Saturday, August 31, 2013

Frost and Fire

I'm a Viking.  My family name is Holt and while I've not done detailed research to dig deep into my family tree, I know I'm a Viking. 

In the early 90's, Iceland was added to my travel wish list and the reason might have had something to do with my Viking roots calling.  At any rate, I was thrilled when we were actually able to visit Iceland and spend a number of days exploring an incredibly beautiful and quiet place.

I have about 20 best favorite places or memories specific to our travels in Iceland but one place that stands out in my memory was a hotel stay that combined nature, art and hospitality (we also stayed at the base of a volcano and on a farm but I'll save those stories for another time).  Hveragerði is a small town located about 30 minutes from Reykjavik.

Frost and Fire gives guests the opportunity to enjoy their own "hot pot" and the chance to get to know an Icelandic artist.  Each room is named in honor of an artist and the room is furnished with his or her artwork.  Guest are invited to relax and enjoy an evening of soaking in their own "hot pot" with healing warm waters provided by nature.  In fact when you drive up to this hotel it's quite a sight to see the hot springs bubbling up all around the hotel grounds.  

Our room featured the works of Karl Kvaran.




Every room has a beautiful view of the river.




Our room's jacuzzi or "hot pot."  We spent the evening soaking under the stars.




Not only will guests enjoy dining with pottery made by local artist   Margrét Jónsdóttir, the breakfast area is filled with sculpture and paintings by Icelandic artists including The Last Supper by Jóhanna Kristín Yngvadótti. 

If you enjoy traveling and beautiful photography, stop by and visit Noel's blog at Travel Photo Discovery.   I'm joining him for Travel Photo Mondays.

10 comments:

  1. I have been dreaming about a trip to Iceland for years now. I can not wait to someday make it a reality. How blessed you are that you have been able to do so much traveling and see such beautiful places such as this. Love these photos. Sounds like a perfect place to me, combining all of my loves...art and nature! Thanks for sharing this! xo

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  2. One of my dear friends was born in Iceland . . . ventured to America alone at seventeen . . . She returns often to her homeland and fills us up with rich tales about her family and land.

    What a wonderful trip you must have had . . . filling self with vistas, culture and art . . . must truly be one of life's blessings . . .

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  3. Sounds like a wonderful trip. Travel really is an amazing experience!

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  4. Oh there are just so many places in the world to visit and enjoy. And learn from. What a charming place this hotel is - I love the idea of soaking in that pool under the stars. Heavenly!

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  5. What a delightful hotel! I love its artsiness and that you can have your own hotpot, which must be divine soaking especially under the starts. I also love the arworks in your room as well as the view. This makes me excited about my trip to Iceland in the fall. Not sure if I'll make it to this town, but we will be hunting for northern lights so knows where we'll end up!

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  6. What a beautiful place, I love all the colors and bold graphics...very cool!Thanks for linking up today!

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  7. Ever since we had a high school exchange student from Iceland, it has been on my list, too! I was going to visit her just after graduation, but didn't want to leave my boyfriend. Since I've now been married to him for forty-some years, I guess it was a good decision!
    Linda @ A Toile Tale

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  8. Love, love, love the photo of the bird houses!

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  9. Love it! I want to sit in the "hot pot" under the stars too. Iceland is high on my list of places to visit. BUT somehow each time I'm going to visit something comes up..sigh. Soon I hope though, your post makes me want to go even more!

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  10. My cousin has roots in Iceland and went there a few years ago - she said it was absolutely wonderful.

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