text and images britt-arnhild
I have been to Iceland and Reykjavik many times. With family here, and a bed always ready, it is easy to go. My first visit was back in 1985, the summer Børge and Stina got married. We came over a huge group of us, from Norway, Terje and I with Torgeir 3 and Øystein 1, parents, siblings, aunt, uncles and friends. I think I fell in love with this unique country already that summer.
Later there has been other visits, baptisms, stops on our ways to and from USA, Àgúst acting in Oliver Twist......
Every time I come I love to go back to the old places I already know. Here I had coffee, there we bought an Icelandic sweather, here I met a penpal who took me sightseeing, there we bathed in a hot spring. But, as much as I like to memorize and relive the past, I love to find new adventures.
A perfect mix of old and new.
That´s what travels are all about, isn´t it?
At least it is for me.
Seek out the old. Meet something new.
New since my last visit is Harpa, Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Center.
From the livingroom window in Børge and Stina´s penthouse appartment I can see the light shows through the hundreds of windows at night. Now I was curious to see this amazing building in daylight.
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I had been walking all morning, and decided to have lunch at Harpa. While I sat there, looking out the many windows, I suddenly saw a group of men outside.
I looked again.
Yes, it was my brother, and five of his Norwegian friends, from his youth.
Like me, one of them stopped to photograph the glass, the steel, the modern arcitecture.
Today is my brother´s 50th birthday.
An extra bonus for me to be here for the celebration.
A reception today,
and among the guests are five Norwegian friends from Børge´s youth.
The five friends + Børge has been out in the wilderness exploring Iceland, but they have also spent some time in the penthouse appartment.
Memories flowing.
I love to follow them, though my eyes of a big sister.
5 years their senior.
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Family.
Friends.
Memories.
Happy 50th birthday Børge.
