Yesterday was semi-fine. By that I mean bright sunshine with alternating clouds, rain and sleet. I decided to head off to Blafell, relatively close yet isolated. I´ve been there before, special by reason of the view of Reykjavik and surrounding areas it offers. The road up is fine where snow was on the ground though not much. Towards the summit is a road...dirt or volcanic dirt...yet in fine condition which lead towards Hafnafjörður. I went down some 10 kilometers and parked where the view was especially fine. From my vantage point, the sweeping view towards Krysuvik-Keflavik some 40 kilometers distant, I saw several rain and snow showers moving towards Reykjavik. Walking around Iceland in general can be hazardous: loose volcanic gravel makes it treacherous because you can easily slip. Not just slip but fall on sharp pieces of hardened larva which is, of course, everywhere. Then you have moss which barely covers the surface and can give way at once. Moss might be more treacherous in that it conceals sharp larva, not worn down by weather.

Later that evening the wife of my friend from Westmannæyar dropped him off for an overnight stay at my place. Today he was headed for Copenhagen for three weeks to work on some Icelandic manuscripts stored there. He is a Catholic and resides with the Jesuits in downtown Copenhagen. That community was once thriving but now consists of five elderly priests; talk of closing it within two years or so.

Yesterday the Catholic cathedral played host to children making their first communion. Didn´t go but went to Hafnafjörður, a relatively new parish church with a fine layout and parish hall. It´s about 300 meters from the Carmelite cloister here since 1929 and now a virtual Polish enclave.