Blue Lagoon

 Seems the parking lot is closed at the Blue Lagoon due to lava flows, but here are some pics of the area from my previous visits.  

and then some pics from the Silica Hotel that we stayed in.

More Volcano Eruptions in Iceland

 Again, thanks to the Internet we can watch live web cam footage of an active Volcano eruption.  See more here.

For more details, see this news report.

While not live, here is a video of some features nearby.

Iceland in 5 5 - YouTube

Kerið

 Check out this short video on this volcanic crater in Iceland.

Shots taken on two trips to Iceland.

Live Volcano Cam Iceland

 Erupting now, see

and here

https://www.ruv.is/frett/2022/07/30/vefmyndavel-fra-gosinu-oll-nyjustu-tidindi-her

Volcano Tourism

 As I take a break from the AT in Maryland, at least in 1974, let me blog a bit about volcano tourism.

If you are in Iceland, go check out the live volcano.  Not in Iceland, watch this live stream from YouTube.

At this moment (11 am eastern time) the lava is flowing profusely.

To learn more about this fascinating subject try scholar.google.com.

In the meantime, here is a bubbling hot sulphur spring in St. Lucia.

 

 

North of Snowden, VA on the AT

 We stopped in Snowden at a small store and picked up some food at the combo post office/general store for the trail.  It had limited supplies, but besides mac and cheese, I do remember getting some fresh cheese.  At the PO got a letter from my sister; it was always nice to get some personal mail.

At Johns Hollow LT, met Harry who was a thru hiker in 1969.

Lots of rain hiking these days, just like the monsoon we have had here in July today.

Here is a shot of my heating water for some tea after dinner.  Would use a fire sometimes, but most of the cooking was done on my SVEA123.

Today, however, you can watch a live volcano online in Iceland.

Iceland Volcano and Northern Lights

 What a spectacular show.  Google the title and see the color.  I have seen both, but at different times.  For the latter, see these shots from my last visit to Iceland (BC: Before Covid).

All shot at the HOTEL RANGÁ.

On this date

 Typically this time of the year, we travel to a warm space.  Back in the 1990s. it might have been a trip to Florida, but when the temps were too cold, even there, we ventured further south to the Caribbean.  

There we found fresh fruits and vegetables, sandy beaches and snorkeling and best of all warm temps.

Here are some pictures from the 7 of January to help you warm up (currently 20 degrees F here).

I love fresh coconut water:

Oh yeah, a bit south west and Costa Rica and Arenal:

Costa Rica

While this country has long been known for ecotourism and medical tourism, there are tons of things to experience.  This volcano is longer considered active, but Arenal is still pretty neat to see.

I was fortunate enough to see it erupt back on New Years eve 1999 - 2000 from Tabacon Springs but on subsequent visits I just saw some steam.

Costa Rica continues to draw tourist who are loving it to death, but that seems to be the case of most fringe destinations, with 1.2 million visitors from the states, up from 0.75 million just ten years earlier. It is becoming less an ecotourism destination and more like just any other tropically one. 
Too bad.

Popocatépetl Volcano Volcanic Ash Advisory

Updates on an active volcano is found here.

and some data and images found here.

Volcanism in Costa Rica

Volcanoes are pretty neat.  While they destroy things, from a safe distance volcanoes are wonderful examples of the dynamic world.

To find your favorite volcano, see SI.

And some cool ('er hot) webcams here. and here.

Aviation Warning Issued Due to Volcanic Eruption in Alaska

Is this going to be a repeat of Iceland?  Some great imagery is found here.

Eyjafjallajökull from Ring Road (2015)

And speaking of Iceland, what happend back in 2010 when Eyjafjallajökull became active?

Heading to the Caribbean this winter?

Be sure to check out the latest on the volcanoes in the region.  I have only seen a couple active ones in Arenal in Costa Rica, semi-active Hekla and Eyafjallajökull on Iceland and few not active like Pelée volcano on Martinique and Qualibou on St. Lucia. Soufriere Hills on Montserrat is on my list.

Here is Arenal with steam on the north slope.

Jökulhlaup in Skaftá Update

So what happens when you have a volcano covered by a glacier and the volcano gets hot?

http://en.vedur.is/hydrology/research/skafta-cauldron/

Well ice melts....

Arenal may be quiet but what about Poás ?

Tico Times reports "National Seismological Network to monitor Poás Volcano with four new cameras."

For the future link see http://www.rsn.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/es/.

The site provides some really great educational material on volcanoes.

Arenal may be quiet but check out Poas

Costa Rica is a known ecotourism destination and while Arenal has been quiet, Poas is pretty active.  So why not take a trip to Costa Rica during the green season.

For info on the volcano (and others), check out this link.

Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica.

Mt Pelee Observatory

In a bit less than a month, we'll be in Martinique for a conference. Before the conference, we will be spending a few days in Le Carbet and will visit the observatory (http://www.ipgp.fr/pages/030303.php). Apparently there has been some activity or seismic noise. See http://geoscope.ipgp.fr/scripts/stations/fiche.php?sta=FDF&id=64 for details. I'll post some photos and video upon my return.

But in the meantime, I am working on the paper titled "Sea, sun, sand and …. Selecting Surgery, an exploration of Medical Tourist Travel Behavior". In it we explore repeat or diversified travel behavior on medical tourists.

Sinabung Volcano Erupts

Just in time for my Physical Geography class, and any geography class for that matter. Not that I want to exploit the local residents, but natural disasters like this, occur almost every day.

And it gives us geographers current events to show our students. I just Googled Earth to see where it is.

It might even eclipse, momentarily, the five year anniversary of Katrina. I mean, there is a world outside of the states.

Greece tourism with Riot Prices

Don't know about that, but with the economy in the pits for Greece, the stronger dollar against the Euro (now it is 1 euro to 1.24 US dollar compared to 1 euro to 1.39 US dollar this time last year) and Americans feeling better about spending money, this summer may be a time to visit some ruins. Not banks burned in the riots but the real old stuff.

I just ran a Kayak search for a vacation in Athens for seven nights from 30 June to 7 July 2010 from BOS and BDL. Picked a 3 star hotel (Apollo Hotel, sounds nice huh?) and found it to be cheaper from BDL than BOS!

The flight over has two stops but only one stop coming back. For us in Western Mass, it just goes to show us that BDL is a decent airport and BOS may not be worth the extra cost to drive, park etc.

Greece not in the plans? Well you may wish to avoid Northern Europe since that nasty volcano is still active.

Iceland Volcano disrupts air travel

Of course the big news today is the impact that the Icelandic volcano has on transatlantic air travel.

Seems the dust and soot does not agree with jet engines.

to see some of the impact click on this link:

http://flightaware.com/news/article/Volcanic-ash-from-Iceland-halts-flights-in-northern-Europe/132

Add to this an estimate $200 US million loss per day according to International Air Transport Association http://www.iata.org/pressroom/pr/Pages/2010-04-16-01.aspx

Now is an excellent time to search the web for imagery!