The Geothermal Waters of the Blue Lagoon

After a very long day of traveling we made it back to Iceland.  First we boarded our train in Stockholm at 8:30 in the rain. Dragging suitcases down those now not so quaint cobblestone streets in the rain was quite an experience. Once we boarded the train, we went down to the dining car to eat our picnic breakfast. After our third stop the train did not move for awhile. An announcement in Swedish still left us puzzled, but everyone sits patiently so everything must be fine, right?

 After about another hour and another announcement (in Swedish) we find out from a very nice man sitting behind us that the electrical grid was down in the region and they are now sending us busses heading for our final destination: Oslo Norway.

To make a long story and day short, we panicked and stressed, but finally made it to the airport in time for our flight.

Having persevered, we got to Kevlavik and settled in for a short night, looking so forward to seeing ecotourism in practice, not to mention that our visit to the Blue Lagoon is a great way to experience the power of geothermal energy at work.

Right next door to the Blue Lagoon, is a geothermal plant that helps supply their energy along with the energy and hot water used in Keflavik. It was such a contrasting vision. The beauty of the bright blue geothermal pools and all it's luxury framed by the steam pouring from the geothermal plant as it turned raw energy into an efficient consistent energy used across the country.

This is a country of contradictions in truth. 

On our way to the airport today, we were in a somewhat reflective mood as we realize that this it. Our incredible odyssey was coming to an end. We felt energized and ready to bring back all of the wonder and knowledge we have gained both intellectually and emotionally from our research. We are ready to translate this into lessons and hands on experiences for the upcoming year. First through our blog, then in our presentations and lessons back home.
 So check back regularly and see the trip through our eyes. We hope you have enjoyed this trip as much as we have!

The Energy Game

Today we explored the Technology Museum in Stockholm where they have an excellent section devoted to renewable energy. While we did not get any new information about renewable energies, this exhibit helped us to have a better understaing on what it means to leave a zero carbon footprint. It explained how we have to think about every choice we make and what effect it will have on our environment. One of the reasons we chose to visit Sweden is that they are known for their "green philosophy" and have won many awards over the past few years for their efforts in reducing carbon footprints and working with a variety of renewable energies.

Did you know that a plastic bag you get at the grocery store is only useful for about 12 minutes? The exhibit practiced what it preaches. The displays were created using recycled materials and there were many opportunities to use the computers to complete simulations that gave you choices about how to best use energy while keeping in mind you need to leave behind as little as possible.

Did you know that geothermal energy is not only used in areas that are what we would consider to be geothermal areas such as Iceland? It is used here but it is just processed a different way, and it takes a little more effort.

One of things we learned while exploring the city is that the public transportation here all run on some sort of renewable energy such as ethanol or biogass. Gas pumps that we observed gave you a choice of ethanol, gasoline and diesel :o( in your private vehicle. Tomorrow we leave Scandinavia and head back to Iceland and will complete our exploration by visiting the Blue Lagoon Geothermal area.

We are sad to leave but looking forward to coming home but will definitely miss the cooler temperatures and the sweetest strawberries you have ever tasted! (Maya and Niklas you were so right about the strawberries and milk).

A Midsummer's Night Dream!

We noticed immediately that the traffic in the metro on our way to our B&B in old town Stockholm was one way: Outgoing. All of the locals were leaving town for their summerhouses to celebrate the summer solstice which in this mart of the world is called the Midsummer fest. This is as big a celebration in Sweden as the 4th  of July is in the States. We were a bit worried that the city would be empty, but we relaxed later that today that we had nothing to worry about.

The city is beautiful and the buildings we walked past on cobblestone streets felt like they were filled with the potential of facinating stories collected over the centuries. The little street that led to our B&B was itself part of a tourist ghost walking tour, and is located in the oldest part of Stockholm on the island of Gamla Stan, right next to a beautiful old church that kept up on time by striking every 15 minutes, and right in back of the King's palace.


In the distance we heard a band, so like the good detectives we are, we went to investigate. The changing of the guard in front of the kings palace was going on and what a show it was. We felt like we were seeing a halftime show at a U of H football game!

Our next stop was two islands over and it houses a wonderful outdoor museum called Skansen. This is where we celebrated the Midsummer Fest, and where the rest of Sweden was spending the day. We were on a mission to find a Maypole to dance around and off we went. On the way we picked up midsummer wreathes to wear made of birch and wild flowers, and saw traditional clothing everywhere.
Just as we thought we were never going to find it, we heard music again. We headed in the general direction where we found the Maypole! Hundreds of people were gathered around the beautifully decorated pole and a band started to play songs that started a huge surge of people to move first one direction
around the pole and then the other.

 IF you didn't understand what to do, no worries! there was always someone glad to help you along. We danced the Frog dance which was much like the Chicken dance but more fun, and so many more that we stopped trying to keep up and just had fun dancing.


The day was over way to soon, and even though the sun was still high in the sky at 10:30 pm , we headed back to old town Stockholm, to recharge for our visit to the Energi Museet  the next day.

The Night Train to Stockholm

The Night Train to Stockholm

At the station

 How many of you ever wished  you could ride on a luxury train? First class all the way. Picture the dining car with its four course dinner served on linen white tables with a server with a white napkin over his arm. A nice and cozy train berth with your own private area and bathroom and shower. Picture the Orient Express and all those movies you have seen of people taking a night train somewhere. Well we have to tell you that it was not like that at all!!!

Looking out the window of our berth

We anxiously arrived at the train station ready to board, settle in and get to the dining car. We handed the conductor our passes and tickets and he pointed us to the car and we headed over with all of our baggage. (And by this time I mean baggage). Between the two of us we had 2 large suitcases, 2 backpacks and 2 carry-on bags but hey we are staying in the first class coach so it is going to be great right???? As we opened our door after barely making it through the narrow hall, we opened the door to find the smallest little room you could ever imagine. How in the world are we going to fit all of our luggage in this room and when we do where will we sit or lie down or even walk? We finally arranged the bags only to find out that this train does not have a dining car, in fact this train does not serve any meals and we were expecting dinner and breakfast the next morning. (Thank you RailEurpe website for the wrong information), Thank goodness we had grabbed a late lunch in Malmo before boarding so we would make it.

It's a little smaller than
we thought.  Our luggage
is behind Ms. Edge

  Ok, we are settling in and have pulled down the top bunk and getting ready to sleep since it is already 10:30 and the train arrives at 6:30. First thing wash face and take a shower since we have our own little bathroom. After turning on the water, the switch is impossible to figure out so the water just keeps running and running. We finally found that if you twist the shower head it will stop. All the hot water is gone by now. Then there is a bump in the train and a suitcase falls down and I am trapped in the bathroom. Good thing we got the water off or I would have drowned in there. Is it easy to sleep on a train you may ask? Well we can both tell you that when 6:30 came we had hardly slept a wink. Of course at 4:00 in the morning the sun is shining through as it is coming up and every turn, bump, and stop have been felt.

We have bunk beds in here.
What fun!

  We crawled off the train not nearly as excited as we got on (with no breakfast that was promised) and head out to find our B and B in Stockholm. Well at least we got here in one piece. It was quite an experience and if it were a longer ride and had less luggage it might be worth another try. How many of you have ever had the opportunity to ride on a train? If so, where did you go?