Monday, 29 August 2011
On the Monday (being the real day 1 of our holiday), we embarked on the popular Golden Circle tour.
On the Monday (being the real day 1 of our holiday), we embarked on the popular Golden Circle tour.
Our first stop was on a hill overlooking the valley of Nesjavellir. Nesjavellir is a high temperature geothermal area in the scenic landscape of Lake Þingvallavatn.
The Icelandic people harness the energy from this activity, and this natural energy makes up 99% of their power supply.
Our second stop was Þingvellir National Park, where the Icelandic parliament Alþingi was founded in the year 930 AD. They continued to meet there until 1798.
Þingvellir is also the only place on earth where the tectonic plate boundaries are visible. There is an area between the European and North American tectonic plate which spans about seven kilometres. (This is based on a vague memory of what we think we remember the guide saying). In that "no mans land" area, there are some creeks and streams, a deep creek where people go snorkelling, some houses and the ruins of the oldest parliament in the world.
Stop number 3 was the glacial waterfall Gulfoss (meaning "golden falls"). Apparently, it is the largest waterfall in Europe.
We then enjoyed the spectacular view over a lunch of traditional Icelandic lamb soup in Gulfoss cafe.
We then made our way to the valley of Haukadalur, home of the the spouting hot springs of Geysir and Strokkur. We took some great snaps of us and the spouting geysers and sulphuric "ponds", however they were on another camera and are yet to be uploaded. Sarah also took some pictures from the hill she climbed where she navigated around many bees and found wild blueberries growing. (This is one food that can grow in Iceland).
Watch this space!
We made a surprise stop to a river where special "steps" were built in to help catch salmon. Again, photos will be uploaded in due course.
We then proceeded to Skálholt Cathedral, an important political and social place in Iceland since 1056. It housed a bishop's office, a cathedral, a school, as well as a monestory and farms near by.
There was a museum area under the church which Sarah explored whilst Jason wandered around the grounds outside. Sarah will post her more interesting pictures in the near future.
There was another stop at the Kerið volcanic crater, but we cannot recall where in the sequence this was. There was a volcano here which erupted about 3,000 years ago, blowing itself to pieces and emptying the lava chamber. What remains is red sand with a strikingly glowing blue sulphuric water pond.
Our guide shared that the Icelandic singer, Björk had a stage set up here and put on a concert due to the favourable acoustics.
Photos yet to be uploaded.
On our way back to Reykjavík, we drove through the charming horticultural village of Hveragerði.
Watch this space!
We made a surprise stop to a river where special "steps" were built in to help catch salmon. Again, photos will be uploaded in due course.
We then proceeded to Skálholt Cathedral, an important political and social place in Iceland since 1056. It housed a bishop's office, a cathedral, a school, as well as a monestory and farms near by.
There was a museum area under the church which Sarah explored whilst Jason wandered around the grounds outside. Sarah will post her more interesting pictures in the near future.
There was another stop at the Kerið volcanic crater, but we cannot recall where in the sequence this was. There was a volcano here which erupted about 3,000 years ago, blowing itself to pieces and emptying the lava chamber. What remains is red sand with a strikingly glowing blue sulphuric water pond.
Our guide shared that the Icelandic singer, Björk had a stage set up here and put on a concert due to the favourable acoustics.
Photos yet to be uploaded.
On our way back to Reykjavík, we drove through the charming horticultural village of Hveragerði.
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