The impetus for this trip was the Indigo Girls. They were to be in concert in Wilkes Barre, PA. I purchased two seats.
“Best thing you ever done for me, is to help me take my life less seriously”
After the church service and tour in Philadelphia, we headed northeast. It was a beautiful drive to Wilkes Barre.
“Get out the map / And lay your finger anywhere down”
My friend and I had purchased tickets for the Indigo Girls concert the day and hour they went on sale. Now it was close to happening.
“Well, I don’t know where it all begins And I don’t know where it all will end We’re better off for all that we let in”
Our hotel was just across the street from the theater where they would perform, giving us a short walk to the concert.
“And the best thing you ever done for me Is to help me take my life less seriously It’s only life after all, yeah”
I bought myself a fun tank top to wear immediately.
“Raise your hands Raise your hands high Don’t take a seat Don’t stand aside This time don’t assume anything Just go, go, go” “”I went to the doctor, I went to the mountains I looked to the children, I drank from the fountains”
The concert was awesome, of course it was. It was the Indigo girls after all!
I’ve been singing their songs since the last song of this concert.
“I don’t know what to believe I just show up and breathe”
Prior to July 29, 1974, the Episcopal church did not allow women to be ordained as priests.
My best friend and traveling partner is an Episcopal priest.
“The first women were ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church on July 29, 1974. A group of eleven pioneering women, known as the Philadelphia Eleven, were ordained in an unauthorized, “irregular” ceremony at the Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia.”
While in Philadelphia a few days ago, we worshipped at the Church of the Advocate in Philadelphia. This historical market is on the church grounds.
Here we are.
The Church of the Advocate has not closed permanently, though it has suspended services in its main sanctuary due to severe ceiling disrepair and lost insurance coverage. Worship services and community outreach programs continue to operate elsewhere on the campus.
The Sunday service of Morning Prayer was in the Parish Hall/basketball court.
Fifteen, including us, gathered for the service of Morning Prayer.
It was a beautiful service of scripture, prayers, and hymns.
Following the service we all walked over to the closed sanctuary for a tour and conversation about the church’s future.
The ordination of original eleven, was in this very space.
For me, it was remarkable to be in this space, and to be reminded of all I have seen in my life as an Episcopalian.
It’s been a joy and a honor to serve the Episcopal Church and to recall the many women priests with whom I have stood side by side during worship and in service to others.
Last year I traveled to the Brandywine Area of Pennsylvania to see an Emily Dickinson exhibit, The Earthen Door, Nature as Muse and Material.
I loved the Brandywine area of Pennsylvania so much! So here I am this day headed to Brandywine, and other somewhat nearby locales. Oh the things I’ll see, I’ll hear, and I’ll do.
My flight arrives this afternoon, while my traveling friend’s flight lands around midnight. I will entertain myself with my hotel room’s window view of one of the runways at the Philadelphia International Airport. I love planes.
Airborne as I write, it’s a beautiful day to soar.
Yesterday was favorites day. Most everywhere we went was a favorite place from past travels to this area of Iceland.
Greeted by two sisters, breakfast was served in one of the prettiest dining rooms I’ve ever seen.
Overlooking the Varmá River, breakfast at Frost and Fire was served. It is fortunate we are staying here once again.
After breakfast, a stop in town for a second cappuccino and a bit of shopping.
Then a short drive down Route 1 to Urriðafoss, an unusual waterfall. It has more volume of water than anywhere else in Iceland.
I love this waterfall. The short walk from the parking area makes it easy to reach. There’s a well-maintained path where one can walk alongside the waterfall for a good while.
It’s nearby our hotel, an interesting bookstore, and a favorite restaurant.
On this visit the river held enormous chunks of snow-ice.
Nearby are two shops that feel so welcoming—a yarn shop above the building and a small shop below which sells pottery, jewelry and handmade soap. The woman who owns this shop makes everything herself.
The view outside the yarn and art stores.
Cold and hungry, we returned to Selfoss to have lunch at a favorite restaurant.
Broccoli Soup with Bread & Butter
After lunch we drove down the road a short distance to the Bókakaffið a newish bookstore we found four years ago.
A review stated “Lovely little bookshop in Selfoss with a cozy atmosphere. You can get a cup of coffee and a wonderful waffle while reading one of the many secondhand books.”
To end the day, ice cream…
…and a fiery cloud!
Favorites make travel even more special than it already is.
I was in Akureyri for four days. I tried to find time to write each day about the day’s adventures, but my traveling friend and I were too busy having those adventures!
This morning began with a cappuccino at Bláa Kannan. It was delicious both in taste and art. It was the same small eatery where I had my first cappuccino when I arrived in Akureyri.
There are no words to describe the vastness of this place.
Then it was time to get on down the road for the second half of the trip. Destination, Hveragerdi.
The fields were full of Icelandic ponies.
The mountains were standing at attention as we drove past.
The rivers were flowing with all the mountains snow-melt.
It was a blustery and beautiful drive.
Eight hours later we had crossed from north to south Iceland.
Frost and Fire hotel. It’s situated on the Varmá river with the room overlooking the river. It’s our third time to stay here.
Pizza cooked in geothermal oven. Wonderful!
And to end this rather long day, there is always ice cream!
I’m pushed around these days. In wheelchairs. I’m so grateful there are wheelchair services in airports. I’m challenged by distance walking, and catching a ride is a blessing. The faster I’m pushed, the better I like it. Að þjóta
We landed in Keflavik at 6:00am.
A wheelchair service greeted me when I walked off the plane. Off we went!, with my friend trying to keep up. It paid off to be in a wheelchair when we went through customs. Long lines were avoided as we went to the front of the lines, showed our passports, grabbed our luggage, our rental car, and took off for Akureyri .
A short stop for coffee and a serving of Skyr to go… an amazing drive across the tundra to Akureyri!
The drive from Keflavik to Akureyri takes about 5 hours.
We made it in just 9 hours! They were very welcoming and accommodating. Bedtime was soon after check-in.
There was a signup in the front desk to be notified if the Northern Lights make an appearance.
This is my seventh visit to Islandia. Imagine that. It says a lot about how much I love this place.
My traveling friend and I are meeting in Baltimore. We have eight or so hours until we will be on our way to Reykjavik.
Our trip plan is to spend half of our time in the north, and the other half in the south.
Cold temperatures are expected. My long johns are packed. I’m wearing winter boots. My puffy jacket is packed. And, my wool hat and fleece gloves are at the ready!
In the meantime, it was a beautiful day to fly.
The sights as we descended were green gorgeous.
We have about seven hours to wait before we take our seats in the chair in the sky.
Cometsgirl 