Ed and I began the day by getting up early and going for a hike around the cabins. The place was alive with birds of all kinds.
We returned to the cabins just as everyone else was getting up. We had a nice traditional (for Iceland) breakfast of sweet dark rye bread, ham, salmon, cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, and muesli (granola type cereal).
We returned to the cabins just as everyone else was getting up. We had a nice traditional (for Iceland) breakfast of sweet dark rye bread, ham, salmon, cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, and muesli (granola type cereal).
Our goal for the day was to do Iceland's infamous Golden Circle. But in keeping with tradition, we planned to do just a bit more than your typical tourist. We started out by stopping at Þingvellir National Park. This is an important site both historically and geologically.
It is a rift where geological plates are pulling apart, so the view from above is of a huge valley flanked by steep canyon walls. There are great cracks in the earth -- clearly a lot has happened here. The rift valley is partially filled by an enormous lake, the largest in Iceland, which is home to a number of unique species of fish and other animals, separated from other freshwater since the last ice age.
The first parliament was established at Þingvellir in the year 930 and remained there for almost the next 1000 years. The area has also been a social center for all major celebrations in Iceland over the centuries.
It is a rift where geological plates are pulling apart, so the view from above is of a huge valley flanked by steep canyon walls. There are great cracks in the earth -- clearly a lot has happened here. The rift valley is partially filled by an enormous lake, the largest in Iceland, which is home to a number of unique species of fish and other animals, separated from other freshwater since the last ice age.
The first parliament was established at Þingvellir in the year 930 and remained there for almost the next 1000 years. The area has also been a social center for all major celebrations in Iceland over the centuries.
After Þingvellir, we drove to Hveragerði to the Geothermal Park, a collection of hot springs in a very geologically active area that is well known for its greenhouses.
We walked around a series of pools and streams of varying temperatures, and boiled some eggs in one of the hot streams.
We walked around a series of pools and streams of varying temperatures, and boiled some eggs in one of the hot streams.
We stopped at a cafe in Hveragerði, where we enjoyed a traditional and absolutely fabulous lunch of soup and bread. The bread was cooked (steamed?) underground by -- what else? geothermal.
Sufficiently fortified, we made our way to Gullfoss (Gold Waterfall) on the river Hvitá. According to a stone memorial at the park, this spectacular landmark was saved from being dammed by Sigriðír Tómasdóttir, considered the country's first environmentalist (see below).
Sufficiently fortified, we made our way to Gullfoss (Gold Waterfall) on the river Hvitá. According to a stone memorial at the park, this spectacular landmark was saved from being dammed by Sigriðír Tómasdóttir, considered the country's first environmentalist (see below).
From the website gullfoss.org
Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson who owned the waterfall in the first half of the 20th century lived at a farm nearby and loved Gullfoss as no one else. At this period of time much speculation about using Gullfoss to harness electricity was going on. Foreign investors who rented Gullfoss indirectly from the owners wanted to build a hydroelectric powerplant, which would have changed and destroyed Gullfoss forever.
As the story goes it's thanks to Sigríður Tómasdóttir that we still can uplift ourself with the beauty of Gullfoss, because she was the one that protested so intensly against these plans by going as far to threat that she would throw herself into Gullfoss and therby kill herself.
To make her threat believeable she went barefoot on a protest march from Gullfoss to Reykjavik. In those days the roads weren't paved and when she arrived after 120 kilometers her feet were bleeding and she was in very bad shape. The people believed her and listened and the powerplant at Gullfoss was never built. Today one can see the memorial site of Sigríður that decipts her profile at the top of the falls.
Sigríður Tómasdóttir, the daughter of Tómas Tómasson who owned the waterfall in the first half of the 20th century lived at a farm nearby and loved Gullfoss as no one else. At this period of time much speculation about using Gullfoss to harness electricity was going on. Foreign investors who rented Gullfoss indirectly from the owners wanted to build a hydroelectric powerplant, which would have changed and destroyed Gullfoss forever.
As the story goes it's thanks to Sigríður Tómasdóttir that we still can uplift ourself with the beauty of Gullfoss, because she was the one that protested so intensly against these plans by going as far to threat that she would throw herself into Gullfoss and therby kill herself.
To make her threat believeable she went barefoot on a protest march from Gullfoss to Reykjavik. In those days the roads weren't paved and when she arrived after 120 kilometers her feet were bleeding and she was in very bad shape. The people believed her and listened and the powerplant at Gullfoss was never built. Today one can see the memorial site of Sigríður that decipts her profile at the top of the falls.
Although it was already close to 6 PM, who cares about the time when it is light for 24 hours?
Our final (non-food) stop was Geysir, a,collection of bubbling pools, steaming vents, and geysirs.
Our final (non-food) stop was Geysir, a,collection of bubbling pools, steaming vents, and geysirs.
Finally, with everything on our list checked off, we stopped for a bite to eat at Cafe
Linden in Laugarvatn. Mmmmmm! They served a variety of local fare, including arctic char, lamb, minke whale, and reindeer. Nice end to an interesting day!
Linden in Laugarvatn. Mmmmmm! They served a variety of local fare, including arctic char, lamb, minke whale, and reindeer. Nice end to an interesting day!
