++ ICELANDIC DREAMS ++
This is the 2 June 2005 edition of this page
THE ARCTIC GREENHOUSE
ICELAND - 1994
"What's that," I hear you cry, " a Greenhouse in Iceland!"
Yes, you heard correctly! Not ONE, but a large array of Greenhouses in this one thriving
village of Hveragerdi. It is at the foot of the hills to the east (not far) of Reykjavik. On this occasion, I
only made a brief visit in a coach - but the hot-houses were a very prominent feature of this village.
The active hot-springs warm the numerous greenhouses in which flowers, fruit and vegetables
are grown. It's 'almost tropical' inside them. That's a surprise for most people.
Curiously enough, the one that I visited was, and still is, called EDEN.
Later, in my Volcanic Walking Tour of Iceland in July of '97, the walking party walked across
the hills and finished their walk here. As my joints were giving me a fair bit of trouble that year, I did my
own short-walks around "Hurdy-Gurdy", as our guide anglicised the village-name, walking around the
very active fumerols on the edge of the hills. They are seen in the background of the following photo.
But see later in the 29 July 1997 write-up on that!
On the present visit (27 June94), 'Hurdy-Gurdy' was just a quick visit - and we witnessed the
marvels that the Icelanders get up to - especially in horticulture here. The place was called EDEN, and was
arrived at just after we'd descended in the coach from the plateau to the South East of Reykjavik. A
useful 'mapboard' was at the top of the hill before our descent.
The interior of the 'glasshouses' was very pleasantly warm/hot for such a northern clime.
Next, we were off to see the Arctic Turns returning to the island. That was pretty 'hairy' - and even
more so if one hadn't (like me) got hair! I'll deal with that in a subsequent Chapter Three.
Return, now, to Icelandic index for reorientation.
Advance to Next chapter .
Return to Roy's home page for full list of books and other writings either finished or under preparation.