**Please be aware that I am not attempting to name any of the places we visited. Even though my camera identified the location of most of our Kodak Moments -to my dyslexic brain - it all looks like jibberish. I decided to drop that part of travel stress in this country.
**If you don't want to read all my comments and just want to see the photos -- here is my flicker link https://www.flickr.com/photos/katiea48/albums/72157701666520595
Day 1 -A group of 10 of us decided to take a tour of Iceland. Our group consisted of Paula, Katie, Mimi, Marcia, Margie, Dee, Lucy, Gale, Kate and Barbara (who sadly had to leave early). We choose a Road Scholar tour that was 3 days in Reykjavik and 7 days on a small cruise ship around the island.
Flights had a couple of hitches of - Road Scholar (who we paid an extra $ 150 to make our reservations) failed to link Marcia's two flights. She ended up having to pay a luggage fee and had to get the second boarding pass in Boston. It was even more difficult for her on our return flight - to get the JAX boarding pass she had to leave and go thru security again. Our second flight to Iceland was lucky for some of us - Both Paula and I had 2 extra seats! Good thing that I had 2 extra seats because when I opened my straw water bottle - it shot a foot into the air and soaked me and the two empty seats beside me.
Landing/customs etc was easy - EXCEPT - Mimi's bags were a no-show. Fortunately, she packed her carry on bag with all she needed for the next day.
We stopped at an Icelandic Horse Ranch. Icelandic horses have 5 gaits - Walk, Trot, Gallop, Pace and Tolt. The tolt is a very gentle movement that doesn't jolt the rider. Very hearty horses - no need for vaccines and no colic. If they are taken to another country - they are not allow to return to Iceland.
The nicely carved slab of wood was the dinner tray -- yes they ate in bed.
Big Falls #4
We did get to see an Artic Fox - obviously semi tame -- played with the dog.
Our muddy windows after the drive to and from the farm. Not much scenery was visible.
Big Falls # 5
Can you imagine how smart their spelling bee winners are.....
Little People's Condos
Rocks
Maybe we should count the rainbows
Big Falls #8
Big Falls # 9
Big Falls # 10
Big Falls #11
Big Falls #12
Big Falls #13
Big Falls #14
Big Falls #15
We stopped in an artist community Stokkseyri. Loved the cemetery in this town.
**If you don't want to read all my comments and just want to see the photos -- here is my flicker link https://www.flickr.com/photos/katiea48/albums/72157701666520595
Day 1 -A group of 10 of us decided to take a tour of Iceland. Our group consisted of Paula, Katie, Mimi, Marcia, Margie, Dee, Lucy, Gale, Kate and Barbara (who sadly had to leave early). We choose a Road Scholar tour that was 3 days in Reykjavik and 7 days on a small cruise ship around the island.
Flights had a couple of hitches of - Road Scholar (who we paid an extra $ 150 to make our reservations) failed to link Marcia's two flights. She ended up having to pay a luggage fee and had to get the second boarding pass in Boston. It was even more difficult for her on our return flight - to get the JAX boarding pass she had to leave and go thru security again. Our second flight to Iceland was lucky for some of us - Both Paula and I had 2 extra seats! Good thing that I had 2 extra seats because when I opened my straw water bottle - it shot a foot into the air and soaked me and the two empty seats beside me.
Landing/customs etc was easy - EXCEPT - Mimi's bags were a no-show. Fortunately, she packed her carry on bag with all she needed for the next day.
Sadly Gail Galland had major flight problems and requested but did not get much help from RS, therefor she missed the first couple of days.
Blue Lagoon - It is as great as advertised. 101 F. We did all the extras - had a blue drink (too sweet), silica face mask and a floating massage.
My hair was plastered with conditioner for protection from the blue and green algae as well as the silica.
For our fantastic floating massage (60 Euros/30 minutes), Paula and I were laid out on floating yoga type mats and covered with a huge wet hot towel. I was lucky enough to have Emma Higgins do mine. She actually has her own Wikipedia page. She played soccer in the 2012 Olympics. I betcha this increased my "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon Number" she MUST have met someone famous in at the Olympics....... And she gave a great massage.
Best story of the day was Paula and I got lost after our after lagoon post shower. Me in my modest bathing suit, Paula in her birthday suit (with small towel) ran around outside in the public halls - trying to find our lockers.
After lunch at the lagoon we did a couple more kodak moment sites then checked into our hotel and set up our charging devices
I had to be creative to support our big converters
Day 2
More of the "Golden Circle"
We have been having good weather, sunny and in the 40's. Fun facts: cars are taxed by emissions, the Lutheran Church is subsidized by the government - but not any other churches, 350,000 people live in Iceland with 250,000 living along the south coast.
Iceland is full of different geological examples- this place has major tectonic plates that are separating at the rate of 1 inch a year. In the past this was the site for meetings.
Our Blue Day
Witches falls -- where they dumped the witches
We are starting to notice a pattern - falls, sheep, rainbows, horses, lava, and more sheep.
Next stop was lunch at a huge organic greenhouse tomato farm.
Tomato soup, tomato beer, and a cheesecake with tomato jelly on top
Our cheesecake dessert
Big Falls #1
Geyser #1 - did you know that geyser is an Icelandic word?
looks like a dog spitting
Big Falls #2
Salmon Ladder on left
Back at the hotel - we walked into town and had one of their famous hot dogs for dinner. They could definitely give Willies Weenee Wagon a run for their money.
Day 3
After a no-show speaker, we left our hotel for a museum visit and shopping trip. At the museum it was hard to hear and move around, because our listening devices had been taken away. Afterwards our group split up. I went shopping and another group went to a famous 'R' rated "interesting and unique museum".
We met at Harpa - the music center to climb on the bus to head to our second part of our journey - the cruise!
They stack rocks a lot in Iceland -- little people or elfs do it ?
Part 2
We boarded the ship, unpacked and then got called to what we ASSUMED was the life jacket/lifeboat drill. WRONG - they announced that the propeller was broken and that we would be departing the ship the next morning. After dinner they told the other non-RS members of the cruise the details of their refunds - the Road Scholar group was asked to stay. After dinner we listened to vague descriptions of the bus tour and watched our RS guide sleeping on the other side of the lounge. Most of us (minus Barb - sad) decided we would not take the risk of losing everything and take the bus tour. We did get to cruise a little --- we were TOWED to another dock.
Day 4 -10 hours on the bus
Day started out as a grey cold day, first stop was at the fermented shark museum. Very interesting but not very tasty.... Greenland shark can live up to 400 yrs and don't become sexually mature till 150 yrs old.
Soaking the shark in an alcohol drink.
Lunch then a nice walk by the cliffs at the beach
Big Falls # 3
Day 5 - 9 hours on the bus
Early walk to the water's edge - we are close to the northern edge of Iceland. Disappointment of the day was the whale watching was canceled.
We stopped at an Icelandic Horse Ranch. Icelandic horses have 5 gaits - Walk, Trot, Gallop, Pace and Tolt. The tolt is a very gentle movement that doesn't jolt the rider. Very hearty horses - no need for vaccines and no colic. If they are taken to another country - they are not allow to return to Iceland.
Great mushroom soup for lunch - all the breads we have had so far are wonderful. Soups, fish, lamb and bread seem to be Icelandic staple food.
Next stop was an interesting old sod farm house and church. In the past it definitely paid to be a Lutheran Preacher because they were the upper class of the times.
Day 5 - I have stopped counting how many hours on the bus -- I just look at my swollen ankles to guess how long I have had to remain in a seated position - ankle support and high tops shoes today. I am starting to get cranky.
Leaving a cute town this AM - Today is purple day.
A 'Filler' stop -- antique cars ?- Jay Leno needs to go here ! Not sure what this has to do with Iceland and its history.
Paula our leader !
Zac would love this truck.
Notice un-numbered minor falls across the street from the car museum.
Photos below are from our after lunch stop. Nice walking time and photo op time provided.
This place was full of "fake craters" - caused by a volcano which erupted UNDER a lake - this formed all the strange craters.
Remember the "Let's go Snipe hunting" - THAT is an actual Snipe - weird always thought that was myth..... PS that is not my photograph - Kate Galland takes the best bird photos! Thanks
Below is called SKUTUSTADAHREPPUR. (See why I don't bother with names) It is some sort of Lava garden with really neat shapes and colors. Surprising what can grow on lava - including blueberries -- not the big bushy kind that grows in our area - These blueberry plants are like ground cover. Most of the red foliage you see are blueberries.
evidence of blueberries
A nice ending to a long day - a smelly geyser field and a soak in a "hot pot" (sort of smelly too). There was a really frigid quick walk to the lagoon which was not quite hot enough.
We ended up in a modern hotel with lots of wood. This is odd because you don't see a lot of trees around -- They pay farmers to plant trees. So when the guide points out a forest, it really looks like a tree farm. That night there were northern lights but we didn't see them until the very end because our friends could not wake us up. Kate Galland got the best shot.
Day 6 - More Bus.............
We are sort of rushing today - Bus driver and guide got notice that there was bad weather headed to this area - so southeast we are headed. First stop was a sod WC. This was a farm or a coffee stop for our RS guide -- were we supposed to learn something?
Can you imagine how smart their spelling bee winners are.....
We arrived in our new town and hotel - we got to shop in the rain while our rooms were getting ready. Hotel was next door to a old fashion "womens finishing school" (as in how to become a good housewife)
Nice Hot tub and nice chat with a couple in our bus group. Buffet offered horse meat as one of their selections.
Day 7 Long Bus Day - but lots of stops which helped my ankles
First stop was at the house of a very unique woman who collected beautiful local rocks and minerals.
This day had a lot of cold wind that tossed even our bus around a bit. They said that there were travel advisories (wind and snow) for the northern area we had just left. Some reports of winds up to 70 mph. Roads are fairly narrow - some bridges are still single lane. Remember the Disney ride "Mr Toad's Wild Ride" --well todays 'back of the bus' experience was similar.
Big Falls #6
Big Falls #7
Glaciers - up close and personal
Black sand beach with chunks of ice
Getting ready for our amphibious boat ride
We are on our FIRST amphibious boat ride -- boat broke... do you see a trend here?
Our second boat and our emergency escort
Day 8
Volcano Museum
Can you see the falls "smiling at me"
Our hotel rooms reminded us of the portables at old Glynn Middle School - all modular
Our last night -- Northern Lights again
Day 9 - Starting the journey home !-- drove the longer coastal road home. No traffic and very pleasant. We stopped at a grocery store so that we could get some Icelandic candy to take home.
The government subsidizes home owners that refurbish the outside of their historical homes (30% of cost).
Our 'Blue" bus group plus the RS guide (yellow jacket) and bus driver (tall baseball capped guy in the back)
Last Rainbow of Iceland
At the airport
I am glad I went to Iceland. It is a beautiful country. We were lucky to have such nice weather for the majority of the trip and I am extremely lucky to have been traveling with optomistic friends. It made the physical and mental adjustments easier to cope with. The ship cancellation was not Road Scholars fault BUT lack of information, before we had to make a decisions, was their fault. Their touted educational component was seriously reduced due to a no-show speaker, a very laid-back RS guide, and our altered plans. Very disappointed in Road Scholar.
