building in London
It served as the nerve center for the British Government and its military during World War 11

Served Many Purposes
During the Blitz and the German V weapon attacks the Churchill War Cabinet met 115
 times here in safety
The Prime Minister would also end up making four speeches to the citizens of England from this bunker under the streets of the city

SIGSALY
The War Rooms had a secure transatlantic phone line for top secret calls over a voice scrambling
 system that would encrypt the calls
The lines went to the United States and also with other Allied Countries which demonstrated the global  cooperation of this war effort

The Map Room
It was constantly staffed by officers from the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force
 It would chart in detail the advances of the German Forces into Russia and other battlefronts, then their gradual retreat as the Allied Forces started to reverse the fortunes of war

Patriotic Duty
At its peak during the conflict the War Rooms housed over 500 staff members who would work around the clock, have a nap and then continue their duties

Trying to be a Typical Day
But despite the demanding schedule folks would sometimes leave the bunker and try to be normal, by visiting the local cafe or go to a movie theatre just to get their minds into a happier place

Artificial Sunlight
The switchboard operators plus typists would have to spend days and nights underground so 
to alleviate the health problems (associated with all the time being without daylight)
the staff would stand (with just minimal clothes) in front of a sunlamp for some therapeutic relief

Silence is Golden
All the phones on Churchills desk would light up (known as a Beauty Chorus) but not ring as he
did not like excessive noise
 Also the Remington typewriters were imported because of its low sound capabilities

Chef Georgina Landemare 
She managed to create meals using rationed ingredients, local produce or even utilizing any gifts sent for the war effort by other countries 
Churchill so valued the dedication and skill in the kitchen he thanked Ms. Landemare on his VE Day speech for her service during the war

Espionage Activity
 In England it was rampant with both British and German intelligence agencies engaging
 in covert operations against each other

The Cambridge Five
This was the most notable, they were recruited Soviet Agents embedded within the government while studying at the forementioned university
They were passing on sensitive information to USSR for decades about British
and American operations

Code Name Operation Lena
 The Germans would send English speaking spies to gather information and to sabotage infrastructures within the United Kingdom

Austerity Regulations
During these times clothing was heavily rationed which aimed at conserving resources
for the war effort 

1) Clothing Coupons; civilians were issued coupons and to be used when buying
any clothing items
2) Rationing Restrictions; hems and belts were limited to two inches in width plus garments were restricted in having only one pocket
3) Extras; any cuffs, ruffles, pleats were not allowed
4) Materials; people were asked to buy or make with
only cotton or rayon 
5) Repurposing; to mend and patch existing clothes you owned

The Churchill Rooms
They were no longer needed after the war ended in 1945
Then in the 1970s the Imperial War Museums took over the site and in 1984 they opened
it to the general public

Today
 Thus now you can explore the original rooms where many of of historical decisions were made
 and to understand the conditions plus sacrifices people endured of those who worked
 underground during those times

Marseille France

#MarseilleFrancePhocaeanCity

As we enter the Port of Marseille we can see why its the largest in France plus the second biggest on the Mediterranean Sea
It just oozes culture with a rich history dating back with the founding from the Greek settlers in 600 BC

KeyTip;
 No need for paid tours here as everything is very walkable

You cannot help but notice as we enter the harbor the Basilica of Notre-Dame de la Garde overlooking the port
This Neo-Byzantine design was started in 1853 on an old site that once had a fort (1524) using its foundations for the base of the construction that was overlooking the harbor

For many centuries because of its Maritime History and connection to the sea for its immense  economic importance
 Part of the church has a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary
as she was considered a protector and guide for sailors especially during storms or difficult voyages

There are a diverse range of architectural buildings to see while walking the streets

The French (in this case through street art) love to protest or debate
Liberty of expression is a cornerstone of a democratic lifestyle which is critical thinking to be able to analyze, evaluate and challenge the status quo

Did you know the number 59 can represent personal freedom and humanitarianism
Probably the person living here does not know that 😂 but i took the picture anyway

I am sure the city placed these butterflies in the trees lining the streets as it commonly symbolizes hope, transformation and rebirth (the life cycle from caterpillar to winged adult)

Marseille is the oldest City in France plus enjoys over 2900 hours of sunshine per year making it the most in the country hence one of the most visited by tourists

Was told by my barista (after showing the photo) this is what is known as Old Medicine of Marseille which refers to the practice of Crinas of Marseilles

It would be of a 1st century physician who used astrological knowledge to apply it to his patients for meal times and determining diets

      Found the area of one of seven factories (1660) that produced 20,000 tons of soap annually                                            

      The paste then was made by mixing beechwood ash and goats tallow which besides washing clothes, dyed hair red, it was also recognized as having certain medicinal properties                                                                                                 

       KeyTip; to present day, Marseille Soap are marketed as such, but the name/brand is not protected so beware                           

         The first thing to do is look at the color of the soap; if red, pink, yellow or blue they are knockoffs                                                      

        Marseille Soaps are either green (made from olive oil) or white (peanut oil, palm and copa)                                                       

                 There is your shopping tip for today jajajajjaja 😅

On the streets looking for the location of the first public cafe dating back in 1671 in the Exchange neighborhood

The city is renowned for its diverse and multicultural population which was the result of centuries of immigration from around the Mediterranean, Africa and other parts of Europe

 

This is the Panier District (oldest part of the city)
Known for its narrow streets, colorful houses and great atmosphere while sitting at the cafes

Time to head back to the Mediterranean as in Marseille you are considered at the crossroads of Northern Africa, Southern Europe plus Western Asia
So many options to keep exploring this amazing place we call Earth

Sandstone Caves of Milos Greece

#SandstoneCavesMilosGreece

KeyTip;
 Once you arrive look for the Public Bus @ 2 Euro (one way trip / accepts only cash)
 This journey will take around 20 minutes and is much cheaper than a taxi or any tour operator will charge for something that you can do by yourself

So my adventures has taken me to the Island of Milos as i explore the cave systems that once was a natural shelter for pirates to hide, plan attacks plus store their stolen goods......lets find out!

 

Milos was always known for its mineral wealth and was exploited by many Empires over time for its natural resources;
1) Obsidian is a volcanic glass used for tools / weapons
2) Sulfur was used in medicine, a disinfectant plus for religious practices 
3) Kaolin is a white clay to create pottery and white pigments
4) Alum  had a use in tanning leather also dyeing textiles
5) Other minerals found here were Bentonite, Perlite, Pozzolana

Because of the dry climate not much vegetation survives here but orange, olive and cypress trees are grown throughout the island

In modern times with its Mediterranean climate plus its unique landscape, stunning beaches plus picturesque villages tourism is a main economic force for the island

Milos was formed by volcanic rock (tuff) from the eruptions below the Earths surface
 So with natural erosion from the wind plus saltwater, the elements has made it  resemble the moon landscape
 
How close is the similarities you ask...... that Planetary Scientists has used this area to study remote sensing techniques and geological interpretations for future space missions

Through the components of nature, it has created Sink Holes which can be dangerous
 So yes admire the beauty, but always look down

Time is get dirty 😄  crawling into the cave system

Once inside you can understand why the pirates used the cave complex to their advantage, as basically its a well fortified bunker
Some areas where not lit so i encountered a few one meter (3 ft) drops which could certainly do some damage on your body
 But i have been exploring for many years so i live by my rule of adventure
Take baby steps and always bring a flashlight jajajaja

Sarakiniko Beach (which derived its name from the Saracen Pirates)

The most famous were the Barbary Corsairs who operated between the 16th-19th centuries and were operating out of North Africa 
  With reference to the Berbers, this area in Europe was known as the Barbary Coast

The Greek Myth of the naming of the Aegean Sea

King Aegeus of Athens thought his son Theseus died fighting the Minotaur so jumped into the sea ending his life
Unfortunately Theseus was instructed to raise the white sails upon his return claiming victory but forgot Thus after seeing the black sails (meaning defeat / death) the King jumped off the cliff into the sea

The Aegean is part of the Mediterranean Sea that is situated between Europe and Asia 
It covers an area of 215,000 km (83,000 sq mi)

The first settlements came from the Minoan civilization in 2700 BC on the Island of Crete 
This was called the Bronze Age culture that was known for its advanced urban settlements, artwork, plus maritime trade

Milos is the result of a massive volcanic explosion that (lucky for us) left behind an incredible variety of rock formations
But the island geothermal activity means the forces of nature are is still at work shaping its future so you are experiencing millions of years of geological history as you walk on one of natures wonders