ICELAND

WATERFALLS AND HOT SPOTS

            We spent a full day driving Iceland’s picturesque countryside. We were not disappointed when we arrived at the Gulfass, meaning golden waterfall. The beautiful 105 feet high two-tier waterfall, where a rainbow often shines through the mist and spray, was flowing huge amounts of water. The wind was blowing and we got a pretty good shower of spray, but we did see a gorgeous rainbow which seemed close enough that we could reach out and touch it.

At one time a hydroelectric plant was proposed, but there was such an uproar from the citizens that the government bought the land to preserve it.

West of Gulfass is the Strokkur Geyser, known as the churn.  It spouts a 60-100 foot jet of water about once every five minutes. The geyser performed for us a couple of times as we walked by.

I’m always on the outlook for the unusual, odd or whimsical feature when I travel. I couldn’t resist taking a photo of this funny  little guy in Hveragerdi on our ride through the countryside.

Since 1902 natural thermal heat from springs in the center of town has heated greenhouses at Hveragerdi’s, Greenhouse Village. Artificial light and hot water prolongs the growing season for flowers and produce. A thin layer of soil covers boiling water underneath. Not unexpected, it was humid and very warm inside.  This was an interesting project, a bit different from hydroponics. Many residents make regular treks there for fresh produce long after the normal growing season is over. That southern low plateau region is an agricultural area.

A UNIQUE SCHOOL

                                   School of the Air

Before the internet, smart phones, Skype or text messaging Australia had a unique school for its children who lived in the outback where distances are indeed great.  In Alice Springs we were fortunate to visit the School of the Air headquarters  that was established in 1951.  

With a broadcast area of 1.3 million square kilometers, the equivalent.  area the size of central Europe, they reach school children living in isolated areas in the outback.

At the time of my visit there  were 120 children enrolled, ranging in age from 4½ to 12 or 13. The average enrollment is 150; at the peak 180 children were enrolled. One-third of the children are aboriginal. There are several such schools in the country, each covering up to 100 kilometers.

            A guide told us, “The cost is $80 a year per child, plus an $80 one-time fee for equipment and a $50 computer fee. The children see the teacher and their classmates three times a year. Each child has a home tutor, often the mother, in addition to the teacher. Materials are mailed to the child every two weeks with assignments, and in turn all work is mailed back to the teacher in Alice Springs. The majority of the children are in the top 10% of their grade and 90% go on to college. Class size is 8-15 children.

“After age 12 or 13 the child has to come to Alice Springs to boarding school, which consists of four ten-week sessions and costs $10,000-15,000 a year,”the guide told us.

When the guide was finished, before touring the facility, we looked at some photos. Most of us made a donation to the school for school supplies.

We all were impressed with the facility and the neat program. But what a lot of work for mom, who already has plenty to do!