#geddis66° Day 11- Hvolsvöllur to Reykjavík

Our first day without sunshine. But it was just right to see some of the city of Reyjavik.

We started our last day in Iceland with a lazy start and and a walk around the flowers in the front yard of our farm house.

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And then a stop at the last waterfall for our trip, Urriðafoss.

I think I really fell in love with Iceland Waterfalls and Dianne was very patient with me.

Urriðafoss is said to flow more water than any other waterfall in Iceland

last waterfall

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We spent the afternoon in Revjavik seeing the sights and eating a hot dog!

Alþingishúsið

The Home of the Iceland Parliament

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Corrugated metal is a popular building material in Iceland. The wooded land was used by the Vikings and wood as a building material is scarce. Corrugated metal is light but strong and serves well in this harsh weather and volcanic region.

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Often the homes and churches (Tin Tabernacles) are painted bright colors

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And a visit to Iceland would not be complete without an Icelandic Hot Dog!

Hot Dog

Reykjavík is a harbor town including small and large boats and ships.

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One of the most interesting things we say in Reykjavík was the Viking Settlement Exhibition. A Viking Settlement was found in Reykjavik and the exhibition was built around it. Some amazing technology to help present the story!

Settlement 1 Settlement 2

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Off to the Airport Inn to catch an early flight back to the States!

Thanks Iceland, I am sure we will see you again!

#geddis66° Day 10 – Núpsstaður to Hvolsvöllur

Another great day of sunshine in Iceland! A shorter drive today as we split the two night scheduled in the East Fjords.

Our first stop was at Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon and Dianne hiked up the trail to Fagrifoss.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

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Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon Day 10

Fagrifoss

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Of course she not only hiked up the hill she RAN down it!

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A field of Dandelions adding color to the beauty.

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Black Sand Beach in Vik

Black Beach Sign Vik

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Dianne the Mountain Goat

Di the Mountain goat

Because it is there

The Three Sea Trolls

Look closely in the top right hand corner of the photo for the Hang Glider!

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Love from Iceland

We stopped at Skógafoss. It is a beautiful waterfall very near the Ring Road (highway 1) and therefore very crowded.

A Skógafoss Double Rainbow!

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And…

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One more waterfall and one more rainbow before we stop for the day!

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss Day with rainbow

Seljalandsfoss Day Rainbow edit

We ended the day at our Airbnb a wonderful farm house, on a working farm, that reminds you of someones grandmother. Many family artifacts, a cozy place to stay the night.

Farm House

One more sleep before we return to our lives. We will never forget this trip! What a beautiful country.

#geddis66° Day 9 – Stöðvarfjörður to Núpsstaður

We had intended two nights in Stöðvarfjörður but decided to cancel one and move half way to the next Airbnb. We found a hotel in Núpsstaður. This helped split the driving time. The trip along they was a again, beautiful highlighted by the a Glacier Lake, considered by some one of the best photographic spots in the world. Not sure we did it justice.

On the way look who we ran into..

Donner, Dancer, Vixen, Comet and Cupid

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And one of the charming Icelandic Horses.

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A quick stop in Djúpivogur

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And then…

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But that is not all!!

A turf church from the early 18’s i84 Hofskirkja

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Next was the Vatnajökull glacier and National Park. Most of the roads we wanted to visit were still closed from the winter but the beauty is not only on highland roads.

Svartifoss

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Another day of Mother Nature beauty!!

#geddis66° Day 8 – Akureyri to Stöðvarfjörður

A beautiful day from the North to the East Fjords through a geothermal area with Lava Fields and Geo Thermal mud fields. Beauty abounds.

A quick stop at Godafoss to see it in the sun after yesterdays great experience in the cloudy weather.

Goudafloss in the sun

Then off to a surreal location in Iceland, Mývatn. It is an active volcano area.

Lava Fields

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Di Lava Fields Mytvan

A spring bud in the vast Lava Fields

Volcanic Crater Hverfjall

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Di hiking Mytvan crater

Dianne on her way up Hverfjall

Námaskarð

Lava Mud Fields

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Live bubbling lava and hot sulfuric steam springs. View is astonishing the smell not so much.

Myvatan Nature Baths

What a great break in day for us. We spent nearly 2 hours at the baths, met people from all over the globe and even had hail fall on us while in these wonderful warm natural waters. Not to mention the beauty surrounding us on all sides!

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After the pools we headed to Stöðvarfjörður in the Eastern Fjords to find our Airbnb for the night.

Along the way we found these two Whooper Swans

Icelandic Whooper Swans

The view from our window in Stöðvarfjörður

View from east fjords airbnb

What will tomorrow bring?

#geddis66° Day 7 – Akureyri

Today was a catch up day. Catch up on rest and travel. We slept in a bit and Di explored Akureyri and I went to Goðafoss to see the Waterfall.

Akureyri

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Honor to Icelandic Settlers

Early Settelers Iceland Statute Akureryi

Háskólann á Akureyri (University of Akureyri)

Háskólann á Akureyri.

Not your “flipped” classroom

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Also a Junior College

Menntaskólinn á Akureyri

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And of course with a University and a College you must have a Frisbee Golf course

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Goðafoss

A boy and his camera

Godafloss

And a short stop in Húsavík and a picture standing on the 66° Lattitude

Húsavík

May 18, 2016 by sgeddis

#geddis66° Day 6 – Ísafjörður to Akureyri

Ísafjörður

Leaving Ísafjörður.

If we had it to do again we would spend at least 2 nights here!! What a great little town.

And our hostess, Gunna, was delightful. She is an Icelandic Airline flight attendant who lives in Rykevick but was filling in as hostess for her cousin who owns the Airbnb. In addition to being a wonderful hostess she was doing her homework in a Masters Degree in Folk Lore and was a wealth of Icelandic history and culture. Her great grandparents lived in Ísafjörður as did her grandparents and parents. The stories of survival without roads, electricity and heat were amazing.

We could have talked to her all day.

The Bakri in Iceland are wonderful. Pastry’s so flaky and good!

Breakfast in Ísafjörður

Good by to Isfjordur

Our last look at Ísafjörður

Fjords along the north coast of the Westfjords

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The Arctic Ocean in Blönduós

Blönduós Artic Ocean

And then the magic continue! A rare May sunset over the Arctic Ocean in Akureyri

Arctic Ocean sunset

A perfect end to a perfect day!

May 17, 2016 by sgeddis

#geddis66° Day 5 – Látrabjarg Bird Cliffs

Another wonderful day in Iceland! Sunny and not overly cold. Today’s agenda was to travel from our Airbnb in Stykkishólmur and drive to Ísafjörður in the Westfjords and see the Látrabjarg Bird Cliffs along they way. The landscape was stunning, the bird cliffs pretty cool (and allows for a good hike) and Ísafjörður is very charming! Would plan 2 night here if we did this again.

We stopped for petrol and a drink in Búðardalur and met Rebecca Hosterfeld.

She was, from Denmark and came to Iceland and married an Iclenadic Man (he is a wonderful man) and they own a farm. They have 3 wonderful kids!! We asked about winters and she shared a Youtube she made https://youtu.be/u5pU6iUE3dg Take a look!!!

On the to bird cliffs. The road took us to some beautiful spots along the south coast of the Westfjords.

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Near Gufudalur

As the road became gravel there were some great and odd sights.

A salvaged U.S. Navy plane at the Hnjótur Folk Museum

And several salvaged “shipwrecks”

Ship Wreck

The Bird Cliffs

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The picture is upright. They sleep (and poop) along the cliff wall.

As we entered the area this sign is prominent.

Of course not everyone can read. Wait there is no words!

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Bird Cliffs offered a good hike opportunity for Dianne

(I went 1/2 way)

di to the top bird cliffs

And she made it to the top!

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Bird Cliffs to Ísafjörður

The drive from Bird Cliffs to Ísafjörður took a lot longer than we thought. It was dirt roads through the mountains and fjords. 227 km took almost 6 hours. But, as is true all over Iceland it was BEAUTIFUL. But boy were we tired when we arrived.

Here are some photos from along the way.

Another “shipwreck”

Sheep and babys enroute Westfjords

You gotta love a Sheep and her babes

Moon over Wesffjords

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The frozen tundra of Westfjords

Golf Course Þingeyri westfjords

There a a lot of golf courses in Iceland. Would have never thought of it. Most are kind of a pin flag in a sheep pasture but golf is golf. Golf Iceland (http://www.golfer.is/) says there are 65 courses in Iceland

Play it as it lies.

Dynjandi Fjallfoss Westfjords

Dynjani Falls

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Near Hnjótur

Don't

OK We promise we won”t!!

Long drive but worth it when we arrived in Ísafjörður. What a GREAT little township!

View from the window of our room in a wonderful Airbnb.

Ísafjörður in our room

May 17, 2016 by sgeddis

#geddis66° Day 4 – Snæfellsjökull National Park

Today was a visit to Snæfellsjökull National Park on the west tip of the Snæfellsness Peninsula in the region known as West Iceland.

A beautiful day full of sun. A bit windy at times but simply a beautiful day.

Day 4 Rusted Wheel

A quick stop for rations off to the Snæfellsjökull National Park. Along they way a stop at Holar to see the Lava Beach and a church originally built in 1703,

Di on the Black Lava Beach

Lava beach

Day 4 1700 Church

Cross Cemetary

The mystical volcano Snæfellsjökull Glacier has inspired artists and poets through the centuries, being one of seven greatest energy centres on Earth. Snæfellsjökull is the setting of Jules Verne’s Journey to the center of the Earth.

glacer valcano

signs

After this stop on to find a hike.

Dianne hiked this 4.5 km trail along the west tip of Iceland coast. Beautiful and inspiring and a bit of Adrenalin when you get a bit lost and the trail is not well marked!!

Then Di and I had a great walk on the Black Beach at Djúpalónssandur beach. The beach is littered with parts of the wreck of the Trawler Epine the 1940’s! These pieces would long ago been taken or destroyed on an American beach. 5 of the crew of 19 were saved.

Trawler Epine

Lava Beach Dj

Day 4 LIchten

#geddis66° Day 3 Reykjavik to Stykkishólmur

A great drive today. Stopped and picked up a TramWire MIFI. A must!!!

TramWire Pickup spot

Then off to Western Iceland. Pictures from along the way.

Hoping for sun but enjoying what we get!!

Day 3 along the way

Baby Sheep

Sheep and their babies

Sun was trying!

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Hears comes the Sun!

Here comes the sun!

Lots of steeples in Iceland

Lots of Steeples in Iceland

We found our Airbnb and it is GREAT. Quaint, 15 minutes from the town of Stykkishólmur and great views.

PS This is Tommy the Toyota our Sad Car. He is not sad but rented from SadCars.

Bunk Beds!! (I offered to be on top!)

Bunk Beds

The view from our place is spectacular.

Day 3 From our place

May 15, 2016 by sgeddis

#geddis66° Day 1 and 2

Our day leaving Phoenix was a long one. Southwest Airlines to Boston to with change of planes in Houston. Just before arrival in Houston they close the airport and divert us to Corpus Christi. Take fuel and told Houston is open. Then sit another 30 minutes to get in line to land in Houston, Worried most of the time about our connection.

But as is often does it worked out. The connecting flight was delayed also and we made it. Very late, 2am Boston time, arrival but arrived none the less. Short night at a Roadway Inn and back to the air port to catch the flight to Keflavik, Iceland.

Leaving for Iceland

The Icelandic Air flight was good. Somewhere over Greenland the pilot announced the toilets were full except one and everyone to only use if if absolutely necessary. Of course a dozen people jump up and suddenly have to go. They also suspended beverage service to lessen the use of the lavatories. Gotta love it.

We landed in Iceland on time and after customs and a couple of bottles of duty free wine for Dianne we we were off to find our Sad Car. Sad Car rentals are rentals of used cars but much cheaper than Hertz or Budget. The SadCar man met us and another small family and took us by van to collect our very used, but very serviceable Toyota Rav4.

Our Ride!! Only 344,916 km on the odometer (That’s 244,000 miles for you not so metric inclined)

We asked for directions to our lodgings but not sure we communicated with him very well. After an hour of driving around at 1 am we saw and stopped at the Police Station. After making gentle fun of us two very nice officers escorted us to our Guesthouse. Created quite a stir as they thought some VIP was arriving only to find just two lost and tired Americans. Sorry to disappoint folks but great thanks to the Keflavik Police officers.

Our lodging was great, Bergas Guesthouse. We would recommend them 100%. Cute room with kitchenette , bed and black out curtains. All we needed!!

Bergas Guesthouse, Our first night in Iceland

Tomorrow we head out for Snæfellsnesvegur where we will spend 2 sleeps. Pictures from along the way follow.