We started off early this morning as we left the hotel at 7:45 so we could get to the airport for our 8:20 flight. The plane was a prop plane but it was a very good flight. We did indeed take off from the runway in the water, but it was smooth and no problems at all. Bekke was waiting for us with the bus in Reykjavik. This was not the international airport but the internal flight airport. The weather was just wonderful so Oddur changed the itinerary to take advantage of the beautiful weather and do outside things. We basically did the golden circle and saw such beautiful places. We went to the place where tectonic plates are separating -the European plate and the American plate are pulling apart. It was very interesting. From there we drove to see the geyser basin. There is one named Geysir that is where geysers got their name. It is not as active right now but one about 20 yard away was and it was such fun to watch it bubble up and get ready and then spout off so high and pretty.
Then we went to the Gulfoss waterfall. It was simply beautiful. We spent plenty of time there so we could walk close and take whatever photos we wanted.
Next we went to a smaller waterfall with a salmon ladder next to it. No salmon were spawning so we didn't get to see it in use but it was still very neat.
We ate lunch at the geyser and it was such a pretty place and the sandwich was really good.
Later we went to the eco village where they use sustainable energy sources and where they do everything organic. It is also a village where handicapped people live and take part in the community. We ate dinner there and it was lovely. It was a very outstanding place and the people who lived there seemed so happy.
We got to our hotel here in Selfoss after dinner and it is a really nice hotel with internet free in the rooms so I will enjoy that. We got the room facing the river and the church and it is a huge room. It feels good!
It was much warmer down here in the south of Iceland. It isn't "warm" but is pleasant and the wind was calmer today. I'm so glad we were able to do some of the major things today since the weather can change things so easily.
The landscape here is just gorgeous.outside our window there is the most gorgeous sunset behind the little church next door. Our cameras have not been able to capture the depth of the color but we are trying and enjoying the view.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Bummer
We were all bummed out today when we rode two hours to the village where they take the whale watching excursions, only to find they were not taking boats out today. Our guide had called and they said they were, but they changed their minds by the time we went. In a sleepy little fishing village on a Sunday morning, there is not much to do. We went to the whaling museum-so so-and then to a local museum that showed village life here and that was very good., But it was not worth a two hour drive! After lunch, we headed back to our hotel and we did stop at a very old farm the gov't is restoring to show how the early settlers lived. It was really excellent and amazing really. So that redeemed an othewise disappointing day. But it was not our guide's fault so there was no need to do anything but accept our luck and make the best of it. The boat drivers told the guide that the waves were about 10' out there and so it might well have been a very miserable trip. We had to take our packed bags down to the bus when we got back so that Bekke can take them to Reykjevik with him on the bus. We will fly to Reykjevik early in the morning and just take our backpacks so it will be easier. The bus will meet us there and everything will be waiting for us. We will then start our tours in southern Iceland. The north is beautiful and even just driving today is just an amazing sight.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Waterfalls, mud pots and cowsheds
Today was my favorite day so far. It was cold, but it was not raining so that made it easier for both dressing and for photos. We started off by going out to the Godafoss waterfall where it is said that one of the rulers threw all the statues of Gods into the water when he became a Christian and thus when Iceland became a Christian nation. It was a beautiful waterfall and we walked from there to a nearby handicraft market to look at the things the ladies in the area made. Everything was pretty but we were not tempted.
Next we went to Lake Myvatn which is a volcanic area and the formations here are very different from the ones we were seeing the other day. Here they looked like big moon craters and were very unearthly looking. We walked around the paths and enjoyed the view of them and of the lake with swans on it. Next we went to another area that the lava flow created black castles and other very interesting formations. It is said that there are unseen people here-trolls and we stopped and picked one up for a short ride but he decided to get off a mile or so down the road and we stopped the bus and let him off......all in good fun.
Next we went to lunch at an interesting cafe-called the Cowshed cafe and it is literally in the cowshed. It has picture windows on one side into the barn where the cows are. Most interesting. Every lunch we have had soup but all have had onions so I have gotten a variety of things, mostly bread and tea. Today I had Skyr which is similar to plain yogurt without as much whang taste. They put blueberry sauce on top and it was quite good. I can't say it was the best thing I've ever had, but compared to putrid shark meat, it was out of this world! Then we stopped at a beautiful church that was built to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of Iceland becoming Christian. It was just beautiful and had a huge glass wall of windows overlooking the mountains and scenery with a cross. It was just really a gorgeous setting. Oddur played the organ for us there and it was just a great experience.
I found out today that the heart is a symbol that this town, Akuryeri uses in the summer-it is "Smile with your heart". I liked that and am enjoying all the hearts that are around.
Tonight we had to pack out suitcases because after we come in tomorrow from our touring, Bekke our bus driver is going to drive back to Reykjavik and and we are sending our suitcases with him on the bus so we don't have to worry with them at the airport. I gather our plane will be an old fashioned prop plane and there is little or no security here so it will be easy and pretty short. It is like a 30 min flight and Bekke will meet us when we land with the bus. I am so glad that I brought EVERYTHING that I have and we are all agreeing that OAT can do a better job of giving directions on what to bring. TOday I wore a silk mock turtleneck, wool Ecuador sweater, my blue marinac jacket and my GCT jacket on top of that. I wore a hat and my gloves and did fine but was glad I had them all. If I had it to do over, I would have brought my winter jacket but this works. I just look and feel like a stuffed pig!
Iceland is really a beautiful country and we are enjoying it very much. It is wild and sparsely populated except in Reykjavik and it is easy to see why but the people love their country and I can see the life here is very simple but very special. The language is very complex and it is hard to read the signs and know what things are, unlike some languages. We have really learned a lot and it is very interesting. It snowed last night up on the mountains and they are all snow capped and beautiful this morning.
It was just a very enjoyable day.
Next we went to Lake Myvatn which is a volcanic area and the formations here are very different from the ones we were seeing the other day. Here they looked like big moon craters and were very unearthly looking. We walked around the paths and enjoyed the view of them and of the lake with swans on it. Next we went to another area that the lava flow created black castles and other very interesting formations. It is said that there are unseen people here-trolls and we stopped and picked one up for a short ride but he decided to get off a mile or so down the road and we stopped the bus and let him off......all in good fun.
Next we went to lunch at an interesting cafe-called the Cowshed cafe and it is literally in the cowshed. It has picture windows on one side into the barn where the cows are. Most interesting. Every lunch we have had soup but all have had onions so I have gotten a variety of things, mostly bread and tea. Today I had Skyr which is similar to plain yogurt without as much whang taste. They put blueberry sauce on top and it was quite good. I can't say it was the best thing I've ever had, but compared to putrid shark meat, it was out of this world! Then we stopped at a beautiful church that was built to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of Iceland becoming Christian. It was just beautiful and had a huge glass wall of windows overlooking the mountains and scenery with a cross. It was just really a gorgeous setting. Oddur played the organ for us there and it was just a great experience.
I found out today that the heart is a symbol that this town, Akuryeri uses in the summer-it is "Smile with your heart". I liked that and am enjoying all the hearts that are around.
Tonight we had to pack out suitcases because after we come in tomorrow from our touring, Bekke our bus driver is going to drive back to Reykjavik and and we are sending our suitcases with him on the bus so we don't have to worry with them at the airport. I gather our plane will be an old fashioned prop plane and there is little or no security here so it will be easy and pretty short. It is like a 30 min flight and Bekke will meet us when we land with the bus. I am so glad that I brought EVERYTHING that I have and we are all agreeing that OAT can do a better job of giving directions on what to bring. TOday I wore a silk mock turtleneck, wool Ecuador sweater, my blue marinac jacket and my GCT jacket on top of that. I wore a hat and my gloves and did fine but was glad I had them all. If I had it to do over, I would have brought my winter jacket but this works. I just look and feel like a stuffed pig!
Iceland is really a beautiful country and we are enjoying it very much. It is wild and sparsely populated except in Reykjavik and it is easy to see why but the people love their country and I can see the life here is very simple but very special. The language is very complex and it is hard to read the signs and know what things are, unlike some languages. We have really learned a lot and it is very interesting. It snowed last night up on the mountains and they are all snow capped and beautiful this morning.
It was just a very enjoyable day.
Friday, August 28, 2009
More of today
The day's drive was through just wonderful scenery. The mountains are enormous and the fjords just so pretty. There are no trees in the part we have been in for several days but about noon, we got to an area where people are planting trees and they are very proud of them and that is neat. There are sheep everywhere grazing and we several times have had to slow down to urge one on across the road. There is a 2 lane ring road that is very good, but the other roads, even though they are main roads, are often gravel roads. The farms are enormous and this area is more fertile so they grow crops as well as having animals to graze. We didn't get too many good photos because of the weather, but it was a most interesting day.
Drizzly Day in Iceland
Today was a misty drizzly day here in Iceland but it didn't bother us much as we were mainly moving from one area of the country to another so were on the bus except for a few stops along the way. We stopped at Eric the Red's house and heard all about him and his son Leif. The house was built with the tools the vikings would have used and it was a very interesting place. From there we went on til we stopped for lunch at a horsefarm. I missed Delaney and Emily especially today as I wished they were here with us to see the horses. They are so pretty and we had lunch with the family and they had two girls about Delaney and Emily's ages. The horses were so pretty and we learned about the gait they have that makes them different from other horses. They seem much shorter and different proportions than most horses we see but were very pretty and friendly.
From there we drove on to our hotel and it is a vast improvement from our last one, which by the way was in Olafvik. Remind you of St Olaf? It grew on us there and it was a great way to really see what small town life is like in a small fishing village. This is a much bigger town with about 20,000 people and we have a nice room overlooking the water and town. The traffic lights have red hearts for their stop lights so I of course, thought of my friend Julie!!! Those hearts never stop surprising us where they will turn up.
When we checked into town, Jim and I walked around in the mist and checked out the area near the hotel. There are many places to eat and shop and think we will enjoy the time here!
From there we drove on to our hotel and it is a vast improvement from our last one, which by the way was in Olafvik. Remind you of St Olaf? It grew on us there and it was a great way to really see what small town life is like in a small fishing village. This is a much bigger town with about 20,000 people and we have a nice room overlooking the water and town. The traffic lights have red hearts for their stop lights so I of course, thought of my friend Julie!!! Those hearts never stop surprising us where they will turn up.
When we checked into town, Jim and I walked around in the mist and checked out the area near the hotel. There are many places to eat and shop and think we will enjoy the time here!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Shark meat
It has been a grand day. The weather was wonderful and we started off by taking a long hike along the ridge above the ocean and what a view. Iceland is volcanic and the scenery is so very different and so wildly dramatic. The columns that rise out of the ocean and that form the coastline remind me of the Cliffs of Mohr in Ireland. Now, granted, it rained the day we were at the Cliffs of Mohr so I may not have a totally accurate image of them, but this is what I remember. But these are more rugged and the volcanic rock is so unusual. All around for miles is volcanic and moss is the first vegetation that comes back after a volcanic eruption. So the fields are black lava rock with the green moss and the contrast is so exquisite. The formations are amazing and the mountains formed by the explosions are so vast that it is impossible to realize the scale unless you see sheep dotting the hillsides and see those tiny dots and then you realize how massive it is. Our hike ended at a restaurant on the shore and it was quaint with its 5 tables and the deck outside with tables. The homemade bread hit the spot and they made me a quiche while everyone else enjoyed the soup which had fish and shrimp and not sure what else in it. But all said it was good. We went along the coastline today in a big circle and it just went on and on and continually changed. There were the Icelandic horses in the fields (thought of Delaney and Emily on that one) and we stopped at a shark farm. Shark meat is toxic because sharks to not have kidneys. I think I have that right. So they have to be "treated" to be edible-in other words, it is rotted shark meat. They say if you can get beyond the smell it is quite good. Well, Jim and I get 4 stars for trying it but it was one of those things that got worse the longer it was in your mouth. It tasted like ammonia and got worse. We grabbed a wint o green lifesaver as soon as we could get back to the bus! But it is a delicacy here so we felt we needed to try it, just in case. It is definitely a "been there, done that" moment.
Did I tell you yesterday that they had changed our hotel here on us? I assume I did. It is actually a nice, VERY small hotel and across the street from a bakery and the HobbitInn. It looks like the biggest shopping street in town and so we have mostly walked to the harbor, grocery store for snacks, and checked out all the scenic spots in sight. We did not get to climb the mountain where you get your wish if you get to the top in silence without looking back. But Oddur assures us he has done it many times and never got his wish, so we must believe him. After the long hike this AM, none of us was too sorry to not do this. We did however look among the lava fields for the gnomes and elves that are supposed to live there. I think I spotted a few....
I will put a couple of photos from yesterday on and see if I can get todays downloaded to add. I am still getting used to the netbook and feel a little awkward with it.
Did I tell you yesterday that they had changed our hotel here on us? I assume I did. It is actually a nice, VERY small hotel and across the street from a bakery and the HobbitInn. It looks like the biggest shopping street in town and so we have mostly walked to the harbor, grocery store for snacks, and checked out all the scenic spots in sight. We did not get to climb the mountain where you get your wish if you get to the top in silence without looking back. But Oddur assures us he has done it many times and never got his wish, so we must believe him. After the long hike this AM, none of us was too sorry to not do this. We did however look among the lava fields for the gnomes and elves that are supposed to live there. I think I spotted a few....
I will put a couple of photos from yesterday on and see if I can get todays downloaded to add. I am still getting used to the netbook and feel a little awkward with it.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Beautiful Iceland
Today was a great day. Iceland is truly a gorgeous country. We left Reykjavek early and headed north. It can change the weather in a heartbeat here. It will drizzle or mist, then be sunny then be misty again within minutes. So we truly need to be prepared and layer. But we are not uncomfortably cold at all so that so far we are happy. We stopped first a some boiling water thermal spots. The water came up in different places and was very interesting. It is used to heat the area's water and in other ways to make energy. There were greenhouses around that were heated and watered by it and it is so neat to see. From there we went to a waterfall where the water came out from the lava and flowed down into the river and made waterfalls along. It was very interesting and odd looking, to us.
We went to see a famous poet's house and church and Oddur played the organ at the small church for us. At one point we went through a tunnel under the fjord. We went to the edge of some lava formed by the volcanic activity stopped and cooled by the sea many many years ago. It made columns similar to the Devil's causeway in Northern Ireland. We saw sheep all over and were able to get some good and also some funny sheep photos. The camera is upstairs and the wifi is in the lobby so I have to wait to put photos on here. We have seen tons of the Icelandic horses, Delaney. They are really pretty. We went to another small church that is still in use (the other one was not)and we learned about naming patterns in Iceland. There are no family names. So it is really interesting.
Our small bus is really nice. There is plenty of room and we just move around and everyone in the group gets along well. Everyone has traveled a lot so we have many interesting conversations. Our hotel for tonight got changed because of some mix up with OAT and when we arrived, there was some initial concern. Three of us got off the elevator on floor 3 and could not find out room, then discovered there were 2 -3rd floors. SO we got off at the second one and were NOT happy campers. The rooms had bathrooms across the hall and the word DUMP comes to mind all the way around. Let's just say it was not up to OAT standards in any of our minds. But we discovered we were not on the 3rd 3rd floor! The rooms are fine-not fancy but MUCH better than that 2nd floor we found and we do have our own bathroom even if we have a squeegie in the shower.
We took a walk around Olafsvik, We had a great dinner and the day was enjoyable. We celebrated our anniversary and were given a nice book about the REAL finding of America by an Icelander before Columbus. It was very nice!
Tomorrow I will put some photos on.
Hope all are well there.
We went to see a famous poet's house and church and Oddur played the organ at the small church for us. At one point we went through a tunnel under the fjord. We went to the edge of some lava formed by the volcanic activity stopped and cooled by the sea many many years ago. It made columns similar to the Devil's causeway in Northern Ireland. We saw sheep all over and were able to get some good and also some funny sheep photos. The camera is upstairs and the wifi is in the lobby so I have to wait to put photos on here. We have seen tons of the Icelandic horses, Delaney. They are really pretty. We went to another small church that is still in use (the other one was not)and we learned about naming patterns in Iceland. There are no family names. So it is really interesting.
Our small bus is really nice. There is plenty of room and we just move around and everyone in the group gets along well. Everyone has traveled a lot so we have many interesting conversations. Our hotel for tonight got changed because of some mix up with OAT and when we arrived, there was some initial concern. Three of us got off the elevator on floor 3 and could not find out room, then discovered there were 2 -3rd floors. SO we got off at the second one and were NOT happy campers. The rooms had bathrooms across the hall and the word DUMP comes to mind all the way around. Let's just say it was not up to OAT standards in any of our minds. But we discovered we were not on the 3rd 3rd floor! The rooms are fine-not fancy but MUCH better than that 2nd floor we found and we do have our own bathroom even if we have a squeegie in the shower.
We took a walk around Olafsvik, We had a great dinner and the day was enjoyable. We celebrated our anniversary and were given a nice book about the REAL finding of America by an Icelander before Columbus. It was very nice!
Tomorrow I will put some photos on.
Hope all are well there.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Arrived safely in Iceland
We arrived early this morning in Iceland after a long day of flying. It really was not that long in the air, all things considered, but it was tiring sitting and waiting and all. Both flights were completely full and we did fine but we were ready to get here. We actually arrived nearly an hour early! Our OAT guide was not here because he didn´t expect us to be here yet. Our group seems nice and my suitcase is the average size, there are some even bigger! I am so glad I did not struggle to bring the small one. As it is, I wish I had my other jacket as well. We ate breakfast at the hotel and then we settled into our rooms. We took the hotel shuttle downtown and Jim and I walked back enjoying the views and all. Today is a totally down day but it needs to be as most of us did not sleep at all last night.
The scenery is lovely. the sun can be shining and yet it be misting at the same time. We have views of the ocean from our room and it is fun and really a pretty sight.
I will write more when we have done more. Just wanted you to know we arrived safely and all is well. I did get air sick again. It is becoming a habit that I would like to break. It was just bumpy enough to do me in.
The scenery is lovely. the sun can be shining and yet it be misting at the same time. We have views of the ocean from our room and it is fun and really a pretty sight.
I will write more when we have done more. Just wanted you to know we arrived safely and all is well. I did get air sick again. It is becoming a habit that I would like to break. It was just bumpy enough to do me in.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Off We Go Again~
Where do you go in August in Alabama when it is in the 90s and humid as can be? Well, we figured Iceland would be about as cool as it gets so that is where we are off to next. We leave on Monday and I hope to be able to blog along as we go. We have much to learn about Iceland and the photos look beautiful so we are really looking forward to it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)