Today we are docked in Reykjavik, (satellite image of Reykjavik Harbour).   The Prinsendam docked where the other cruise is on the satellite image (by the scale marker), except our captain parks the right way round, he is always ready to go.   Another early start, but this is Iceland which we have been wanting to visit for a long time, so we do not mind.   What is more of a problem is that one week of our cruise has already slipped by, however in the excitement of today's excursion we didn't notice this.   Allowing for disembarkation and reboarding, there is perhaps 8 hours ashore here.   Some of the excursions will use all of it, ours is quite long too, but we should be back with plenty of time before the boat sails.   Iceland is of great interest to us, because it contains examples of so many of things we learned about in geology.

And we are going to see some of them on today's excursion, which is the well known Golden Circle that includes Gullfoss and Geysir.   The tour heads out to the north east and completes a rough broad flat elipse before returing to Reykjavik from the east.   Click the map for a bigger version with the route marked in blue and the stops numbered.

HAL's excursion description "From Reykjavík you will drive over the Mosfellsheidi heath to beautiful Thingvellir National Park, a place that ideally showcases Iceland’s geological and historical heritage. Walk through the geological fault known as Almannagjá, to the place where Europe’s oldest national legislative assembly, the Icelandic Althing, was established in AD 930, and where it convened, in grandiose surroundings every summer for nearly eight centuries. After your walk in Thingvellir, the tour continues over the Lyngdalsheidi heath into the fertile farmlands of the south, to visit the most beautiful waterfall of the country, Gullfoss. Nearby, you’ll also stop at the Geysir geothermal area with its multitude of hot springs, where the most active one, Strokkur, spouts every few minutes. A two-course luncheon and coffee will be served at a restaurant in the Geysir area. Returning through the Grímsnes region, enjoy a stop at the Pearl—a glass dome built on hot water tanks that store water for the greater-Reykjavík area. From the viewing deck you will take in panoramic views of the city. You will also pass Hveragerdi village, where geothermal water has been used to build up an extensive greenhouse industry. Pass through Reykjavík’s city center by motor coach en route back to the pier."

This was a popular excursion with several coaches doing the same trip, plus a couple which had similar routes but with extras added.   We got on our coach and headed off to the now familar commentary on the local culture and places of interest as we passed them.   It wasn't long though before we noticed the guide had a good sense of dry humour when he explained, in a very serious voice, that some people believed in elves and that some of the rocks were not rocks at all, but houses, because some people had seen elves coming out of them.   Further along we came to some fields where the hay had been cut and baled (in white plastic), for winter feed I assume.   He explained that these were marsh mallows that the farmers had put out to keep the trolls happy.   When we saw a field with green bales in it, he said that some trolls prefered peppermint ones.   All this with a dead pan expression.   He did give us some history though as well as the jokes; handy because our first stop was Thingvellir.   This is an important place to the Icelanders, as it is where their parliament was first established when they got their independence, however to geolgists it has another significance, it is one of the places where the American and Asian plates meet.   Iceland is the only place where the mid-atlantic ridge is exposed at the surface.

We stopped at the visitor center, the coach went on to the second car park and we walked (downhill) along the ridge, past the ceremonial rocks and down to the coach in the lower car park.   When we had all arrived, we were in fact one short.   There were reports of a woman seen crossing the bridge to the other side of the lake, so we drove round there, with no luck.   We came back to the lower car park and the HAL pole bearer went back to search, and found her waiting at the visitor center.   Next stop was Gullfoss, we actually drove past Geysir and our lunch hotel on the way.   Gullfoss was a sight to see, but not so interesting geologically, apart from the fact it was glacier melt that formed the river.   There is an upper and lower falls, Carol's picture captures both.

We then returned to Geysir to see the water fountains.   We were warned to stay on the path as the crust will not bear a person's weight in places, and the water spout is very hot so we should stay up wind.   The big problem in trying to catch one in action with a compact camera is the delay between pressing the button and the camera taking the picture.   If you stay there long enough you can get to recognise the sounds it makes just before it blows.   I tried just taking a shot every second when I thought it was due, but that got me no where.   Finally I realised the way to do it is to take a video.   When we had had enough, we crossed the road to the hotel for our booked lunch.   One thing we learned; if you are holidaying in Iceland, don't go to Geysir at lunch time when the cruise ships are in.   They managed very well, but it would be so much more relaxing with fewer people there.

This had been a full day so far but we hadn't finished.   On our way back we had a photo stop at a church, near where the bishops were thrown in the river.   We came back past the greenhouses heated with the thermal water and arrived back in Reykjavik at the pearl of Reykjavik's attractions, The Pearl.   The restaurant has a good name, but we went to the observation deck.   We couldn't have been there on a better day as we had superb views.

A final story from our guide as we arrived back at the dock.   Just by the ferry terminal were parked two fair size fishing boats.   The guide explained that they were Russian fishing boats that had been there a very long time, but they had never seen them catch any fish.   We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Reykjavik and hope to be back one day as there is so much to see.   We hardly saw the town itself, just a view from the coach window as we drove through or a panorama from The Pearl.   We still have two more ports to come in Iceland, goodie.

Captain Albert's Blog: Reykjavik, Iceland.