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Gulfoss - Iceland's most famous waterfall
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I've wanted to visit Iceland for over 20 years but the opportunity has somehow eluded me. However recently the chance arose to go on a school trip being organised by one of Kevin's colleagues. I was to be the third 'responsible adult'. Ha ha.
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| Morning in Reykjavik - from our balcony |
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| The dining area in our funky hotel/hostel accommodation |
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| Our room in Hlemmur Square |
We arrived late afternoon and only had time to get the 18 teenage boys checked into their hostel rooms and ourselves checked into the hotel part of the building, before venturing out for our pre-booked dinner at a local pizza restaurant.
It was already dark by the time we landed in Reykjavik, and raining, so we had the anticipation of seeing the place in daylight the following morning. Meanwhile, Reykjavik by night was charming with its mostly low-rise buildings cosily lit with lamps and candlelight.
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| Our pizza restaurant - Hornið |
And so followed three full days of exploring this friendly, hip little city and its incredible surrounds.
The Golden Circle is a 300-kilometre loop from Reykjavik into central Iceland and back, and it encompasses some spectacular sights.
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Geysir and its thermal springs - this place gave its name to the world's hot springs |
What an incredible, ruggedly beautiful and wild place this is. I felt right at home, with the landscape reminding me a little of far north Norway from whence my father hails. Certainly the feeling of isolation and emptiness is very similar.
We had the sort of weather I was expecting - grey, drizzly, windy. Each morning we found the mountains were covered in a fresh dusting of snow, and there were times when we were pelted with tiny bullets of ice and gale force winds. Still, as the saying goes, there's no such thing as bad weather - just the wrong clothes. I've never been afraid of weather, and to me it just added to the atmospheric feel. Plus I was well prepared with waterproof clothing and plenty of windproof and thermal layers.
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| Skógafoss |
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| Faxi waterfall |
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| Vik church, perched above the village in the mist |
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| Amazing rock formation off the black volcanic beach at Vik |
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| Sea cave at Vik |
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| Another shot of the incredible Gulfoss |
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| Þingvellir National Park - home of the world's first parliament and where the European and North American tectonic plates divide |
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| Vibrant autumn colours in stark contrast against ancient stone |
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Myrdalsjokull Glacier |
Waterfalls, mountains, glaciers - the place is one giant series of postcards. There's also the fascination of steam and bubbling pools of water rising out of the ground all over the place. Geothermal energy meets the heating and hot water needs of the entire country.
No visit to southern Iceland would be complete without stopping at Eyjafjallajökull, that pesky volcano that wreaked havoc across European airspace for weeks in 2010. There are pictures that show the area completely covered in ash. It's hard to imagine what it must have been like. The power of nature.
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| Skogafoss |
Interestingly a lot of the buildings use corrugated metal as their external cladding - this is rather a strange sight to Australian eyes, so used to corrugated iron buildings in our very different landscape. However, this being Iceland - a land of artists - the corrugated metal is often painted in vibrant colours.
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| As in Norway, alcohol is sold via state-owned shops called Vinbudin. How groovy is this one? |
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| Tourist shop just across the street from our hotel |
The shopping in Reykjavik is a delight. Cute little designer boutiques, cosy cafés and sophisticated yet friendly bars abound. Even the tourist stores are really high quality.
This town loves its sculpture!
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| Harpa Concert Hall - an incredible building, a tribute to modern Icelandic architecture |
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| The Pearl - the most glamorous hot water storage tanks you'll ever see! (there's also an exhibition space, shops and a restaurant) |
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| Incredible views over Reykjavik from The Pearl |
Our last stop was the famous Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa located on a lava field not too far from Reykjavik's airport.
This is one of Iceland's most popular tourist attractions and that shows in just how slick the whole process is. You're issued with coloured electronic wristbands to signify which package you've purchased, and which allow you to unlock your locker in the change rooms as well as order drinks and refreshments in the pool - meaning you don't have to carry money or valuables with you.
Poor Kevin - he was looking forward to enjoying a beer in the pool but because he was wearing a wristband that signified he was with a school group, the staff were not permitted to serve him any alcohol!
I'm not a fan of hot water (37-39ºC) so I gave the actual bathing a miss and enjoyed a wee drinky in the café while I caught up on postcard writing.
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| The famous Blue Lagoon |
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| Kevin enjoying the thermal pools... |
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| ... while I enjoyed a solitary piccolo of Prosecco! |
We are eager to return and explore the northern parts of Iceland which are apparently quite different geographically and even more spectacular. And I am particularly keen to visit Iceland without the company of 18 teenage boys, as nice as most of them were.
Perhaps we'll be luckier with the Northern Lights next time too. We weren't really expecting to see them - we realise you have to be fortunate with the weather. So no great disappointment, and something to look forward to in the future.
Until next time,
- Maree xo
