October 19th, 2015
This is the perfect post on this chilly evening in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Visiting Iceland at the beginning of September was quite an experience. The weather can be tricky. You better take your raincoat. It did rain the whole time we were there but we managed to do most everything, including a most visited attraction, the Blue Lagoon.
Please note that the Blue Lagoon will be temporarily close for renovation from January 5th through the 21st. They are also expanding…a new luxury hotel will be opening in 2017.
There are plenty of tour operators that will be able to assist you in your tour to this pretty amazing place. We used the Gray Line http://www.grayline.is.
The water is not really blue. What happens is that the waters are rich in minerals; silica, sulphur and algae. The water is supposed to help some people suffering from skin diseases.
It was raining but we were determined. My photos might show some of the drops on the lense. The water temperature in the bathing and swimming area of the lagoon averages 98.6 degrees F to 102.2 degrees F.
The Blue Lagoon is fed by the water output from the nearby Swartsengi Geothermal Power Plant and is completely renewed every 2 days in a natural way.
There is a restaurant inside and also a shop selling skin care products.
The Spa is used by many….massages right on the lagoon.
There are plenty of different packages available. We purchased the Standard package and were there for a few hours. For more info., please visit http://www.bluelagoon.is
The age of the lava field surrounding Blue Lagoon is 800 years.
Then it was time to go to the next adventure.
September 22nd, 2015
Discovering Reykjavik was a highlight of this summer of 2015. Was not even in my bucket list. That was even better. So surprising to find myself on my way to Iceland. Make sure you take a waterproof jacket because the Icelandic weather is very unpredictable.
The capital city of Reykjavik is so easy to maneuver. You will learn it in not time. You can bike, jog, or stroll. Some years ago Iceland was in financial trouble. They have been recuperating quickly and there is plenty of new buildings going up in this quite modern city.
The Sun Voyayer is a sculpture of a Viking ship located by the ocean on a small peninsula close to the Reykjavik center. It symbolises the Viking past of the Icelanders and an ode to the sun.
The Harpa is at the edge of the Reykjavik Harbour. It is Iceland’s biggest concert hall. It is also used for other cultural events, as well. It opened in 2011. If you get a chance please visit and view the 360 degree Cinematic Experience. That stranger on my photo…no idea who he was.
The Old Harbor. It is the first lasting harbor in Reykjavik. You can find shops and galleries on the eastern pier. Whale watching tours will be leaving for this harbor, as well.
The Einar Jonsson Museum located at Eiriksgata and Freyjugata. Website? http://www.lej.is
Einar Jonsson was Iceland’s first sculptor. His home is part of the museum and is preserved in its original condition. No photos inside were allowed. The museum has about 300 art works spanning a 60 year career. The garden outdoors has about 26 bronze casts. This location is the highest point in Reykjavik.
He drew inspiration from the Icelandic folklore heritage for “Outlaws”. He also used mythological and religious motifs.
I have more to tell you but for now I think this is enough. Maybe some Fish & Chips on the next post from Iceland.
NOTE: From September 24th until October 4th the Reykjavik International Film Festival (RIFF) will be taking place. It will be showing a wide range of dramas and non-fiction films from over 40 countries and is becomming bigger and bigger every year. Please visit http://www.iceland.is.
Talk to you later…Have a good one.
September 12th, 2015
Arriving in Reykjavik so early in the morning, and, a bit comatosed. All I could think of was when will I be able to hit the pillow. I had the whole day ahead. My son said “Mom, you look tired”. You think? First a little sustenance to keep us going….Did I tell you I met my youngest son there? Yes, I would be in good company for sure. So out from the Alda Hotel we went, stopping at this little comfortable eatery in town.
My son had salmon with rice, sweet potatoes, veggies, salad and sauce.
I decided on the fish stew, which was different from what you would consider a stew to be. So good!! It also came with sweet potatoes, veggies and fruit salad. This is exactly what I needed, more so since we were going on a 6 1/2 hour tour.
Pingvellir National Park is the most important site in Iceland in terms of history, culture, and geology. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is home of Iceland’s largest natural lake and the place where the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia split and drift apart.
The property includes Pingvellir Church and adjacent farm.
It is also where the Althing, an open-air assembly representing the whole of Iceland was established in 930 and continued to meet until 1798. Two weeks a year to set laws, seen as a covenant between free men, and settle disputes.
A small hill marked by the Icelandic flag seems to be the location where these meetings took place. A rock outcropping called the Law Rock, or Logberg. The law speaker recited the laws. Public speeches and announcements were also made here.
The rock cliff behind the speaker directed his voice, allowing him to be heard. Laws and legal procedures varied from one Norse land to another. They changed and evolved throughout the Norse period. We know more about law in Iceland during this period than other lands because more was written about it.
Iceland is probably the only place in the world where the effects of two major tectonic plates drifting apart can easily be observed above sea level. The tectonic plates which formed Iceland, are the Eurasian tectonic plate and the North Amrican tectonic plate. We were on the North American tectonic plate and after walking we drove with our tour guide and Gray Line to the other side.
Please note that as the plates move apart, excessive eruptions of lava constructed volcanoes and filled rift valleys. Iceland is the largest island on the ridge because of the additonal volcanism caused by the hot spot beneath the country, which slowly moves towards the northwest. As we were driving back and the end of the evening, we saw orange lights and the guide told us that those were small eruptions which happen all the time.
This national park shows evidence of the way the landscape was over 1,000 years.
Next stop? The Geyser
Note: Information for this post was taken from UNESCO and Icelandic on the Web.
Traveling to Iceland? Do not forget your outerwear. Talk to you later.
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