16 April 2018 / leggypeggy

A glimpse of days gone by in Iceland

churches, farms, furniture, houses, museums, Reykjavik, snow, weather

Visiting the church

Inside the church at Árbær Open Air Museum

Our guide talks about the history of the church. The pulpit is in the corner on the right

Parts of the United States and Canada are copping a battering this week with slow-moving storms generating record snowfall and low temperatures. Thousands are without power, air travellers are stranded, and icy conditions are making roads especially dangerous. Treacherous times.

Upper Michigan and Wisconsin are predicted to get as much as 18 inches (46 centimetres) of snow. It would be the perfect time to stay indoors, but braver souls make the most of it.

My nephew, Charlie, and his wife, Hannah, celebrated the arrival of ‘spring’ in Minneapolis by donning their bathers (swimsuits) and barbecuing on the roof of their snow-covered apartment building. I was delighted to see their sense of the ridiculous and chirpiness in the face of adversity (scroll down).

Bedroom, Árbær Open Air Museum

Carding wool

It also reminded me of our recent travels in Iceland and our willingness to tramp around in the snow to visit the Árbær Open Air Museum in Reykjavik.

Originally an established farm, Árbær was opened to the public as a museum in 1957. It is one of five locations that make up the Reykjavik City Museum.

Árbær Open Air Museum Stone building, Árbær Open Air Museum

Today the museum has more than 20 traditional buildings that form a village with a town square, houses, a church, stables, a barn, a blacksmith and more. Most of the buildings were originally 19th century homes in central Reykjavik, and relocated to Árbær.

We arrived a bit before the museum opened (at 1pm September to May, otherwise 10am) and for a while I thought we’d be the only people on the tour, but in the end there were about 25 visitors, including several families.

Houses, Árbær Open Air Museum

Our guide (I’m embarrassed to admit that I don’t remember her name) gave an informative tour, explaining the different buildings, as well as the contents and histories of some of the residents of the past.

She gave us a real feel for life in earlier times in Iceland, and even demonstrated how to card wool. It was nice to see her in period dress. It also tickled me that she was also the person featured on the front of the museum’s brochure that we saw displayed around town.

Wood stove, Árbær Open Air Museum

Kitchen equipment, Árbær Open Air Museum

Being the avid cook that I am (check out my cooking blog), I’m always very interested in seeing the old kitchens and equipment. Every house in the museum had a wood stove. I’m pleased to say that I have one too—not as old as the one pictured above. Sadly, it doesn’t get used as much as it used to.

In summer months, the museum presents art-and-craft demonstrations including traditional handicrafts. Visitors can also see haymaking, vintage cars and livestock. There is also a cafe.

P.S. I didn’t add captions to all the photos because many are self-explanatory.

P.P.S. Aren’t Charlie and Hannah good sports!