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?

Malmo, Sweden! Our Next Stop!

Train station in Malmo. Notice
the bikes.

This afternoon we boarded the train after some last minute shopping in Copenhagen and headed for Sweden. Malmo is just a short trip ( about 30 minutes by train) from Copenhagen. In fact, many people can get to work faster coming in from Malmo than other areas of Copenhagen. We will be catching the night train to Stockholm tonight and we are so excited to see what it has in store.  See if you can find Malmo on a map of Sweden. 

Turning Torso Building

While waiting for our connection we set out to find the Solar City-Malmo. It is known around Sweden for their efforts to be Eco friendly and another "green energy" environment. From the moment we turned the corner on the bus, we were both so surprised to see an architectural wonder we had just showed our classes. How many of our students remember the Turning Torso building? It was in the center of modern Malmo. Looking up at it almost made us dizzy.

Streets are pedestrian friendly

 Once we left the bus our first stop was Green Market which focused on ecological products and locally grown produce and other fresh products such as eggs.

Green is the eco-friendly grocery store

Shopping carts made of recycled
materials.

The shopping carts were made of a recycled plastic and you had to pay 10 kroner to use it. As we walked around the store we were reminded a little of Whole Foods back at home but taken up several levels. To get out the door you had to scan your receipt.

Refill station for cleaning supplies

Another unique thing about this grocery store was the details to using recycled packaging.  As you can see from the picture to the right, if you want to purchase cleaning supplies such as washing detergent you can bring your container you already have and get a refill instead of purchasing a new bottle. 

All of the buildings here have
solar panels

One section of Malmo is also known as Solar City and after touring the area it is easy to see why it is called that.  This area is located near the coast in what is considered the modern section of the city.  .  All of the buildings in the area must have their power supplied with solar energy. There are more solar thermal collectors installed in the schools, museums, hospitals and businesses than any other place in Sweden. In fact, the largest PV plant in Scandinavia was installed here in 2007. It is known as the city of sustainability and renewable energy.   Look closely at the picture to the left to see if you can find the solar panels on the buildings. 

Ms. Edge enjoying the summer solstice

Sun worshipers enjoying the
summer solstice

Energy Detectives searching for
solar energy in Malmo

Today is the summer solstice and the sun worshipers were everywhere once we got to the "beach area". I say that loosely because the beach was not on the water but a small sand area across the street. The view across the water was beautiful. After enjoying the view, we headed towards the Eco friendly restaurants for a late lunch-early dinner, we checked out all of the apartment/condo homes in the area. In order to build here you must abide by strict standards and the homes are all powered through solar energy. Wow, we are exploring solar energy on the summer solstice or sun festival day. How ironic is that? The cafes in the area must also use organic, local products and adhere to the stricter green policy. Even their uniforms are Eco friendly. We ended the evening with the locals sitting on the wall overlooking the water.

The Griffin is the symbol of
Malmo

 Before heading into the station, we walked through the older area of Malmo in search of the Griffin, a mythical creature that appears to be a symbol of Malmo. After a lot of searching, we finally found it! Now we wait at the station for our train. Good night Malmo and Happy Summer Solstice from the Land of the Midnight Sun.

The Walk of Sustainabiity

Copenhagen Towers in Denmark

What would it be like to stay at a place that put its emphasis on conserving energy and creating a zero carbon environment? What would a hotel look like if it had 3 of it's facades covered in solar energy panels? How does a hotel generate enough power to equal 80 Danish houses? By becoming the innovator and winner of the 2010 Sustainable Energy Award for Europe. We chose to stay at the Crown Plaza in Copenhagen because of these factors.

Solar Panels are on 3 sides of the

building supplying electricity to the hotel.

  They have the largest building integrated solar energy park in Northern Europe. For their heating and cooling they have created Denmark's first ground-water based system which reduces their energy consumption by 60% for heating and 90% for cooling

This is posted in the dining area to let
guests know about their eco-friendly policy.

  They also purchase local organic foods and use their waste materials from the kitchen to create biogass.

Monitors display hotel information

Often when you come into a hotel room, you will find many paper products giving you information about the hotel and activities and facilities in the area you are visitng.  While one or two books in your hotel room may seem like a small amount of paper, multiply that by all the rooms in the hotel.  Now you are talking about a significant amount of paper that is wasted. Yes, it can be used time and time again but everytime you update something at the hotel you have to reprint the books. At the Copenhagen Towers they do not have any such books. Instead all of the information is at your fingertips via your tv monitor.  You have access to all of the hotels ammenities as well as information about how they are working toward an eco-friendly environment.

All of the items found in the rooms are made
from organic or recycled materials.

  Most of the items in the guest rooms are created from recycled or organic materials from the shampoos and soaps to the furniture in the room. This building is an excellent example of renewable energy integration. The energy they do not get from solar is obtaines through wind energy. What a great way to see most of the renewable energy sources at work in one place.

Bikes, Bikes Everywhere

As we have been walking the streets of Denmark, one thing has certainly stood out. Another form of energy we had not really considered before but that is very prevalent around this area of the world- human energy. Bicycles are one of the most common modes of transportation.


They are almost as important here as the train, the metro and cars. In fact, people do not drive cars in and around the city because the streets are narrow in many sections, there are a lot of pedestrians, it costs a lot of money to park and the taxes paid on the autos is very high.

What is the alternative? Ride your bike! They have their own lanes, and even their own signal lights at intersections. There are lanes for pedestrians, bikes and cars so you better follow the signs and watch were you are walking as you head down the streets of Copenhagen.

If you are a tourist and you did not bring your bike with you, no worries, you can "rent one" at the many bike racks along the street. Simply drop in your kroner to unlock the bike and when you return it to any  bike rack around town and lock it up, you get your kroner back. What a fun way to travel from place to place in a little less time than walking!