Arrival and Reykjavik, Iceland (8/21/2009)
We visit a geyser, a waterfall, a pearl, and more.
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Ready for anything!
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Icelandic accommodations
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Can you say I_N_F_L_A_T_I_O_N? Reykjavik was the 5th most expensive city in the world. Today it's one of the cheapest and number 67 on the list.
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So, how many Kronur did you say I could get for this quarter?
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Our airport hotel. Ready for our first excursion.
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We "spennid" our "belten" and enjoy the scenery.
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Taking pictures through glass is always "iffy", but we'll take our chances.
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Trying to take shots that show the varied landscape. Marvelous!
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Vents like these, some larger, some smaller, dot the landscape.
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This is a power plant. Iceland uses its naturally occurring geo-thermal supplies for its energy needs.
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A portion of one of the pipelines that supply the country.
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Ever changing scenic landscape. Interesting tidbit - Genetic info says Icelandic people (men) descended from Scandinavia and (women) from Ireland/Scotland.
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Farming settlement. Vents in the background. The white dots in the foreground are bales of hay wrapped in white plastic. For size comparison see car on road.
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Icelandic horses are small, sometimes pony-sized, and sturdy. They're hardy and long-lived and came to Iceland with its people.
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Another surprise
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There are no shadows on the water. Here the inland river water (pale blue) meets the clean, clear water from underground glacial run-off (darker blue).
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A small settlement of Summer vacation homes
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A darling little church
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Trolls and fairy folk are large in Icelandic mythology.
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We arrive at Strokkur. The geyser is a ways off, but here in the parking lot we already see some run-off.
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Hands off the Hot Stuff!
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No self-respecting troll would have a home without steam heat, or hot running water. ;)
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Velkomin ao Strokkur Geysi. The original geyser here was named "Geysir". Geysir, somewhat larger than Old Faithful, has been inactive for years. The word "geyser" comes from that first "Geysir".
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Small, wannabe, geysers are here and there.
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"Little Geyser" - as if you didn't know.
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Strokkur site. This geo-thermal site is in the Haukadalur Valley.
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Strokkur, only slightly smaller than Old Faithful. While waiting for the next eruption, we're advised to watch the water levels rise and fall.
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An example of the "pulsing" water.
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Strokkur erupts every 4-8 minutes. Strokkur means "The Churn".
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The water runs back in. The immediate area on which Strokkur sits is about 2 1/2 acres. But . . .
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But, the entire geo-thermal area here encompasses about 23 acres. This is just a small part of the run-off of Strokkur.
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Back on the bus we take a last look at Strokkur.
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On the way to our next destination we can see the tip of a glacier.
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Langjokull Glacier.
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We arrive at Gollfuss Waterfall, but there's a bit of a walk to get there.
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From here we get a better look at Langjokull.
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On the path to one of Iceland's 10,000 waterfalls.
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Local flora
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A heart of stone, and other designs
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Hvita river feeds Gollfuss. The river's source is 25 miles away. Gollfuss means "Golden Falls". The sunlight mixed with the mist often casts a golden glow.
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Gollfuss Waterfall's total drop is 105 feet and comes in two stages. The first drop is 37 feet and the second, 68.
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Gollfuss Waterfall and canyon. The canyon is 225 feet deep.
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The canyon is a mile and a half long after which the water flows into the Atlantic.
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Obligatory rainbow picture and it's time to leave, but where's Michael?
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MICHAEL! What are you doing?! We're leaving!
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If you haven't seen this place you can't say you were here. But, then, we were here - and we can't say it either. :o)
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We're happy to enjoy more scenery to our next stop.
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Crossing the Hvita again.
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This is one of the more spectacular views. The various streaks on this mountain were caused when the volcano erupted - UNDER a glacier!
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Furball on the move.
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Iconic Icelandic tundra.
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Parliament Plains, Pingvelli National Park. Pingvelli sits on the boundary of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
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The 'Plains' are expanding and growing because the tectonic plates are moving apart in this area of the globe.
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The plains below.
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Earth's crust ripping apart.
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Spits of land 'growing' into the water.
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Tectonic activity is visible in deep fissures and dangerous gorges. Iceland is covered in a volcanic rock sheet, visible here.
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A rift in the land, as massive forces tear the earth apart.
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Obligatory 'we were here' shot. We looked for a concert pianist to take our picture but settled for a concert violinist.
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Back on the bus, and this time were heading back to Reykjavik.
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lots of scenery on the way back
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gorgeous in person
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no matter where we are we find ourselves awestruck
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There IS snow in Iceland, it's just harder to find in the Summer.
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not too much longer on the bus
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Signs of impending civilization
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Dinner and THE beer of Iceland. We did NOT eat fermented shark. It uses ammonia as its anti-freeze, and is only edible after being buried for 4 months.
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After dinner. Reykjavik is known for friendly people and for being a party place on the weekends.
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Exploring a little bit of Reykjavik. At 200,000 pop., the city is clean and a central hub of fishing, tourism, shipping and oil.
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Hallgrimur's Church (front) The statue of Leif Eiriksson was given in 1930 from the people of the United States and dedicated to honor the Icelandic people.
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Hallgrimur's Church (back) This church is the most popular attraction in Iceland. It is named after the Icelandic religious poet Hallgrimur Petursson (1614-1674).
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lichen
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After the stark nature of the day, we're drawn to color in a nearby park.
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plenty of blooms
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unusual flowering plant
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The Greylag Goose in Iceland is equal in numbers and behavior to our Canada Goose.
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"The Pearl". The round structures around the outside are actually water storage tanks. An observation deck runs atop them.
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We're walking to the Pearl.
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Reykjavik in the background as seen from the observation deck of The Pearl.
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from the observation deck
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Reykjavik
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Twin bell towers.
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Entertainment provided by heavy metal. Can Pearl Jam be far behind?
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Hallgrimur's Church again, showing how truly massive it is.
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We're losing the light and it's hard to capture decent pictures of bunnies and a European Golden-Plover (Pluvialis apricaria).
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It's time to leave.
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One last look at The Pearl and we go back to rest for the evening. Tomorrow is a big day for Michael.
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