BRRRR! ICEBERGS, BOOKS & BAUBLES
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A friend sent me these photos of striped icebergs a few days ago and I thought I would share them as I think they are so beautiful. Nature never ceases to surprise, delight and often humble us with it’s beauty and force.
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Photos uncredited
STRIPED ICEBERGS
Icebergs in the Antarctic area sometimes have stripes, formed by layers of snow that react to different conditions. Blue stripes are often created when a crevice in the ice sheet fills up with melt water and freezes so quickly that no bubbles form.When an iceberg falls into the sea, a layer of salty seawater can freeze to the underside. If this is rich in algae, it can form a green stripe.Brown, black and yellow lines are caused by sediment, picked up when the ice sheet grinds downhill towards the sea.
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Slim Photo Spicy Unna Soaps
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The GLA-55 Harman Kardon Speakers with the Iceberg Casing $999
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The icebergs brought to mind Alfred Lansing’s book Endurance, which I read a few years ago with great enjoyment.
“Ernest Shackleton defined heroism in 1915 when his ship, the Endurance, was trapped in ice and then destroyed on its way to Antarctica. This tense week-by-week, month-by-month reconstruction charts the incredible journey undertaken by his crew of 27 men through 850 miles of the southern Atlantic’s heaviest seas.” Publisher
This is seriously one of the best non-fiction adventure books I’ve ever read. You will marvel at the phenomenal will and spirit of Ernest Shackelton. You will be humbled by the fortitude and courage of this man and his entire crew. Lastly, and most importantly, you will be so happy and thankful to be nestled in your nice cozy, dare I suggest flannel? sheets while reading the incredible account of these poor fellows who were reduced to sleeping in soaking wet, slimy, rotten seal skin sleeping bags for months…in total darkness- ugh!! (and I get cranky if my pillowcase fold comes undone!) Did I mention their jammies were wet wool? WET WOOL! This unbelievable story is a true inspiration.
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Naturally, thinking of those gnarly seal sleeping bags reminded me of the two ice hotels I’ve been keeping an eye on for awhile. One, ICEHOTEL (how did they come up with the name?!) is just outside of Sweden and the other, Hotel de Glace (there they go again) is in Quebec. I believe there might also be one in Northern British Columbia. The hotels are entirely made of ice.
Here you sleep on a bed constructed of ice blocks layered in reindeer hides and fur. The bar is ice, your glass of vodka is carved from ice (which begs the question- do they still put ice in the drinks?) I also wonder how the showers and bathrooms work. Or would you, COULD you even shower there?? Oh wow…I think I just talked myself out of it. God bless the Shackleton Expedition!
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Photos from Hotel de Glace and The Ice Hotel
Glacier pillow from Conran
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A few years ago we were lucky enough to take our boys on an Alaskan cruise and experience glaciers and icebergs (and Bingo!) firsthand. Our younger son loved it because he could roam the ship freely without a chaperone and order as many poolside slushies as he wanted with his “credit card” (Student Loans have nothing on him). Our older son loved it because, well, he loves everything, and I loved it because besides the Bingo I got to attend a lecture on what to do if you get attacked by a bear. The important thing is you must react very differently depending on if the bear is brown or black. One you play dead and one you fight and scream like hell and try to punch them in the nose. The sad part is I can’t remember which is which, so I guess if it ever happens I’ll play dead first and if that isn’t working I’ll know…wrong colour.
More studying, less Bingo.
Slim Paley photo ………………………………..Iceberg (glacier? and what’s the difference again?!) in Alaska
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Slim Photo This I know is a glacier because I had to take a scary helicopter to stand on it and yes, the colour really is that turquoise
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Tamara Comolli Jewelry
Tamara Comolli is a jewelry designer I met in Greece over the summer who is as beautiful as she is talented (Thank God she was super nice too) She has several shops dotted all over Europe, as well as Asia, and Stateside in Florida and Southhampton, NY. Select Neiman Marcus stores carry Tamara’s divine collection as well. Tamara describes her style as luxuriously casual. I find it simply chic and fun and of course it was impossible to resist the glacier connection here. I adore these icy cool aquamarines! To see more of Tamara’s collection click here. (Click around- there is a lot to see; wonderful turquoise, sapphires, diamond pendants on leather cords, the Hippie Glam Collection, and I’m loving the “Chocolate Chronograph”watch…but I digress…chocolate is indeed another post!)
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Lastly, my mother sent me this adorable sequence – Once again, Nature bringing a smile…in a week where she hasn’t been so kind in other parts of the world.
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Photos by Norbert Rosing
OK, really lastly, I know this isn’t a pretty photo, but I took it from the helicopter on the way to the glacier- doesn’t it look like a flying dragon carrying some sort of cartoon character by the arm, in it’s claw? Just me? Please tell me you see it.
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Stumble It! 
I have a sudden craving for Baked Alaska. (seriously—is it hard to make?)
I love the way your brain works. You topped yourself on this one, my dear.
Awesome photos Slim! I’ve always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise but so far it just hasn’t happened. Love the striped icebergs!! Who knew?
So about the ice hotels. Do they just keep warm like igloos do? Is that a dumb question? Is there a kitchen? What happens in the summer?
Love the animals too!!
Like a summer romance, they just distappear…and get rebuilt again each winter
I love all the images, but the polar bear and the husky make my heart sing.
Very cool post Slim.
Striated glaciers, beautiful.
Tamara’s bracelet reminded me of your bizarre greige oystery edible yesterday.
Love Gofa’s Jewelry shop in Mykonos.
That ice bar in Stockholm, (I believe there are others as well elsewhere), leaves me cold, and no pun intended! Iced vodka belongs in a warm red room in St. Petersberg, dead of winter.
It’s not just you – I see the dragon too!
Those photos are amazing!
When I was in my teens my parents took our family on a cruise and I remember showing up daily for Bingo. The caller would say things like, “Not after but B4!” and “Those lovely legs of Bingo, B11″ and “Opps, I thought I had a B8!”. We thought it was hysterical and boy did I get in trouble when it was time for us to turn in our “credit cards” at the end of the trip…………
Gorgeous post. The photos of the hotels are beautiful but no matter how many reindeer hides and furs they put on me I’ll take a plain warm room anyday!
It’s a bit far to go for the weekend, but I’ve wanted to check into a ice hotel for years…they are fascinating! And so are those stripped iceburrrgs. I may just have to consider an adventurous voyage one of these days.
I love when you share things from your mother!
She seems as chic and fun as you.
Yes, I see the dragon, I also see the wicked witch with her peaked hat, bottom right hand corner!
Love the pictures and information on the icebergs. Thanks for that.
The pictures your mother sent you are amazing, like mother like daughter methinks.
I think whatever it is that the dragon is carrying has its arms tied behind its back and has cheeks full of air like he is about to blow out birthday candles…or maybe it’s just me.
OMG. TOO funny! That is exactly what I see as well Brandi! LOL.
Wow! I went skiing today, ran to a massage then still had to sit in the sauna for awhile to warm up. Now, these photos, I feel like I am there on so many levels, but now I am cold again. I’ll go grab a snuggie!! Great photos, really took me there. Loved learning about the stripes. Nicely done!
I see a baby Richard Nixon about to blow out birthday candles.
Those great photos brought back fond memories of our stay at the original Ice Hotel in the North of Sweden three years ago – the coldest place I’ve ever been to.
Most guests stay in an ice room for the first night only and use the communal toilets, showers and changing rooms in the warm area next door, then move into proper hotel rooms or chalets for the rest of their stay. The temperature in the ice rooms is a constant 17F. My husband and son slept like logs whereas I chickened out at 2am and begged reception for a proper warm room for the rest of the night. Despite two polar sleeping bags and several layers of clothes it was really, really cold. The bar is made entirely of ice and so are all tables, chairs and glasses – no icecubes needed.
The whole place, it’s transient character, hospitality and design is just amazing and so is the surrounding frozen landscape. It was one of our best trips ever.
National Geographic made a great documentary about the place whilst we were there, following the construction from beginning to end for eight weeks. (The little boy in the trapper hat sipping lingonberry juice at the bar is my son Felix).
Thanks for sharing all that great info Andrea! yum- lingonberry juice- that’s exactly what I would expect to drink in Sweden, followed by a shot (or two) of Akvavit to keep the cold at bay!
Hi Slim
Loved the iceberg photos. The one of the bear and the dog was just so…..love it.
thanks!
Babe
great
and I just got the other one-
how did I miss this one
must re-look to see if the Dr Z Ice House is here
I remember that
running out
thanks SP
yes- I hadn’t gone back this far in the archives-
my sister has just sent me that Iceberg on Lake Michigan post
-alas I am so far behind the net
great post