There’s no doubt that the erupting volcano in Iceland will bring a much needed boost to the country’s economy. Lots of jobs are benefiting – and being created – because of the lava flowing to the east of Grindavik. From the helicopter pilots charging a fortune for a flight over the crater to the restaurant and hotel staff catering for international tourists, there are plenty of winners from the natural spectacle.
We didn’t see any spewing lava the first time we visited the site because the mountain was quiet. But the second time yielded better results. After a climb up a hill facing the volcano, our hearts were dampened by the weather. The typically changeable Icelandic conditions had gone from being warm and sunny to cold and rainy with thick mist in just a few minutes. And with this change came pretty low visibility.
On our way up the mountain it became clear we stood little chance of getting a good view. But then a different sense got us all excited – we started to hear the eruption.
The fearful, violent fizzing and sloshing came suddenly as we approached. It was Jaw dropping. Although we could not see where it was coming from, you could get a real sense for the power of the volcano through the nose and tell it was a thick liquid by the way it was splashing back down after being fired out. Like nothing else I’d heard, this was the sounds of both beauty and death.
And then the mist parted- just a little – and we got a glimpse. A glimpse of an Orange colour so strong, so vivid that it will stay with me for ever. Not the Orange you see on TV and magazines when they show pictures of lava. This, in real life, was a deeper and more alive Orange than I thought existed.
The mist returned, and we headed back down the slope. But we would be back for the best of our volcano visits.
- Volcano adventure #3It was the third and final visit to the volcano in Iceland which proved to be most spectacular. After carefully monitoring the live webcam, we could see that lava was spewing out and so we once again made our way up to the site. I’ve taught volcano geography lessons at secondary schools for twenty yearsContinue reading “Volcano adventure #3”
- Volcano adventure #2There’s no doubt that the erupting volcano in Iceland will bring a much needed boost to the country’s economy. Lots of jobs are benefiting – and being created – because of the lava flowing to the east of Grindavik. From the helicopter pilots charging a fortune for a flight over the crater to the restaurantContinue reading “Volcano adventure #2”
- Volcano Adventure #1As soon as I saw the volcano erupting in Iceland at the start of the year and people getting a good peek at its incredible lava flows, I was itching to go. Covid-19 had other plans, though, and lockdown meant there was little chance due to restrictions at international borders and the resulting lack ofContinue reading “Volcano Adventure #1”
- Hot Dog!So I went to Iceland, the country not the shop, and anybody looking at my Twitter feed (@peternaldrett) a will know I got a bit obsessed about Icelandic hot dogs. So I thought I’d write a blog about them! Go to a posh restaurant in Reykjavik and you’ll be faced with a menu that featuresContinue reading “Hot Dog!”
- How to become a world championBecoming the leading competitor in your chosen sport sprint necessarily require rich parents investing in lessons and world class equipment. It might not even include all that much talent on your behalf. It all depends what your chosen event is. A few years ago I entered the World Conker Championship in England and wasn’t allContinue reading “How to become a world champion”
Peter Naldrett 