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Published: April 12th 2012
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Thingvellir
View over the rift valley at Thingvellir An American contacted me early January 2012, said he and his daughter of 30+ were going to be in Iceland for about 4-6 days and could I be their guide. I picked them up at the airport on March 28 and we started the tour on the 30th. First we went over to the area where the parliament of Iceland was founded back in the year 930. This is also the site where the North American tectonic plate is drifting away from the Eurasian tectonic plate. A good example of ropy lava is seen all around. After that we took a quick look at the geyser called Strokkur, gushing every 5 minutes or so and now we were in a hurry to get to the second largest glacier in Iceland for a snowmobile ride. Such a tour takes some time but in beautiful weather it is an unforgettable experience – that is what we had that day! We arrived at our hotel around 7:30 in the evening. Good food and the company so great over dinner. I tried the hot tub, nice and relaxing. The day after we didn’t start touring until around 12 noon. They were so tired after chatting
Thingvellir
Blue sky, blue water, birch trees with other guests at the bar . . . their holiday and they were enjoying it.
The following day (March 31) we had a lovely day, sunny and bright. We drove all the way to the glacier lagoon – one of my favourite places. A perfect sculpture garden. The icebergs filled the lagoon so no boats were able to sail on it and the seals were not to be seen in the lagoon itself. As we went down to the beach, the seals were swimming close by, curiously looking at those strangers on the black and white beach – black sand and white, sculpture-like icebergs. On we drove, now to the snout of a glacier, still the same icecap but a different snout (or tongue as we in Iceland call it). It was fantastic and beautiful in the afternoon sun, so white and unusually clean. Two Germans got lost in that glacier some years ago and a monument by the path was raised by their families. Got into a hotel in this wonderworld but no Northern Lights tonight.
Time flies, already April 1 and we headed back west along the south coast. Now it was overcast, not the
Thingvellir
The raven's ravine best view to the beautiful glaciers and volcanoes, but we were lucky the day before so that was fine. More black beaches to see but the puffin had not arrived. The fulmars were in a love-mood, how nice to see those birds so happy. For the night we found a holiday home. We needed some food, went to a supermarket, the kitchen in the holiday home was excellent, we had some wine and all three of us prepared the dinner, relaxing and nice.
The day after it was sunny again, clear blue sky greeted us. We toured the western part this time and ended the day in a hotel which is in the middle of nowhere. Only one hotel and one church in the area, down by the sea in the lavafield all around. The daughter enjoyed the seashore so much that we were afraid something had happened to her. Another lovely evening and around 10:30 in the evening I looked out, saw the Northern Lights were in the sky so I jumped out of bed, went downstairs and let my tourists know about the Lights which they had been waiting for. They two and a couple of other
Ropy lava
Why is it called ropy lava? Look at the ropes. tourists were out till 2 o´clock in the morning. They all got good photographs of this phenomena and were so happy!
Here we were, April 3 and the sun had disappeared, grey fog all over but both my tourists said that was adding to the mystery of this area. We were the only tourists in all the places we went to. One place we walked to is a high cliff, alive with birds. Kittiwakes, black-backed gull, fulmar, herring gull – but no puffin. A rock suddenly fell off the top of the cliff so that all the birds flew up in one go and my American got a good photo and a good scare as he was on his belly photographing on the edge of the cliff!
I was pleased to be back in Reykjavik that afternoon, back home. But I still had something to show my tourists and April 4 I took them to a horse-ride and the Blue Lagoon afterwards. April 5 I drove them back to the airport with a little detour by the seashore, along one of our numerous golfcourses. Some golfers were enjoying a round, no arctic terns had arrived so it was
Thingvellir
The raven's ravine to the north-east peaceful on the golfcourse this time. The arctic terns nest around this golfcourse and often you see the golfers keep their clubs in the air more than on the ground, protecting their heads from these aggressive birds that peck you if you come too close to their nests. Before heading to the airport we walked the bridge between two continents, between the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates. Another good tour had come to an end, good Easter holidays ahead.
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Excellent blog.
We can't wait to explore with you. The snowmobile ride and the cooking at home sounded like great fun. The photos of Skogafoss are wonderful.