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Published: August 6th 2007
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Hostel in Reykjavik
Vegemite and Nasturtiums Day 52: Tuesday 27th. June 2006: Cloudy then clear on arrival: After a good flight we arrived in Iceland to a beautiful sunny cloudless day. The scenery is stunning. In a nice hostel, 4 bed dorm with own bathroom, kitchen neat and tidy overlooking camping ground. A walk to the shops for food as usual.
Day 53: Sunny: After breakfast we were ready for the day. A walk through the Botanical Gardens and into town. In the afternoon we visited the Culture House - old old manuscrips including the Edda Sagas written by the Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson in 1220. To see this kind of thing in a country so isolated is the most amazing feeling and all the more impressive and interesting thanks to Mario for introducing me to these months before we left home. Later that evening we went on a "Haunted Walks" tour which ended up in the cemetery ( where else for us). Interesting to say the least. The chap could talk well!!!!
Day 54: Thursday 29th. June: We went into town to the New Settlement 871 +/- 2. One room of history assembled around an archaeological excavation of the ruin of one of
the first houses in Iceland with digital display enhancement. We spent hours in there. The icelandic people are so proud of their heritage. We then went and had a coffee at Grandmas Cafe where we met a chap from Morley WA who said to go to the "green shed" and try the whale - we had a little taste - yum. Time then to take a short boat trip across to the now unihabited Videy Island. There are the remains of old and some habitable buildings including the church and school. It was so lovely and peaceful there while we ate our curried egg sandwiches on the stone relic of a building amongst the birdlife and nature, then strolled around the island on the hiking paths. absolutely lovely.
Day 55: Raining: We went into the National Museum and several hours later emerged. The digital displays are amazing. How proud these people are of their heritage and how well presented it is everywhere we go. When we travel we take a local bus to go sightseeing - so after lunch it was on bus S6 to somewhere, a look around, then on the 19 for another look around and onto
Day 53 Iceland, Reykjavik
Thermal area where women did the washing the S1 eventually stopping at Fjordur where there is a shopping mall and a beautiful harbour which we hoped to walk around, but by this time it was pouring with rain so we managed only a couple of photos and succumbed to hot chocolate and cake at a cafe.
Back into Reykjavik for a walk up to the church on the hill. At the hostel we were chatting to a couple of people now based in England. They are from Nedlands WA. Physio, anaesthetist. They take holidays and come over to Iceland to do maintenance work on buildings, build boardwalks etc. in tourist areas and have a good sightseeing time.
Day 56: Saturday 1st July 2006: Sunny, cloudy, patchy rain and pouring at times: Up early to go on the Golden Circle Tour to see wonderul geological features of the natural world. First stop was at a greenhouse village, next a volcanic crater then onto Skalholt church, the ancient seat of Icelandic bishops where there is an archeological dig in progress. Next to the Gulfoss waterfall - wow; onto the thermal areas to see the Geysir spouting - took some great video of this. At times our hostess would
Day 53 Iceland, Reykjavik
Thermal area where women did the washing burst into song with Icelandic lullabies or traditional song. We made our way into the Þingvellir area where the Icelandic parliament was first founded in 930. It is also where the tectonic plates of Europe and America meet and these continents are slowly drifting apart at 2 cm a year.
A wonderful day spent in a country where the terrain is so beautifully different and scenery stunning.
Day 57: Week 9: Sunday 2nd. July: Sunny, cloudy and then rain ++: We did our washing then went for a walk again through the Botanic gardens, stopped at the cafe for coffee and cake. We played the pokies at the local shop and went home to pack for tomorrow we move on.
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