Domi in Ice-wonder-land: April 2014

Thursday, 17 April 2014

Björk's concert at Harpa: Let's protect Icelandic Nature! :)

Stopp – Gætum garðsins!

I did myself fantastic present for my last birthday in March! I went to see Björk in live concert at Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík with my Polish colleague. Some other friends came as well as I had told them about that great musical event. I've always dreamt to see Björk on the stage and hear her genuine voice. And nature protection is one of the most important issues for me. So it was much more then I could expect: wonderful performance, great goal and magnificent artists! 18th of March, it was such a wonderful night!

'Stopp - Let's Protect the Park' was a common project by Darren Aronofsky, Björk, Iceland Nature Conservation Association and Landvernd, Icelandic Environment Association. The artists who performed at the concert were Björk, Patti Smith, Of Monsters and Men, Samaris, the Highlands, Retro Stefson, Mammút and Lykke Li.
It was also connected with the Darren Aronofsky's film Noah that was shot in Iceland in the summer of 2012 and the producers took great care not to cause any damage to the nature of Iceland. All artists performed for free and the income was donated to Icelandic environmental organisations. And I still need to see 'Noah' film, hope it will be possible soon.

I don't even need to highlight that Björk was the soul of the event. Nowadays she comes back to the stage mostly only to support ecological and environmental actions. She was singing just 3 songs with the choir at the beginning of the event and the first song made me completely thrilled and happy: Emotional landscape with beautiful videoclip shown at the screen in the background, touching and beautiful 'Joga' song, one of my favourite ones! Then she performed one of the newest songs entitled 'Mutual core' from her last album 'Biophilia' accompanied by choir and impressive video. Tectonic plates, eruptions.. that's all about Iceland :)

I was so happy to see her at the concert!!! I love her music and her nature and ethnic roots. And now I can say it was my second meeting with Björk :)))

There were also more Icelandic artists playing on that night. The Highlands, I saw them for the first time, very energetic and young band.
Also Mammút made a great performance, I really enjoyed watching them on the stage.

Of Monsters and Men played only two songs, but with new arrangement, and I really love them so I was so happy to see them in life concert finally! I had waited so long for this moment! And they finally were back from world tour and started to record new album. That's fantastic news!

And Patty Smith is already a legend of rock, she is very involved in nature protection actions and made a wonderful speech about her love for Icelandic nature and of course that she sang her biggest hit,'Because the night', as well as Lou Reed's one 'Such a perfect day'. In the end she sang 'People have the power'.
'Please be good guardians of your beautiful country' she said. 'Use your voice!' Great emotions!

Then we had Samaris with they biggest song 'Góða tungl.
And then finally it was a high time for Lykke Li accompanied by her band. She performed few new songs from the last album, but of course everyone was waiting for the greatest hit 'I Follow Rivers'. I love this beats, made me feel so good. Amazing feeling!
And the big conclusion, Retro Stefsón group that is from Iceland as well, although you can hear their music in the clubs around the world, made a firework end with all the artists singing and dancing together on the stage. All of them having fun like children and rising the audience up to dance with them.

If you would like to see the professional images from this event see music in focus news.

The Stopp - Let’s Protect the Park project, organized by director Darren Aronofsky, Björk, Iceland Nature Conservation Association (INCA) and Landvernd, the Icelandic Environment Association, has raised ISK 35 million (EUR 225,650)

“The task ahead is to try and ensure that the highlands will be left intact” said leader of the environmental organisation.

And parts of the concert are available to listen to in the amateur recording under this link.

Saturday, 5 April 2014

My Reykjanes birthday trip! Spring is in the air :)

Although I was really busy for the most of March, I was lucky to have some very nice weekend trips. Working a lot, running between two jobs and some additional extra hours in the third one made me much more looking for the weekend free air! Especially the trip on my birthday was very cheerful, full of sun with beautiful landscapes and nature in its full splendour :))))

The day was a big surprise! After so many days with grayish tones it was the first one with magnify sun and almost no wind :) It was a great gift for my birthday from Iceland, such a wonderful sunny Saturday, 22 of March! TAKK FYRIR ISLAND. ICELAND, THANK YOU SO MUCH :)))

The trip was quite spontaneous one! To TRAVEL IN ICELAND was the nicest gift I could get.
We went only with one car. Me and two of my Polish friends that I could truly count on. In fact, I was in everyday contact with them for the last month, they were supporting me during the most difficult time that I was passing through, especially in my job search and other personal difficult social circumstances.. And I got nice presents from them even I didn't expect to receive anything on that day! All of us travellers, a lot of interest in common, all in cheerful mood. JUST A MAGNIFICENT DAY!

Our goal was just to go around Reykjanes peninsula and see the most stunning places that are so close to Reykjavik city but seem to be so fabulous. You don't need to go far from the capital to see the miracles of Iceland, just 50-100 km is enough to move to a distant planet :)
My friends know Reykjanes very well as they live in Iceland already for many years.. Still it's a pleasure to go there having such a great weather. So we stopped first at Kleifarvatn lake, completely frozen with winter ice, with black sand contrasting with the whiteness of the snow. It looked a little bit like an ancient Greek theatre, I am right? :) We stopped to have a chat there and enjoying the stunning view. I was running with my camera and couldn't stop taking pictures ;)

Then a short ride to Seltún/Krýsuvík geothermal fields where we had a walk among the steamy sulfur area covered partialy with snow. Amazing, just have a look at the variety of colours :) I was there in September last year but this time I enjoyed it much more!

Next stop was at the snowy lava field coming down to ocean.. ruins of the old fisherman stone huts, black and white pathways and intensity of sun reflected in the sea water. Very enjoyable moment :)

And later on we stopped to see the beautiful cliff near Reykjanes Lighthouse where the seagull have their home.. Spectacular colours and light!

And the last stop before coming back to Reykjavik was the bridge between two continents. Euroasian and North American tectonic plates are continuously drifting apart with great forces and the huge rifts are 'the meeting place' of these two worlds. Reykjanes peninsula is really amazing!

On the way back stunning lava fields were talking to us in elven tongue, I even could see trolls and faces everywhere, it's so easy, just use your imagination :) Definitely, I need to see the Elven houses one day!

Yes, I still have to tell you the story from my next March trip, promise to do it soon!!! :)))

And at home there was a surprise waiting for me! An amazing skyr birthday cake, present and happy birthday sang in Icelandic and all the other languages of my flatmates. IT WAS A GREAT DAY! :)