Our adventure around Iceland has begun. Our guide, BG, is very entertaining, the tour van is comfortable, (with USB charging and wi-fi!), only 14 in the group and the scenery is spectacular.
Heading east, we visited several truly spectacular waterfalls, some snowbound, others displaying rainbows and all of them generating huge mist clouds, spraying us with icy cold droplets. We got rather damp as we attempted to walk behind Skogafoss, turning back as the path was a slippery sheet of ice.
Another highlight was visiting the geothermal pools of the Geysir area. Sulphurous steam clouds wafted over the ground as we wandered through the fields. The OG Geysir (which gave it name to the phenomenon) rarely erupts these days – our guide telling us that the pool has grown too large to reach the necessary temperature (c120ºC) to plume. However, Strokkur erupts every 5-10 minutes and up to 35 metres high, so we witnessed several eruptions, fortuitously choosing a terrific viewpoint and avoiding the falling spray, post-spurt. The field has lots of bubbling and steaming pools, all with warning signs about touching the water; it can be up to 250ºC!
We are slowly getting used to the speed of tour travel (getting on and off the bus + jackets/hats/gloves/scarves) and the various personalities of our group.
The day ended with the most amazing buffet dinner at the hotel – gourmet food presented so elegantly and tasting divine – and then a lounge in the thermal hot pool, under a canopy of clouds (with a very little drizzle and Northern Lights twinkle – not bright enough for any photographic evidence). Nature is incredible.
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