Árdís - 01.01.1950, Page 31

Impressions of lceland
In July of 1947 my husband, three of our children all in their
’teens and myself had the rare privilege of visiting Iceland for
one year. We travelled by plane, flying over Canada to Gander,
Newfoundland, from where we
took off across the Atlantic at
midnight. Flying holds no par-
ticular thrill for me at anytime
except as a quick, convenient
way of traveling. I remember
experiencing a feeling of tension
and anxiety knowing that there
was nothing below us but the
vast ocean. I needed only to look
at my sixteen year old son to
gain reassurance, for he was
perfectly relaxed and enjoying
every minute! We landed on the
Keflavik airport at about 9
o’clock the next morning on a
bright and beautiful day. The
happy realization came to us
that this was one of the impor-
tant spots in the world; a step-
ping stone between two great
continents. Iceland, the land of
ice and fire, northern lights and
Lilia Eylands midnight sun; of low green
valleys and snow capped moun-
tain peaks. The land which thru the centuries has bred, nourished
and blessed a favored race. The land of our forefathers.
I will not take time to describe the country or its people but
would like to tell you a little about its music and art. What, then
has this small nation of 150,000 population, away by itself in the
North Atlantic and touching the Arctic Circle to offer musically
speaking? We had not spent half a day in Reykjavik when we had
our first introduction to their beautiful choral singing. As soon