November 2011Iceland 2011

A Quick Trip to Iceland: Thanksgiving 2011

This is a sampling from the pictures we took on our recent trip to Iceland, over Thanksgiving 2011.

We left on Tuesday the 22nd in the evening, arriving five hours later in Reykjavic at about 6am. We were greeted with temperatures a bit below freezing (which is where they'd be the entire trip), and wind and sleet. Not welcoming. We were very psyched nonetheless. We spent day getting to know Reykjavic, and then went on a three hour guided tour (included w/ our plane/hotel package). The tour started by busing us to the shore near the city. It felt a bit lonely even though we were just a few minutes from the city where 60%% of the country's population lives. It was about five pm, so the sun was long gone (sunlight from 10am - 4pm). Looking back at the lights of habitation it already seemed quite remote. We stopped at a 3-km deep bore hole where steam exits at 107 Celsius. Steam heats the whole city. Folk often have "hot pots" (hot tubs) outside, and might even heat their sidewalks and driveways. The rest of the excursion was a fun walking tour during which we noted a noodle shop that we'd visit later. Good noodle shops are important!

On the 23rd we did the obligatory 8-hour Golden Circle tour. The rain had turned to very hard snow overnight, leaving the landscape and roads completely covered. We were happy not to be driving, as we went to some very remote snow-covered places. The main destinations were Geysir (geysers), Gullfoss (very, very impressive two-level waterfall), and Thingvellir (tectonic plates pulling apart, setting for Icelandic parliament a thousand years ago).

On the 24th we rented a car to drive the breadth of the country on the southern part of the ring road. Our destination was Jokulsarlon, a lake where icebergs have been continually cracking off of a glacier for the last 75 years. Prior to that the retreating glacier went all the way to the ocean. The drive is about 250 miles each way, and we wanted to do it in one day. This would be the adventure portion of the trip, with all sorts of interesting places we could stop and gawk if we had extra time (hah!).

Leaving the city at 9am, however, was almost more adventure that we wanted. It was still dark, with practically blizzard conditions. The snow was coming at us at an angle, so it seemed that we were driving sideways through a river of white. Very disorienting, and we couldn't have continued through this very far. Rosana I were each privately trying to figure out where we could stop and stay the night (Blue was asleep in the back). Within an hour, however, the sun came out and the snow slackened a bit. By the time we reached Jokulsarlon, the sky was clear and that part of the country hadn't had any snow at all.

Jokulsarlon was pretty neat, as you'd expect from a place used in multiple Bond movies. We all got into these big waterproof polar suits, and were ferried by rubber boat around the lake and through the icebergs. Being in the little boats made it all seem much more real and immediate. We could touch the bergs, see the seals, and marvel at the enormous mass of ice poised to enter the lake.

The next day, after a quick stop at the Blue Lagoon (a big outdoor heated pool (99+ degrees) and spa), we headed back to the airport to come home. We had to go a bit early as the Icelandair website wouldn't allow Pete to check in, continually saying that he needed to apply to the Department of Homeland Security to go back into the US. Luckily, it turned out to be a glitch in their software :-(.

Day 1 2011-11-23
Intrepid travelers.
Intrepid travelers.
View from the window of our room at CenterHotel Klopp in Reykjavik.
View from the window of our room at CenterHotel Klopp in Reykjavik.
Kerio Crater.
Kerio Crater.
I have no idea.
I have no idea.
Rosana and Blue at Kerio.
Rosana and Blue at Kerio.
Smaller waterfall. Note the staircase to the left; it's for the salmon!
Smaller waterfall. Note the staircase to the left; it's for the salmon!
Gullfoss two-level waterfall.
Gullfoss two-level waterfall.
At Geysir.
At Geysir.
Frame 1 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Frame 1 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Frame 2 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Frame 2 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Frame 3 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Frame 3 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Frame 4 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Frame 4 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Frame 5 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Frame 5 from the eruption of Strokkur.
Trekking the uncharted territory.
Trekking the uncharted territory.
Gullfoss: (note people top center).
Gullfoss: (note people top center).
Gullfoss. Tiny people middle left. We will be there soon.
Gullfoss. Tiny people middle left. We will be there soon.
Gullfoss: notice pete in the yellow on the left for perspective.
Gullfoss: notice pete in the yellow on the left for perspective.
Gullfoss in perspective. That's Pete in the yellow.
Gullfoss in perspective. That's Pete in the yellow.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss
Rosana doesn't like heights.
Rosana doesn't like heights.
Icelandic horses (we were gravely assured that they were not ponies).
Icelandic horses (we were gravely assured that they were not ponies).
A small crack in the rift between the North American and European continental plates at Thingvellir.
A small crack in the rift between the North American and European continental plates at Thingvellir.
Pete has whale meat (not blubber) for Thanksgiving dinner. Tastes like venison.
Pete has whale meat (not blubber) for Thanksgiving dinner. Tastes like venison.
View along the southern part of the ring road.
View along the southern part of the ring road.
View along the southern part of the ring road.
View along the southern part of the ring road.
View along the southern part of the ring road.
View along the southern part of the ring road.
Sheep are very fluffy in Iceland.
Sheep are very fluffy in Iceland.
Bubbly volcanic rocks covered in moss.
Bubbly volcanic rocks covered in moss.
Bubbly volcanic rocks covered in moss.
Bubbly volcanic rocks covered in moss.
Snow-covered mountains in the distance.
Snow-covered mountains in the distance.
Getting closer.
Getting closer.
Right there.
Right there.
A glacier coming close to the road.
A glacier coming close to the road.
The road got closer.
The road got closer.
Mountains near Vik.
Mountains near Vik.
Blue w/ the amphibious bus that we will not be taking.
Blue w/ the amphibious bus that we will not be taking.
Intrepid explorer.
Intrepid explorer.
Into "Iceberg Lake", or Jokulsarlon, southeastern Iceland.
Into "Iceberg Lake", or Jokulsarlon, southeastern Iceland.
The ice is translucent, and extremely blue.
The ice is translucent, and extremely blue.
Wierd scale-like textures.
Wierd scale-like textures.
The glacier ice is often filled with suspended particles of volcanic ash.
The glacier ice is often filled with suspended particles of volcanic ash.
One of the many floating bergs.
One of the many floating bergs.
Still intrepid.
Still intrepid.
Only a tenth above the water. This one projects about 100 feet out of the water.
Only a tenth above the water. This one projects about 100 feet out of the water.
Pieces of berg.
Pieces of berg.
The glacier from which the icebergs calve.
The glacier from which the icebergs calve.
We needed suits to stay warm down next to the glacier.
We needed suits to stay warm down next to the glacier.
Mom's huddled in the bow, dad's hoping he doesn't tip the dumb thing, and Blue's having the time of her life.
Mom's huddled in the bow, dad's hoping he doesn't tip the dumb thing, and Blue's having the time of her life.
My pet iceberg. I tried to bring it back, but it fell off the car about half way to Reykjavik.
My pet iceberg. I tried to bring it back, but it fell off the car about half way to Reykjavik.
We don't need no stinking cameras!
We don't need no stinking cameras!
Jokulsarlon.
Jokulsarlon.
Panorama of the Blue Lagoon.
Panorama of the Blue Lagoon.
2011-11-23