In Transit

Everyday I have been blogging in my head. Whether it is about the weather or the tests or the driving, I have been blogging. Still, writing is once more new to me...publishing has ruled my world for a while and the business of putting out a publication has occupied my time. I will keep writing though...just so you know that I am alive.

There is so much public art in Europe. I spent 8 hours in Copenhagen with nothing to eat except Blue Skies crackers (I was too lazy to go hunting for a money changer and too stingy to keep changing money). The picure on the left shows the lounge where I parked myself in while waiting for my flight to be called. Yoou can see on the wall is a huge installation (is that how it´s called)...had miniature sculptures of figures in different poses. I seem to get the feeling that the figures were of women. Maybe it was the shape of their tummy (looked pregnant or just pregnant) or the graceful way their arms "moved". The whole airport was replete with these public art, although I felt so lost. It´s the first time ever that everywhere I looked anyone brown skinned was not the norm.

On the airplane to Iceland (Icelandair) I had the feeling that everyone sorta knew each other. Maybe it was all in my head after knowing that the entire population of the country was 350,000 or so. The plane was also not that big...maybe like the smaller ones that travel between Cebu and Manila. Hahaha...the language was also terribly foreign and terribly Scandinavian and while everyone spoke English the points of reference were different. So, there I was wanting a glass of white wine and given tea...bugger!

Getting into Iceland, I was pretty confident that I had been dressed properly. Temperatures in Copenhagen hovered around 18 to 20 degrees Celsius and seeing that Iceland was just 2 hours away, it could not vary that much eh? Wrong! Temp was at 10 degrees Celsius and while I was not that warm, I was not that cold either. Bugger the sandals. I kept following the signs that said "Ut" or exit...thinking that at some point there would be passport control or that at least someone´s gotta check my baggage. Yikes! I kept going and going until I EXITED into the waiting area! What? I mean, I could be a smuggler you know...but my aunt was there waving a bunch of flowers and all smiles...and the temperature was EIGHT degrees!

I pushed the trolley very fast to her car and got in! Slight relief with a frozen smile...hahaha...summers in Iceland are like winters in southern China. The picture on the right is my first view of lava fields just outside the airport. Driving to my Tita´s house, I saw so much public art it was amazing. You suddenly see in the middle of a grassy field an interesting sculpture, amazing installations...just a whole lot of things that I wish to the high heavens can be found in our country. This should be something that ought to occupy our artists and corporate sponsors don´t you think?

Hmmm...a bit tired now and so many things to write about. Some other time eh? Am going out in a little while for a little fresh air and sun. Yes, the temps are easier to handle now for me. After all, this is an Icelander in training...oh well.