Bonnie & Bill's Adventures: Iceland

We docked in Iceland September 2 for a two day visit. I had booked a tour on the internet before leaving Knoxville so we and our friends did that instead of a ship sponsored tour. We were in a smaller bus, with guide, and it was less than half the cost. The trip is "The Golden Circle" and highlights a few areas important to the history of Iceland. One area, Thingvellir National Park is where the first Icelandic parliament was established, in 930 AD. In this area is Thingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland. There you will find the famous rift Almannagjá where the Eurasian And American tectonic plates are pulling apart about an inch a year. The scenery in this area is stunning.

Another stop was Gullfoss (Golden Waterfall), a major waterfall and maybe Iceland's most known tourist attraction. The falls are huge and you can walk alongside and right up to them. Deafening roar and lots of mist and moisture - a memorable experience. We also stopped at another waterfall, the name of which I don't remember, not too tall but wide and powerful. The last place we visited was an area called Geysir, an active geothermal spot with geysers that shoot off every six or eight minutes. Iceland is covered with geothermal areas - in fact, it is the major source of energy in Iceland.

On the second day we went to a place called the Blue Lagoon, a natural geothermal pool which is famous for its healing properties. Our weather was sunny and cool, perfect conditions for a thermal bath. I think we feel better already! The drive to the Blue Lagoon was through lava fields covered with moss, truly an amazing sight.

Two days in Iceland only whetted our appetite. We would love to return for a longer stay and explore the entire country.