A GOLDEN CIRCLE KINDA DAY:

 

 

 
A GOLDEN CIRCLE KINDA DAY: 


 

 

But first a bit about last night. We had a very nice dinner last night.  The Canapes were nicely done and we were offered our choice of beverages. The wait staff made sure glasses were as full as one desired.

The Main Course was served buffet style, a nice squash soup, beef, turkey, and fish were the mains along with veg and baby roast potatoes. 

After dinner we gathered in another meeting room for our daily briefing and Expedition Team introductions. 

Prosecco was served and two tables were overflowing with Icelandic Chocolate and Licorice. These were ours for the taking, no one was left wanting.

In chatting with one of the Expedition Team, I learned there are 126 people on this cruise. There is a mix of Brits, Germans, and a very small smattering of US folks on board. 
The session was led by Dan the CEO of HX land side. He and his team are arranging our days here in Reykjavik. 

They are offering much more than just a couple of tours. HX is working very hard to provide a great experience. Sadly,  there are a couple of folks complaining, This will pass. 

The expedition team is a very nice energetic group composed of many different disciplines. Looking so forward to learning from them. I.E. a geologist, a glaciologist, an ornithologist, a marine biologist specializing in whales, a photographer, and others. 

One interesting thing is only one of the Expedition Team has landed on Jan Mayen. There was surprise in the fact we have also been to Jan Mayen and landed. It is a very very weather dependent location to land.

As we have not been on the Golden Circle in several years, we have decided to join that offering today. 



What a Grand and Glorious Day:

 

 

 
GOLDEN CIRCLE:

 

The Golden Circle is a popular tourist route in Iceland, it is a loop of about 300 kilometers (190 miles) featuring three main attractions: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Waterfall. It's a convenient route, starting and ending near Reykjavík, making it ideal for a day trip or a longer exploration. I think it is a very nice introduction to Iceland and well worth ones time.

 

Þingvellir National Park: 

 

 Is a UNESCO World Heritage site, here the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, offering a unique geological landscape. Further it is a place of Icelandic historical significance as this is the birthplace of Iceland's parliament. 

The Alþingi, the Icelandic parliament, was established in Þingvellir National Park in 930 AD. This location, also known as "Assembly Plains," was the site of the first parliament in Iceland. The Alþingi (Parliament) continued to convene at Þingvellir until 1798. 

 

Iceland has the oldest surviving parliament in the world.

Geysir Geothermal Area: 

 

 

Yes this is where we get our word geyser. 

Known for the Strokkur geyser, which erupts regularly. This is a great area to experience the geothermal features of Iceland. Keep in mind these geothermal areas of Iceland provide heating and electricity for most of the population. 

Gullfoss Waterfall: The name Gullfoss means "Golden Falls," and it is a very powerful waterfall. Gullfoss is fed by the Hvita River  and drops into an impressive  canyon. Gullfoss has two drops, added together the total drop is about 105 feet or 32
meters.

It was here we had our lunch which again was a very nice buffet style meal. I made a meal of the soup and a piece of bread. 

 


As you drive the Golden Circle one can not help but notice the Icelandic Horses and sheep. Sorry about. the sheep picture. Best I could do from the back of the moving bus.

 

 

 

Gullfoss:

In Iceland should a word end in FOSS - it is a waterfall. 

 

Early in the 20th century, Gullfoss was at the center of a controversy regarding foreign investors and their desire to profit off Iceland’s nature. In 1907, an English businessman, Howell, sought to utilize the waterfall’s energy and harbored ambitions to use its energy to fuel a hydroelectric plant.

 
At the time, Gullfoss was owned by a farmer named Tómas Tómasson. Tómas declined Howell's offer to purchase the land, stating famously, “I will not sell my friend!” He would, however, go on to lease Howell the land without knowing of a loophole that would allow Howell to proceed with his plans.

 
It was Tómas’ daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who would lead the effort to stop Howell’s plan. Having grown up on her father’s sheep farm, Brattholt, where she helped pave the first road to Gullfoss, she sought to get the contract nullified, hurriedly saving her own money to hire a lawyer.

The ensuing legal battle was a struggle; the case continued for years, forcing Sigríður to travel many times by foot to Reykjavík, a distance of over 100 kilometers (62 miles). Circumstances became so difficult that Sigríður threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if any construction began.

 
Her tenacity was successful. In 1929, Howell withdrew from the lease, unable to keep up with the costs and difficulties of his plan. The waterfall thus fell back into the hands of the Icelandic people.

 
This area is now protected all thanks to Sigríður. She is known as Icelands first environmentalist. Her lawyer, Sveinn Björnsson,  later went on to become the First President of Iceland in 1944.

After Gullfoss, the return drive to Reykjavik takes about a couple hours. This is a great time to enjoy the countryside, looking for horses and sheep. Admiring the mountains and seeing the thermal events. 

I was lucky and found a Hot Dog at our comfort stop. 

 

 
We returned to our hotel at about 1730 and had just a few minutes to get ourselves together for the evening.  

We had a short walk to our dining location Jorgensen Kitchen.  Here a most excellent meal was served. On the menu was Arctic Char, Lamb croquets, veg and small roasted potatoes and a pasta offering.  Dessert was coconut and mango gelato and a nice dense chocolate brownie. 

Back to the room we walked discovering an alleyway through a playground area where the flowering shrubbery was nice and fragrant. 

We checked our bus assignment for tomorrow as we will be going to Snaefellsness. This should be rather scenic and we have a chance of some good birding and arctic fox and maybe a whale. 

Time to crash. 
     
Thanks for following along as we enjoy all Iceland has to offer.