ICELAND TOUR.  This was not a motorhome trip.  This is a departure from the usual entries on this blog.  From August 18th to August 27th we were participating in a bus tour of Iceland.

August 18. We travelled from Jacksonville airport to Reykjavik airport, which is located in Keflavik.  The tour scheduled us for three flights, to Houston, Newark, and Reykjavik flying with United Airlines.  This transpired from early morning in Florida to around 2 am EDT (6 am GMT) on the 19th.  

What followed was pretty exhausting, as we disembarked from the plane in the rain outdoors via an old steep metal staircase onto the tarmac to collect our luggage and proceed into the building to join a very long winding line headed for customs.  Once we finally got through customs we rechecked our luggage and headed for security with our carry-ons.  That was another long line which we went through easily.  Then to baggage claim.  After that we started looking for our tour guide.  Now we had to lug our luggage quite a ways to the tour bus.  Once aboard, the tour of Iceland could begin. 

On the flight from Newark to Reykjavik the view from the airplane window was mostly of heavy cloud cover which blocked our view of Greenland, but at times afforded nice views of cloud formations.  Betty sat near the window and took the following photos. 

August 19th.  Once on the tour bus, the driver took us to the hotel to store our luggage while we went on a walking tour of that part of Reykjavik.  A few of the sites we saw follow:

Domkirkjan Church, the Cathedral of Reykjavik

Hallgrimskirkja Church

Leif Ericson Statue in Front of Church

Inside the Church

Pulpit Area of Church

Swans Make Iceland Their Year Round Home

We saw several other sites, including the many outdoor swimming pools heated with thermal steam from underground, which they frequent year round regardless of the weather.  We saw the parliament house, which our guide noted with sarcasm.  There was even a sculpture of the same sentiment.  Politicians must be the same worldwide.

The Unknown Bureaucrat

Our Tour Guide, Fridjon Gunnarsson

The state church of Iceland is Lutheran, but being a state entity combines feelings for it with historic, cultural, political, and religious sentiment. Yet only 10% of Icelanders attend church once a month or more often.   Inside the Hallgrimskirkja Church the services were referred to as "masses" and candles were there in a wrack burning for various causes or people.  This all seemed to me more Roman Catholic than Lutheran. 

As we toured the island country, we saw several landmarks that were churches. 

August 20th.  We began our journey counterclockwise around the Golden Circle and Ring Road along the coastline of Iceland.  This day was spent in the Selfoss area.

First we visited the Thingvellir National Park.  There is historic value here in that the Althing, an open-air governmental assembly, met here from 930 AD until 1798 AD.  

General View of Thingvellir National Park

Walkway Through Valley

Walkway Along Edge

Next we were off to the Fridheimar to visit their Icelandic horse stables and tomato greenhouse which grows delicious cherry tomatoes year round.  

Betty Was Thrilled to Pet One of the Horses

Hard to Believe They Eat Ponies and Sell Their Hides

A video of a young lady demonstrating the different horse gaits can be seen below, or click this link: https://youtu.be/FZnO4fkplgM

We also were taken to their greenhouse to see how they grow tomatoes year round.  The tomato vines are on rows of vertical racks with their roots placed into a single soil bag for each row.  We tasted the raw tomatoes, which were the best-tasting tomatoes we had ever eaten.  

Tomatoes Growing in Greenhouse

Each Soil Bag Is Irrigated

All Vines of a Row Proceed From One Soil Bag

Then they dipped out a bowl of tomato soup for each of us that we ate with a great deal of their breads and the usual Pepsi Maxx (available everywhere there).  

Fresh Baked Breads for Lunch

Group Photo at Lunch

Along the way we stopped at another historic church, the Skalholt Cathedral Church, which is the official church of the Bishop of Skalholt.  There was a wedding underway, so we had to view it only from the outside.  There was also an historic turf church beside the modern building.  We were free to visit it.  

Notice how clear the day is.

Historic Turf Church

Inside Turf Church

View of Open Door from Inside

Could View the Cathedral Church Only from Outside

Then it was off to Gullfoss Falls.

Gullfoss Falls

Gullfoss Falls Closeup

Then off to see the Icelandic geysers.  There are supposed to be far more geysers here than at Yellowstone National Park, but we hardly saw anything like Yellowstone.

One Geyser Eruption

I Later Saw a Geyser Shooting to the Sun

August 21st.  Today we headed for Skogafoss Waterfalls, the only falls in Iceland that can be walked behind.  

It was already a cold, overcast, and drizzly day; but around the falls it was very wet.  I did not want to expose my photo equipment to that environment, so attempted to walk to the falls with only my phone.  It was getting more and more wet and windy, worse than Niagara.  I saw, Betty, our intrepid traveler, turning back from the falls.  I knew then it was game over.

Skogafoss Waterfalls

Our Hero Turns Back

Next we were off to the black "sands" of Reynisfjara Beach.  I do not think there is any sand in Iceland.  The black rocks are volcanic in origin, but their folklore claims they are the tears of a troll.  Go figure.

Reynisfjara Beach

Cave Interior Is Not Deep

Rock Formation on Right Is Emulated
on Exterior of Hallgrimskirkja Church

August 22nd.  Today we were off to the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon for a ride in a Zodiac amphibious vehicle out into the lagoon filled with icebergs.

Zodiac Amphibious Vehicle

You can watch a video of our ride below, or click this link:   https://youtu.be/-TMLZzEgVaQ

 

Here We Go Into the Lagoon

The Blue Color Means This Iceberg Is from Glacier Ice

Some People Kayak Into the Lagoon

Icebergs Everywhere

The Boat Guide Shows One of the Smaller Bergs

We then walked over to the nearby café for lunch.  A sign outside said the following, but I doubt you can find lobster anywhere around unless it is imported.  Even though Norway has king crab, lobster, and other crustaceans; Iceland has only fish.

Nothing Like Lobster Soup or Rolls Was Sold

Other sights along the Eastern Fjords were captured below.

Along the Eastern Fjords

Along the Eastern Fjords

Betty created the following two romanticized views of the eastern coastline.

We also stopped at a woolens outlet, where supposedly the items are truly made in Iceland.  So much of the merchandise says "Designed in Iceland" and the like, but it is made in China. 

The outlet was located in a quaint village of which I have included some photos below.

View Behind the Woolen Outlet

Kirkjabaer Church in Stodvarfjordur

Small Flower Gardens Like This Across the Street

Punctuated With a Reminder of Their Viking Past

August 23rd.  Today we headed for the Dettifoss Falls, the Myvatn Nature Baths, and the Godafoss falls.

Dettifoss Waterfall at a Distance

Betty and Steven at Dettifoss Falls

Hike to the Myvatn Nature Baths

Myvatn Nature Baths Entrance

After Showering and Suiting Up We Enter the Baths

We then went to see the Godafoss Waterfalls on this overcast, windy day.

Godafoss Waterfalls

Godafoss Waterfalls Panorama

Betty and Steven at Godafoss Waterfalls

Betty Beyond Godafoss Waterfalls

A video of Godafoss Waterfalls area can be seen below, or click this link:  https://youtu.be/kOyG-K3B8SY

August 24th.  Today we were off to Siglufjordur, a small fishing village, or as our guide would say "willage," where there is an historical museum to the influence of herring fishing on the economic development of Iceland.  There were two buildings, the first an exhibit of the processing that used to be done to prepare herring for shipment, and the second was a maritime museum, displaying the several boats used at that time.

The Fishing Village of Siglufjordur

Scene of the Old Fishing Village

The visit included a tasting of raw herring marinated in different substances.  Must have been an acquired taste.  That was followed by a taste of their "black death" liquor, made mostly of potatoes and was very similar to vodka.

First we went into the old processing plant.  Various kinds of very old machinery were on display.

Inside Old Herring Processing Plant

Then on to the maritime museum.

Maritime Museum

Raw Herring For Your Tasting

The Black Death Liquor

Example of Icelandic Artwork

Our Little Friend From a Different Angle

Old Fishing Vessel

More Fishing Vessels

Wall Mural of Fishermen From the Old Days

In the afternoon, those who chose to go whale watching were off to the northern port of Akureyri.  

Our Whale Watching Boat

Akureyarkirkja Church Viewed From Whaling Ship

Betty at Stern of Whaling Boat Headed Out into Fjord

Several people on the tour opted out of the whale watching because they had several times in the past gone on such trips only to see absolutely nothing.  We, too, had been on several such trips in the past, and seen nothing, but wanted to give it one more try.  So many DVDs and television programs show humpback whales breaching, when they leap entirely out of the water.  That is very rare, and if you are waiting for that, you will likely be disappointed.  The same is true for waiting for a glacier to calve large chunks of ice into the water as you watch.

Fortunately for us, we did see one humpback whale surface several times to get air and then dive back down.  Most were far from us and not very dramatic.  Toward the end we got a good view.  One of the shots I got with a 300 mm lens is below.

Humpback Whale's Tail As It Dives

After this we left for the hotel, the Icelandair Hotel Akureyri.  In the lobby was more Icelandic art.

At The End of the Day

August 25th.  The key feature of our tour this day was the Vidgelmir lava tube (or cave).  

Down Into the Earth We Go

Once Down There, We Received a Lengthy Lecture on Geology

Our lecturer described how lava from an active volcano fills an area, cools, and then is followed by more activity and water flow to hollow out a rock tube.  Hot lava drives under old hardened lava.

Betty, being a budding geologist, was very fascinated with the various rock formations inside the lava tube.  Below is a sample.

We then were off to see the Hraunfossar Falls.

Betty at Hraunfossar Falls

Along our drive in this part of Iceland were scenes of farmlands, some surrounded by rocky ground, but still lush and green.

Farmland

Farmland Tucked Away Within Rocky Ground

Farmland Up On a Crest

August 26th.  The highlight of this day was a trip to Snaefellsness Peninsula and the Snaefellsjokull National Park.  No other images of Iceland are as iconic as those of this park.

Snaefellsjokull Waterfalls

You can view a video of the falls below, or click on this link:  https://youtu.be/ONs4U-v23Pg

It Was Another Windy Wet Day in Iceland

You can watch a video of the glacier water source of the falls 

below, or click on this link:  https://youtu.be/dSiF8n3cySw

  

Bardur Snaefellsas Monument

Plaque on Bardur Snaefellsas Monument

The monument is to their guardian spirit, Deity of Snaefell.  Our tour guide told us that the Viking era ended with the coming of Christianity to Iceland.  Some pagan stuff apparently still lingers.

Had to Get a Shot of Betty Through the Monument

Then She Had to Get One of Me

Then we walked along the coastline of the peninsula. Still wet and windy, it was hard to get good photos in this light. 

Dramatic Coastline

Arches Along the Coastline

Green Moss Covered Rocky Shoreline

Still Finding Farmland Even Here

Dramatic Lighting Helped Here

With Interesting Signs Along the Way

We stopped for lunch at a nearby eatery, where a variety of foods were offered, usually soup and sandwiches of various kinds.  The counter clerk was wearing a blouse with many floral patterns.  We asked if all those flowers grew in Iceland, and she said that they did.  I got a photo of her in that blouse (see below) and thought it would give one more iconic image of Iceland, with so many svelte young damsels with fine blonde hair.

Icelandic Young Damsel

Across the street were buildings of typical Icelandic architecture.  Our tour guide said that concrete was the material of choice for building, since earthquakes of varying strength occur here daily.

 

View Across Street from Eatery

Along the road back to Reykjavik we saw more farmland and turf buildings.    

More Icelandic Farmland

Even Restaurants Can Be Turf Buildings

We were approaching Reykjavik and preparations to leave for home, which included a required Covid-19 test to allow us to get a boarding pass for home at the airport, where we would undergo the usual ordeal that we experienced on the way here, only in reverse.  When the time came that we exited security at the Reykjavik airport to enter the boarding gates, we entered a maze of consumerism glitz like I had never seen before.

A Bewildering Maze to Pass Through to Enter the Boarding Area

View from the Bus Window of Approaching Reykjavik

This final night of the tour would include a farewell supper of the group together.  Our final night together would be at the same hotel where we spent our first night in Reykjavik, and the restaurant for our supper would be across the street from the hotel.  On the wall inside the restaurant was the following exhibit.  Carpaccio consists of thin slices of raw meat flavored in various sauces.

Wall Exhibit

The remainder of the meal was pretty traditional.

The Cod Was Actually Cooked, As Was the Remainder

Dinner Rolls Were Pretty Small

Another Small Portion

Small Ball of Sherbet, Half a Strawberry, and 3 Blueberries

Then we retired to our final stay at the Icelandair Hotel Herad, with its poor service (we had to carry all our luggage in from the bus), cramped rooms with scant shelf space, and poor lighting.  The architecture inside and outside was reminiscent of the 1960s and 1970s.  I was surprised that there were no lava lamps, especially in a land known for lava.

Only Overhead Light Was a Strange One

Few Places to Put Your Things

Every Hotel Had Two Single Beds Together

The bathrooms were equally cramped, with liquid soap and shampoo dispensers bolted to the wall and no place to put your own soap or shampoo.  Finding a place for my CPAP machine was quite a challenge.  Finally, the lack of air conditioning is a significant issue, in that the rooms are surprisingly HOT inside.  One small window to open is no solution for this problem.

It was the cramped space and the food in the hotels and restaurants that were the downside of the trip.  Small portions and raw meat.  We found more familiar food at food stands and cafes along the road where at least you could get a hamburger and fries, pizza slices, etc.  With so many tourists from America, one would think more food to our liking could be found.

If we ever return to Iceland, it will be to rent as large a motorhome as they have, stock up on food at the nearest grocer, and prepare our own meals.  The space inside cannot be any more cramped than the hotel rooms.

One of the Motorhomes We Saw Along the Way

One more interesting tidbit.  When you need to use the restroom, just remember Snyrting, or more commonly found, WC.