Often I will hear about the close connection, indeed, affection, Icelanders have towards Ireland and all things Irish. The fate of both countries has been entwined from the Settlement. More than one foreigner has said that walking the streets of downtown Reykjavik is not unlike being in Dublin by reason of people with Celtic features, etc. I was comparing this with the way many Irish-Americans view Ireland, that is, in the USA. There it’s more akin to a cultish attitude, of preserving what’s Irish in America. It has created a ghetto-like mentality, albeit largely gone, though the remnants are still present. Furthermore, the Irish as “number one” (claimed, for instance, by some bumper stickers) has created some hard feelings and even hostility. Not so in Iceland where the connections run deeper. You could say that the American experience is one of transplant whereas the Icelandic one is more seamless, a blending.

A nice day seems on tap. Early this morning I watched rain clouds way out on the ocean moving north which created several rainbows. In Iceland you don’t notice just the weather but weather systems because of the openness or huge expanses experienced each day.

Olla, a friend of mine who plays the violin in Iceland's National Symphony Orchestra, said she has a free ticket for next week. Orchestra members get a few to hand out, and I've had to decline these offers plenty of times due to work. It's a high priority and hopefully can make it after many delays.