When we flew into Reykjavík on Monday, the weather was beautiful. I saw Surtsey from the plane. Surtsey is a new island, created by a volcanic eruption in 1963. I have always been fascinated by the fact there is land on earth that was not created in its first seven days, and is even younger than me!
Map of Iceland at City Hall Created of Layered Paper
Map of Iceland at Keflavík Airport Created with Icelandic Products
Although the weather forecast promised a beautiful Tuesday as well, it was gray when we woke up.
P.J. Photographing an Icelandic Sculpture in Reykjavík (by Arjan Post)
My idea was to just walk around town, but P.J protested because she no longer walks well. Since we had not rented a car, she proposed we do a Golden Circle bus tour. I had hoped that, after our cruise, I would not have to be herded around like a sheep any more, but I relented. That turned out to be a very good move (thank you, P.J!).
In Reykjavík it remained gray all day, even drizzly, but as soon as the bus drove east over the hills, it turned out to be a beautiful day there! Moreover, our trip leader was a real kick. She was “made in Japan”, as she announced, married to an Icelandic husband and in Iceland for fifteen years. She spoke English very slowly and haltingly, but unlike the charming French trip leader in Stavanger who talked up a blue streak but knew very little about Norway, this woman was full of knowledge about Icelandic history, politics, women, and geology, and she had a great, dry sense of humor.
The tour went past a rift valley, a UNESCO National Park where you could stand on (and walk off) the edge of the North American geologic plate.
The Rift Valley at Þingvellir National Park
Next we went to an impressive waterfall, Gullfoss, more impressive than the Godafoss we had seen in Northern Iceland.
The Double Cascade of Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall)
- Watch Arjan’s Gullfoss Video (MP4, 46.98 MB, 0:23 sec)
And finally, the tour took us to a geyser area. The Geysir geyser, which gave its name as a noun to almost every other language, is now dormant. Its successor is named Strokkur. It was in a good mood when we came by and erupted several times, although the duration of the eruptions was very short.
Strokkur Geyser in Action
Distant View of the Langjökull Glacier
Famous Icelandic Horses
Our bus driver was a bit grumpy to start. But he livened up after we got to talk to him at one of the stops (we were in the front seats). We talked about the volcano that is rumbling there right now, which is big news in Iceland. He proceeded to make two unscheduled side trips, one past a geothermal power plant. On the other one, a trip to a smaller waterfall, we ran into a movie shoot and were temporarily stopped.
We got back late to Reykjavík, but not too late to dine in one of the better restaurants we remembered from when we were there three years ago. All in all, a great day! Dinner the previous night, in our hotel, was one of the best of our entire trip. Not cheap, but very good.
Hótel Reykjavík Centrum and Fjalakötturinn Restaurant
Photos © 2014 P.J. Gardner & Arjan Post. All rights reserved.
Video © 2014 Arjan Post. All rights reserved.