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It´s supposed to be the Golden Circle, but the tour I took did an out-and-back line.
I was unsuccessful at finding a better internet connection tonight, so again no photos. I do have some good ones though, I promise! I should be able to add a bunch next week after my trek, since I think I´ll be back in Egilsstaðer (good computers there!)
Anyways, the first stop on the tour today was Þingvellir, the site of Iceland´s government from 930a.d. until the 18th century. It´s an amazing place, a cliff backdrop over a wide plain with a lake and river nearby. Before the written Icelandic appeared in the 1200s, the laws were memorized and recited orally every June at the annual 2-week assembly. Some people would spend twice that time travelling just to get there and back again from their homes around the island!
Þingvellir is also at the North America / Europe tectonic plate boundary. Unfortunately you can´t stand with one foot on either side of the divide and feel your legs moving apart at a rate of 2cm a year, since the plates are actually several kilometres apart. The land between is sinking downwards between them.
The next stop was Geysir, the 'original' geyser. It doesn´t actually erupt any more (except after earthquakes!), but the smaller Strokkur nearby goes off every 5-7 minutes. In the gift shop there, they were selling cans of 'Icelandic Mountain Air'. Yup, air in a can! Only $12 each! I didn´t buy one (maybe I´ll steal air from some other planet instead?), but I did take pictures.
The final stop was at Gullfoss, the Golden Falls. It was every bit as spectacular as promised, with an upper staircase waterfall leading into a lower drop straight into a tight canyon. A storm was rolling in and the wind was intense though, so it wasn´t quite as enjoyable as it could have been.
As I mentioned last time, I won´t have internet access for a while here, since I´ll be out in the boonies. I have a ferry to catch next Thursday (July 10th) though, so I should have something by then at least!
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Mom
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What a wit!
I love your commentary on your trip. Your sense of humour is typically Irish: dry, and stating the obvious! With all the detail in your blogue, you could be a writer for National Geographic. Thanks for including all the photos when you can. An amazing place! Keep safe! (Mom's are allowed to say that!)