Our
last full day in Iceland dawned with patchy cloud and some sunshine. We thought
we’d do justice to some sites on the famous tourist loop known as the 'golden circle'. In
contrast to the day before, we joined the throngs of tourists viewing Iceland's best.
The waterfall Gullfoss, our first stop, is mighty and beautiful. Fantastic volumes of glacial water flow over two main drops. Spray permanently wets everything about. Apparently, this is the largest waterfall in Europe (by volume) - I can see why it attracts the visitors.
The next spot was my favourite for the day, the Haukadalur valley, home of Geysir. This is the major geyser in Iceland from which English derives the word geyser and it can spout up to 70 metres high. We did not see it spout: it does not spout regularly or often. However can be induced to do so by the addition of soap (who’d have guessed?).
We did however see Strokkur, the sister geyser of Geysir. It spouts every few minutes and can spout up to 30 metres high. Although I have been to many volcanic areas I have never seen a geyser before. It is fascinating and exciting, seeing the water rush, blob and boil then suddenly erupt into a spout!
The surrounds along the way were, as always for Iceland, stunning.
We finished our drive with a visit to one of Icelands most culturally significant places, Skalholt, the home of a medieval church and school which has operated since 1056. It was a central place for learning, writing and the preservation of written text for Iceland.
Back at the farm we were staying on, Samuel and I got up close and personal with some sheep. The sheep are all like this in appearance in Iceland and, just a tip, these ones like stale bread.
The waterfall Gullfoss, our first stop, is mighty and beautiful. Fantastic volumes of glacial water flow over two main drops. Spray permanently wets everything about. Apparently, this is the largest waterfall in Europe (by volume) - I can see why it attracts the visitors.
The next spot was my favourite for the day, the Haukadalur valley, home of Geysir. This is the major geyser in Iceland from which English derives the word geyser and it can spout up to 70 metres high. We did not see it spout: it does not spout regularly or often. However can be induced to do so by the addition of soap (who’d have guessed?).
We did however see Strokkur, the sister geyser of Geysir. It spouts every few minutes and can spout up to 30 metres high. Although I have been to many volcanic areas I have never seen a geyser before. It is fascinating and exciting, seeing the water rush, blob and boil then suddenly erupt into a spout!
The surrounds along the way were, as always for Iceland, stunning.
We finished our drive with a visit to one of Icelands most culturally significant places, Skalholt, the home of a medieval church and school which has operated since 1056. It was a central place for learning, writing and the preservation of written text for Iceland.
Back at the farm we were staying on, Samuel and I got up close and personal with some sheep. The sheep are all like this in appearance in Iceland and, just a tip, these ones like stale bread.
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