deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

On last full day in Iceland we decided to go to the National Museum to learn more about the country we had been spending time in.

On our hike to the Museum we walked by one of the oldest cemeteries in Reykjavík. The headstones were ancient with dates from the early 1800s.

We noticed that the cemetery was full of trees and the lichen was spectacular. Iceland is mostly volcanic rock so when you see a tree it is an unusual site. There are hundreds of species of lichen here and some are only found in this location. (Most people mistakenly call lichen Moss but it is a very different item.

On to the history of this fascinating place. In the early 900s Vikings arrived in their long boats to explore this strange island. Since it was close, a relative term in those days, Iceland came under the ‘rule’ of Norway, think Lief Erickson, as the Nordic Kingdom of Norway expanded.

When Norway converted from their Norse gods to Christianity the King of Norway said, ‘Ok, now all my territories are Christian also.’

There was a confusing mixture of Norse saints and gods with Christian apostles and biblical characters. The cult of St Olaf continued long after the reformation.

When the Norwegians could not longer ‘rule’ or control Iceland, enter Denmark. This is now the 1500s and Marty Luther did his thing on the door of the Wittenberg church and the Reformation officially is underway.

The King of Denmark, being a good follower, joins the Reformation movement and declares to Iceland, ‘Ok, now you are all Lutherans.’ The strict Lutherans now almost radically emphasize personal sin and church government. The church and the civic government become completely intertwined.

Now for a quick word about…cats. Felines have always been important to Iceland.

Turning from and oppressive ruling king and church, in 1848 Denmark absolved their absolute monarchy and got rid of their king. A charismatic newspaper man in Iceland strongly promoted the idea that, …’Hey, we swore and alligance to the King of Denmark, now that he is gone, we don’t owe the country of Denmark anything…we should write our own constitution and become an independent country.’ His idea caught on and in 1851, Iceland became a new nation.

Almost from the very beginning of nationhood women were given the right to vote and have become important presidents and leaders. Iceland is the most gender equal country in the world.

What a marvelous country. We have a strong notion we will be back.