Today we drove back to Rekjavik to join up with the main perimeter highway and make our way to the north side. We passed huge greenhouses that are powered by geothermal energy which provides heat and light, and also pumps in extra CO2. Anything can be grown but not all is commercially viable; almost all grains and fruits are imported. We also passed through the fijord that served as the base of operations for the Brits and Americans during their occupation of Iceland during WWII. Icelanders were glad the Brits arrived before the Germans. (Today iceland still has no defense forces of its own, but belongs to NATO.)
We also passed several places that ended inthe word "holt". Apparently a holt used to mean "woods", but seeing as how the early Icelanders cut down most all their trees, it has come to mean "uncultivated flat area." (With the implication that there used to be trees there.)
Surprisingly, the north side is warmer than where we've been. I love the Old Norse saying--there is no bad weather, only bad clothes.
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