SCIENCE, NATURE AND CULTURE IN SCANDINAVIA Here’s a warm-up for Lawrence’s Annual Great Midwest Trivia Contest… Q: What do the words geyser, maelstrom, smorgasbord and ombudsman have in common with Björklunden? A: They all come from Scandinavian languages and provide a glimpse of the worldview that is distinctive to the Nordic countries – an intimacy with nature, a tradition of good hospitality, and a strong sense of egalitarianism and fairness. I invite you to explore Scandinavian landscapes, history and culture with me on a very special 14-day Björklunden trip to Iceland, Norway and Sweden, from 22 August – 5 September 2013. As a geologist who has lived and worked in Scandinavia since the 1980s, I am fascinated by the interplay between the forces of nature and the history of humans in these northern places. The challenges posed by harsh winters, stone-strewn lands and stormy seas have arguably played a central role in the pragmatism, social conscience, and deep reverence for the natural world that characterize the Scandinavian cultures. The trip will take us to the austerely beautiful volcanic coast of southern Iceland, the stunning fjordlands of western Norway and the picturesque islands of Sweden’s Baltic coast -- as well as to the extremely modern and urbane cities of Reykajvik, Oslo, and Stockholm, which have managed to preserve serene wild spaces within their boundaries. I’ll provide enough background information about the fundamentals of geology for you to appreciate the diverse processes that sculpted the landscapes of each country – from volcanism and cataclysmic flooding to tectonic upheavals and glaciation, and we’ll see how these in turn shaped the societies that took root in these rocky places. The trip will not require any special outdoor equipment, but you should plan to bring sturdy shoes or boots for walking on uneven ground. For those who are interested, there will be opportunities for more physically adventurous outings. I’ve just finished working with Mark Breseman and our travel consultant on the itinerary, and I’m ready to go now! I do hope you can join us. Hilsen, Marcia Bjørnerud Professor of Geology Schober Professor of Environmental Studies Iceland, Norway and Sweden August 22 – September 5, 2013 August 22, Thursday Leave USA Leave your home city today for your trans-Atlantic flight to Reykjavik. August 23, Friday Reykjavik Airport Transfer with Reykjavík City Sightseeing You will be met in the arrival hall by your guide, who will take you to your private coach. The route leads from Keflavík airport to Reykjavík, the northernmost capital in the world, where more than a third of the Iceland's population lives. During your tour of the city, you will see the old town centre, the Parliament, the Cathedral, the harbour, the National Museum, the Pearl (a stunning glass-domed restaurant atop the city’s geothermal water tanks), and Höfði house, site of the 1986 summit between Reagan and Gorbachev. You will also pass the city's salmon-rich river – outstanding evidence of Reykjavík’s commitment to environmental stewardship -- and the Árbæjarsafn outdoor folk museum, which offers an interesting contrast to the modern buildings of the newer parts of Reykjavík. The tour continues to Laugardalur valley, the home of Reykjavik's largest outdoor swimming pool, open year round and heated with water from natural hot springs. Next you will see the Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture museum and Hallgrímskirkja Church, whose steeple is a Reykjavík landmark. The tour ends at the hotel for check-in. Duration: 3-4 hours Overnight at the Reykjavik Natura Hotel August 24, Saturday The Golden Circle BL You will be picked up for a morning drive over Hellisheiði plateau to Hveragerði, known as the greenhouse village, where flowers, fruits and vegetables are grown at a latitude not far from the arctic circle. Your next stop is Skálholt, site of an ancient bishopric. You then continue to Gullfoss, the Golden Waterfall, one of the most impressive waterfalls in Europe. Here you will see thousands of tons of icy water thunder majestically over double falls into a deep canyon of volcanic rock. Only a few minutes’ drive from Gullfoss is the famous Great Geysir (‘gusher’), which has given its name to geysers all over the world. You will also see one of the most active geysers in the area, Strokkur, which spouts up to 30 meters every 4 to 8 minutes. The next stop is Þingvellir, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and setting of the Viking ‘Ting’, the first Parliamentary assembly in the world, first convened in the year 930. Þingvellir, located by Lake Þingvallavatn, the largest lake on the island, is now a national park. The beautiful canyon running through the park is actually the boundary separating the North American and European tectonic plates. Þingvellir´s geological and historical significance make it inseparable from the fabric of Icelandic national life. From Þingvellir you travel over Mosfellsheiði plateau to Reykjavík. Duration: 8 hours Overnight at the Reykjavik Natura Hotel August 25, Sunday South Shore Adventure BL This morning after breakfast, you leave for a tour deeper into the Icelandic countryside. You drive from Reykjavik through small villages and fertile farmlands. You will enjoy frequent views of mountains, including snow- shrouded Hekla, the country’s most active volcano, and the towering, ice- capped Eyjafjallajökull, whose eruption brought European air traffic to a standstill in 2010. You continue through the region where the classic Icelandic Viking-age tale Njál’s Saga is set, and then stop at the spectacular waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss, where glacier-fed rivers tumble over high rock escarpments. Next you see Dyrhólaey, a rocky headland with a spectacular stone archway, en route to the beautifully-sited village of Vík, where you will stop for lunch. After the break you’ll have time for a walk along the seashore before returning to Reykjavík. Iceland’s south coast is flanked by steep bird cliffs rising dramatically above black, wave-pounded sands. Just offshore from the village of Vík are the famous Reynisdrangar rocks – pointed pinnancles 66 meters above sea level at their highest. According to folk legend, the rocks were formed when trolls tried to drag a three-masted ship to land in the dark of night. Daylight broke before they were able to return to their cave, and they were turned to stone. Duration: 10 hours. Overnight at the Reykjavik Natura Hotel August 26, Monday Airport Transfers Via Blue Lagoon B Your private coach and guide will pick you up after breakfast about 5 hours before flight departure and take you to the Blue Lagoon thermal springs and spa, an oasis in a landscape of black lava flows. The facilities include outdoor and indoor geothermal pools, changing rooms and showers, a winter garden, restaurants, shops and other services. Enjoy a refreshing bath or swim in the warm, mineral-rich water, before the short drive to Keflavík International Airport for your departing flight. IcelandAir flight #324 leaves Reykjavik at 4:25 PM; arrives Oslo at 8:55 PM August 26, Monday Oslo You will arrive at Oslo International Airport Gardermoen, an icon of Scandinavian design featuring wood and stone native to Norway. You will be welcomed by your bus driver who will take you to Clarion Hotel Royal Christiania in downtown Oslo. Transfer time is about 45 minutes. You’ll have to time to relax in the hotel, or if your prefer, to stroll around for a bit, seeing some of the sights in the vicinity - the Parliament, the old university buildings, the Oslo City Hall or the Royal Palace, regally located on the hill at the end of the city's main street, Carl Johans Gate. Hotel: Royal Christiania: is one of Oslo's best 4-star hotels and is in the very heart of the city, close to the harbor and with many of the main sights within walking distance. [Christiania or Kristiania was the city’s name during the period of Danish and Swedish rule from the 1600s to early 1900s; the original medieval name, Oslo, was readopted in 1925]. Overnight at the Hotel Royal Christiania August 27, Tuesday Oslo B After breakfast at 9 AM, your private expert guide will take you on a morning tour of Oslo, highlighting Norway's history and culture and the factors that have shaped Norway into the society we see today. From the hotel you will be taken directly to the beautiful Bygdøy peninsula and The Viking Ship Museum with its three original wooden Viking ships, the oldest of which dates from around the year 800! With their elegant design, intricate carvings and many artifacts found in the gravesites from which they were excavated, these remarkably preserved ships are certainly rank among Europe's great cultural treasures. From here on Bygdøy it is not far to a museum housing another famous Norwegian ship - the Fram, which was built for explorer Fridtjof Nansen’s daring arctic expeditions in the 1890s and then used by Roald Amundsen for his journey to Antarctica, where he and his team were the first to reach the South Pole in 1912. You may go onboard and imagine what it would have been like to be part of the crew on those perilous journeys. You will now return to the center of Oslo where you have many choices about how to spend the afternoon: • Akershus Fortress and the Resistance Museum: The fortress, built on a rocky promontory and rebuilt many times over the centuries, embodies the early chapters of Norway’s history. The Resistance Museum, housed within the old fortress, provides a vivid glimpse of the hardships ordinary Norwegians experienced in the Second World War, and the brilliant and courageous strategies employed by the citizens resistance movement.