My husband Brett and I always try to travel with a, “we will be back mentality”. Often travellers we meet feel that it is necessary to pack everything into the few days they have in a place and see every little thing, none of it well because it is their only time in where-evers-ville. We like to think that our first kick at a place is just a taste and that if we really like it, and we usually do, that at some point we will return. In our mind at least it allows us to relax, see what we see and know that we don’t have to have a been there done that attitude. We’ve never really completely, done that, and it allows us to stop for a leisurely coffee without feeling like we are missing something.
This totally applies to our recent few days in Iceland. What a place of beauty, one that has been kept from the travel world until quite recently and one that I am sure has many locals wishing it was still hidden. We did not do Iceland justice. We spent a groggy- post-transatlantic flight day touring Reykjavik, a city we really need to return to see more of, a day on a driving tour of the golden circle visiting Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and Selfoss, and a day on the southern coast seeing volcanos, waterfalls, black sand beaches, basalt columns and amazing glaciers.
One of our stops was at Þingvellir (Thingvellir) a historic site and national park in Iceland. It's known for the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland's parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. On the site are the Þingvellir Church and the ruins of old stone shelters. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault. You can literally stand between the two continents.
Another was Geysir, sometimes known as The Great Geysir, was the first geyser described in a printed source and the first known to modern Europeans. The English word geyser derives from Geysir. While the great Geysir is no longer spewing its hot water into the air, it’s smaller sister now wows the crowd with her column of steamy, albeit sulfur smelling water.
Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland. Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland. Gullfoss is more than just a pretty waterfall, it has a story to tell. In the early 20th century foreign investors wanted to harness the power of Gullfoss to produce electricity. In 1907 Howells, an Englishman wanted to buy Gullfoss from Tómas Tómasson, a farmer who owned Gullfoss at this time. Tómas declined Howells´ offer to buy the waterfall but later he leased it to him. The farmer´s daughter, Sigriður Tómasdóttir who grew up on her father's sheep farm sought to have the rental contract voided. Sigriður using her own saving hired a lawyer in Reykjavik to defend her case. The trial lasted years and Sigriður went several times barefoot on dangerous terrain to Reykjavik to follow up on her case. She even threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if the construction began. Her attempts failed in court but before any damage was done to the waterfall the contract was disposed due to the lack of payments of the rent fee. The struggles of Sigriður to preserve the waterfall brought to people's attention the importance of preserving nature and therefore she is often called Iceland´s first environmentalist.
On the southern coast, Reynisfjara is a black pebble and volcanic sand beach and features an amazing cliff of regular basalt columns resembling a rocky step pyramid, which is called Hálsanef. Out in the sea are the spectacularly shaped basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar. The area has a rich birdlife, including puffins, fulmars, and guillemots. The waves at Reynisfjara are especially strong and unpredictable, and fatal accidents have occurred at this beach, so people are advised to take extra care when visiting the area. According to folklore, two trolls attempted to drag a ship to land but were turned to stone as daylight broke, turning them into the Reynisdrangar stacks, clearly visible from the beach.
Eyjafjallajökull is a volcano completely covered by an ice cap. The ice cap covers an area of about 100 square kilometres, feeding many outlet glaciers. This ice cap was not enough to stop the volcano from erupting in 2010 wreaking havoc on air travel across Europe. Now it lies quiet under its blanket of ice.
Despite a dismal weather forecast, the weather was perfect, so perfect in fact that we were able to actually see the northern lights. These polar lights put on such a fantastic light show that we couldn’t have imagined what would top them. A chilly evening chasing them perhaps but one very much worth the effort.
This is an island of fire, where geothermal springs, pools, and baths dot the landscape. Where if you take the time to look you can see a steamy, smoldering vents in the valleys and in the mountains, letting you know that there is something alive just under the surface. It is a land of ice and of waterfalls, impressive waterfalls, which coming from a person who lives so close to Niagara Falls is a big compliment. Waterfalls you can walk right up to the edge of and get soaking wet. Waterfalls a pure and cold as the icy glaciers they are born from.
This is a country of amazing natural beauty. I am so lucky to have been able to see some of its majesty. I think one day I will be back for more.
Cheers,
Rachel
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