Iceland, land of fire and ice

 One of many breath taking sights.  Note the little people behind the waterfall

This habor is the life blood of Westman Island.  In 1973 a volcano errupted   The lava flow was a real threat to closing off the harbor.  The local people hosed down the flowing lava and cooled it to a stop before it closed the harbor.

The main Island is surrounded by several little islands and cliffs.  The small fishing boat gives you a sense of the outcropping  island.  The blue ocean was crystal clear.

This is a reproduction of an ancient house and adjoining barn for animals.  The house looks rather small up against Elder Jensen but inside the ground floor sits two feet lower.  Trees are rare on the Vestman Islands but vocanic rock and sod are abundant.  We enjoyed lunch inside this little home.  It was surprizingly warm inside

Elder Jensen and Sister Jensen with Pres. Andersen before what is one of three sites the early Latter-day Saints were baptized.  (the pool in the rear).  Over 200 people were baptized during the years 1858-1907 most of whom immigrated to Utah to join the Saints in Spanish Fork.  Perhaps Thorstein Petersson was baptized here.  (Great Grandfather)

On Vestman Island there is a local musuem.  One section talks extensively about those people who joined the church and immigrated to Utah.  I let out a little scream when I found this pic of my Grandmother, Jonina Petterdatter.

Near the baptism site previously noted, sits this statue memoralizing the Saints that left Iceland and immigrated to Utah.  The Statue was forged by Dennis Smith of Alpine, Utah

There she is Jonina Thorsteinsdottir (the Th looks like a P with a long stem) thats my Grandma.  Her parents
 Thorstein Peddersson and his wife Sigrued Eriksdotter are also listed on the monument.

After screaming in the musuem, the tour guide took interest in my Greatgrandparents.  He read the place where they lived and indicated it was in fact a farm.  He graciously took the whole bus load to the farm.  I was very touched.

For many generations Sheep and Fish have been the mainstay of the local diet.  Not to mention the nice warm wool.

A beautiful lake formed in an extinct volcano.  Has nice accoustics.  People gather here for opera and other concerts.

Looks like rocks with a flag huh.  Well, actually this is an ancient gathering place for the people and their leaders to form laws.  In todays world this would be called the parliment or capital hill.  Anciently it was called Ting.

The local church members wanted us to have a "real Icelandic food experience".  Yes, look closely this is a sheep head. I was dumbfounded when this dish was placed before Elder Jensen and I.   It was completely cooked with all 4 senses  in tact ( ear, nose, eye, tongue.)  We recieved instruction on how to eat it.  I tasted it, it was okay but Elder Jensen won the bravery prize, he ate the eye ball.  We prayed hard and fortunately lived to tell you of it.  Ba, Ba, Ba....