Posted on by dhoch49

Iceland – Oct. 7, 2018

I have already blogged about our travel day on October 6th from Bergen to Reykjavik, Iceland in an earlier post.   I will never forget that bumpy landing, the scary descent from the plane on the outdoor steps and  the “packed like sardines” feeling on the transfer bus to the terminal.   “Code Yellow” was our blustery welcome to Iceland.

After a good night’s sleep we were up and ready for our “Golden Circle” tour.  Our first destination was Thingsvellir National Park.   It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has one of the country’s   most remarkable landscapes.

Thingvellir has strong roots for the Icelanders.  Here is  where the  first parliament of Iceland met in 930.  The meetings were called the Althing at Thingvellir and  were held annually until 1262.  Every year over 5000 people participated in the gathering.  They set up temporary dwellings of turf walls and rock with temporary roofs and stayed in them for the two week meeting. Besides the lawmakers, there were  merchants, tanners, sword sharpeners, etc.   Clowns performed and ale-makers brewed drinks for the assembly members.  Games and feasts were held.  It became a grand meeting place and  laid the foundation  for the Iceland’s  language and literature.

Over time  there were clashes between chieftain families, and gradually Althing was transferred to Norwegian and late Danish rulers until the King of Denmark took reign over Iceland in 1662.

The start of the Iceland Republic took place at Thingvellir on June 17, 1944.  It is also where countrymen gathered in 1974 to celebrate the 1,100th anniversary of the country.  And to think we Americans get excited over our 240 some years!

Around the year 1000, there was a debate about a national religion.  One lawmaker,  a pagan priest, decided  after a night of meditation under a fur blanket  in favor of Christianity over Paganism.  There has been a church at Thingvellier ever since.  The present church was built in 1859.

The scenery along the way to the national park was stark and stunning. There are snow capped mountains in the background.
Notice the volcanic rock in the foreground. Iceland was formed from volcanic activity; there is igneous rock everywhere.
A closer view of the buildings and the church.
Frank and I walked from the visitors center to the lower parking lot. Notice the volcanic rocks on either side of the pathway.
The Oxara river along the cliffs.   
Scene of the park overlooking its lower parking lot.

By the time Frank and I got to the lower parking lot, there was a sea of buses.    We were worried that we were late and looked around frantically for our bus,   All the tour buses looked the same, especially all the ones with  Viking tour signs.   We met another lady from our bus who was also “lost”.  Eventually after about twenty  minutes we found the  bus with the Viking-Bus #2 in the front window   Whew!  What would we have done if they left without us?

Next we went through more fertile land on our way to Gullfoss waterfall.  Farms were scattered throughout the countryside.

Farms were spread out in this area. Bales of hay were bound in white plastic and in this picture are clustered together on the right. .
Another farm. Notice the snow covered mountains in the background.
We passed lots of fields with Icelandic horses.
There were pastures of sheep, too.
Gullfoss falls, the “Golden Falls” where the Hvita River drops 96 feet in two falls.
Smiling tourists in front of Gullfoss. I was surprised Frank was smiling. We  each just had to pay $1.75 to use the  toilets at the visitor’s center before going to view the falls.
A view of the Hvita river before the falls.

All of our Viking tour buses ate a buffet lunch at a new restaurant across the street from the Geysir hot springs area.   I was amazed how well they handled serving so many of us.  I had never tried cream of onion soup before.   It was delicious!  After lunch we had time to browse the geothermal area.

This geyser, Strokkur, spouts boiling water 65 to 130 feet in the air every 5 to 10 minutes.  This famous hot springs area near Gulfoss  is called Geysir ; it is famous for giving it’s name to geysers all over the world.
Another thermal pool in Geysir.
Kerid Crater. Craters can be found  all over Iceland.
This is a church next to the official house of the president of Iceland.
Iceland’s flag flying at the president’s house.
Bessastadir, the official presidential residence since 1941.
We  stopped at a grocery store called Bonus. Our tour guide suggested we buy something for a quick lunch the next day, since our time would be short between  excursions. Frank found a ready made sandwich and Pringles. (Frank, the editor here, the sandwich was lousy!)
A village below the mountains on the drive back to Reykjavik.  .

We had a long tour day completing the “Golden Circle.”  We found an Italian  restaurant close to our hotel for dinner.    PA Dutchmen are very happy with known dishes. Frank enjoyed his generous portion of spaghetti with meat sauce, while I treasured my light beer and salad.  It was a great ending to our first tour day in Iceland.

 

 

2 Replies to “Iceland – Oct. 7, 2018”

  1. Your Iceland blog made me laugh at the end. After almost a 3 week trip and traveling through multiple countries, Frank’s only comment was… “The sandwich was lousy”. Haha! Good job on your blog Dori! Frank’s contribution…rather slim 😂.

  2. Iceland is pretty but I’m sure if the sun was out it would have been prettier! Your blogs are very informative! Thanks for sharing them!

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