Reykjavik, Iceland

            Saturday, 12 Sep 2015 – We awoke to our alarm at 5:30 AM.  After an early breakfast, we met our tour group in the Princess Theater at 7:30 AM.  Our tour bus departed from the Reykjavik pier at 8:00 AM, with guide Gritawool and driver Yold (not sure about the spellings!).

            Reykjavik is located in southwest Iceland, and two-thirds of Iceland’s population lives in the Reykjavik area.  On this full-day’s journey we visited Iceland’s three most famous landmarks known together as the Golden Circle.  We continued through dramatic countryside to cross the Moorlands Mosfellsheidi, an ancient undulating field of lava.  Eventually, we reached Thingvellir National Park, which was established in 1930 as a protected area of genuine historical, cultural, and geological value.  This rift valley offered incredible views of the Reykjanes Ridge, an aboveground portion of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which separates the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.  (At one point, our guide mentioned that we were on the American plate and, much later, that we were on the Eurasian plate.)  Iceland’s largest natural lake, Thingvallavatn, is located in this area.  Thingvallavatn is also the largest lake, by volume, in Europe.

Our bus stopped at Althing, where the Icelandic Parliament began meeting in 930 A.D. under a towering cliff along the western wall.  Not far from there, we walked through an area between high cliffs of rock (looking almost like old ruins), left from volcanic action 9,000 years ago.  [The word “Parliament” as used in this case was confusing; in Iceland, it seems to mean the geographic place where chiefs met, not the group itself.]

Gullfoss Waterfall

We continued on to the beauty of the Golden Circle's second stop, Gullfoss Waterfall.  How spectacular!  It was difficult to stop gazing at this three-tiered curving stone cascade, with water rushing and tumbling until it plunges down a deep ravine.   At this stop we walked a long way to get slightly different views.

Next, we traveled to the Golden Circle's final stop, Strokkur, an explosive geyser that blasts every few minutes as high as 60 feet – but spurts for only a few seconds before dying down to build up pressure for another blast.  (It was very difficult to snap a photo during that short time.)  Strokkur is also surrounded by other steamy spouts, which erupt from the ground at boiling temps.  While walking through the enclosure, we saw the algal deposits and hot springs.

For us, it was impossible to avoid comparing this waterfall and these geysers with those in Yellowstone.  Although Yellowstone Falls is high, it is not as spectacular as Gullfoss.  However, Old Faithful geyser (even though it is not as “faithful” as it used to be, such as in the 1950’s) has a much higher display than Strokkur and the spray lasts a longer time.  Admittedly, Yellowstone Park, with its luxurious pines is a much different environment than the barren, but dramatic, Icelandic landscape; nevertheless, both are definitely worth seeing.

Outside Restaurant

            At a nearby restaurant, we enjoyed a typical Icelandic meal including soup, poached salmon and potatoes, and vegetable salad, plus coffee.


            After lunch, our bus continued to Hengill, a mountain resting on a volcanic ridge, to visit Hellisheidi Power Station, the second largest geothermal power plant in the world and the largest in Iceland.  Building on geothermal forces generated by three volcanic systems dating back 11,000 years, this plant began generating electricity in 2006 and set its sights on generating hot water.  This hot water plant was introduced in 2010, and the last two high pressure 45 MW turbines were added in 2011.  On the walls of the power station were bits and pieces of information, with corresponding dates (in years), including the following:  a power plant had been built in Boise, Idaho; an Icelandic group went to study it, and in 1970 they returned from Boise to start building this plant.

Zombies at the Pearl

            From there, we headed to Perlan (The Pearl), a 10-story architectural icon in Reykjavik.  From the outside, its appearance was of a tall, round dome.  The Perlan is geothermally heated by water being forced through steel supports, and provides water storage for the greater Reykjavik area.  After entering, we walked around the outside circle on top, taking in phenomenal views of town and the surrounding landscapes.  Although we took the elevator up, we walked down the spiral staircase – cautiously, avoiding the temptation to look down!

            Among some additional facts that we learned today about Iceland is that the 100th anniversary of women having the right to vote was celebrated in June 2015.  Also, Iceland had the first female president in all of Europe, and today 44 percent of their parliament consists of women.  Yes, Iceland is a quite a place!

            At 6:00 PM, we met Gail and Jim for dinner, where we also shared a table with two widows, Rhonda and sister-in-law Diane of Brisbane, Australia; and Gary and Regina of Nashville, Tennessee.  Regina shared some of her many adventures with us, including camping out in the Australian outback and going on African Safaris.  As she and Gary have only been together for a little over four years, he did not share in her adventures.  Since no dances were scheduled until 9:00 PM and Sally was very tired from our all-day excursion, we decided to return to our cabin and call it an early night.