Tag Archives: R. Doug Wicker

October 14, 2019 · 5:35 am

Transatlantic — Iceland; Jólagarðurinn (The Christmas House) Part 1


Jólahúsið (The Christmas House)

I’m going to take things a little out of sequence this week. Last Wednesday I left you with a tour of Smámunasafn Sverris Hermannssonar, the Museum of Sundry Objects. Right behind that museum, about a five minute walk, is Saurbæjarkirkja, which is one of only six remaining turf-roofed churches remaining in Iceland. I’m going to save Saurbæjarkirkja for next Monday, however.

Jólahúsið (The Christmas House)

The reason is because our visit later that day to Jólahúsið (The Christmas House) is enough for a two-part article, and I didn’t want to split information about this tour destination over two weeks.

Jólahúsið (The Christmas House)

Jólahúsið is dedicated year round to all things Christmas. The inside of this shop looks a bit like the Christmas equivalent of one of those ubiquitous seasonal Spirit Halloween stores you see everywhere starting mid September every year:

Jólahúsið (The Christmas House)

In addition to the main building here, there is also a snack bar, which was closed during our brief visit:

Jólahúsið snack bar

The grounds are also photographically entertaining. Here is me having a bit of fun with Ursula and a ‘brjóstkassinn‘ (breast box) mailbox, and on this week’s Fun Photo Friday I’ll have even more fun with these two:

Having fun with Ursula at Jólahúsið

We’ll continue our tour on Wednesday. Until then I’ll leave you with these images of the store and grounds:

Jólahúsið (The Christmas House)

Jólahúsið (The Christmas House)

 

Jólahúsið (The Christmas House)

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October 11, 2019 · 5:35 am

Fun Photo Friday — Iceland; Akureyri Favorites 3


Akureyrarkirkja

Here are some more Akureyri area Fun Photo Friday favorites:

Icelandic Shoreline

Iceland Grass

Saurbæjarkirkja

Akureyri Mural

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October 9, 2019 · 5:35 am

Transatlantic — Iceland; Smámunasafn


Keys at the Museum of Sundry Objects

About 20 miles/32 kilometers south of Akureyri is rather bizarre museum that was put together over some 80 years by a carpenter named Sverrir Hermansson. This is the Smámunasafn Sverris Hermannssonar, which roughly translates to ‘Sverrir Hermansson’s Small Exhibits’, but it is commonly referred to as Sverrir Hermansson’s Museum of Sundry Objects.

Smámunasafn

Smámunasafn Sverris Hermannssonar

As one would expect of a museum collection assembled by a carpenter, many of the displays are geared toward woodworking:

Smámunasafn saws

But here the visitor is greeted by so much more:

Smámunasafn — from radios to irons

This next collection includes an example of my very first camera, and old Kodak Instamatic with a flashcube attached:

Camera collection at the Smámunasafn

There are even some pop-culture items, such as a pen that was embossed with the words ‘Man from U.N.C.L.E.‘, and which also displayed the Man from U.N.C.L.E. logo. Other off-the-wall items include things such as this clothing rack made of faucets on which hang some rather rustic coat hangers and an old purse:

Smámunasafn clothes rack

But it’s the tools that are most highlighted here:

Axes, hammers, and drills

How about a collection of plumb bobs, nails, and even a display of salvaged lumber?

Smámunasafn plumb bobs

Smámunasafn nail collection

Salvaged lumber on display at Smámunasafn

Put it all together and you get this image from the main room of the museum:

Smámunasafn

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