Iceland

So we decided to give Iceland another go.  This time in the Autumn. Since we are studying the Vikings, and Earth Science, it seemed like the thing to do. 

It truly is an awe-inspiring landscape. It feels so raw and new. It also feels so wet!  It rained almost everyday.  It made for a cold, soggy trip.  And we are coming from Ireland!

But when the sun did shine, it made for amazing rainbows.  Even Double Rainbows. 

To complicate matters,  we were in a cold, wet camper van.  However, we made it work.  It is a big place, with lots to see. The camper van seemed like the right solution at the time. 

Lots of long, expansive, empty roads. 

So, accompanied by moisture, rotten socks and the smell of mildew, we spent our days wandering the southern coast.  

 We especially liked Vik, a town on the southernmost tip of the county.

We spent one night here, relaxing in the community hot tub and sauna.  (We also used their shower and bathrooms!)  You can see our van in the bottom right corner above. We thought we would meet lots of interesting locals at the community center, but it turned out everyone we met was from outside Iceland.

The next day we woke up and explored a nearby black volcanic beach.

 The waves were powerful and fast, offering the kids a welcome break to play and run.

 Of course they both got their shoes and socks wet (again).  I have never seen such a black beach!

This particular beach is also home to a unique formation of hexagonal interlocking basalt rocks (much like Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland). The result of an ancient volcanic eruption.

However, the sun was out, so we decided to move on while we had the chance, and explore some nearby glaciers and waterfalls.  Did I mention there were a lot of waterfalls?

Because there were. 

 Lots of them. 

One mountain had so many waterfalls - I lost count!

With the waterfalls, came rainbows. They were everywhere.

Even coming out of my son's mouth!  

etc...

 And then you had the glaciers (the source of all the waterfalls).  Actually, we just saw two massive glaciers (one is the largest in Europe).  

 They were impressive. 

We started to hike to the base of one, but came across a man who had just slipped and fallen to his death.  They were still trying to preform CPR when we arrived.

It was quite traumatic for everyone there.  In a somber mood, we slowly turned back and carefully made our way to the car. A reminder of how fragile life can be. 

On a different day, we traveled to a lake full of icebergs, calved from a glacier nearby. 

We brought our Brazilian au pair Amanda, who is living with us while studying English. She was a great sport in the cold, crowded camper!

On either side of the lake were endless barren moraines. 

To make the site even more intriguing, the lake ran right into the ocean.  This meant that smaller bits of ice littered the shore. 

Battered by the relentless waves. 

The ice chunks were really striking, contrasting with the pure black sand surrounding them. 

In some areas the sand stretched as far as the eye could see.  

Of course in other areas, further removed from Iceland's volcanic past, the country was as green as Ireland.  

In fact, because of the lack of trees, they used to build their houses and churches with grass and turf. This is one of only six remaining turf roof churches in the country.

 In other areas, delicate Autumn tundra,  bursting with color, covered the ground.  

 However, it seemed that just below the shallow layer of topsoil, there were rocks. Lots and lots of rocks.

 This being Iceland, you might also find hot scalding water under your feet. This land is truly alive.

 Geysers, bubbling, spurting, and exploding help provide Iceland with a cheap and green source of energy. 

They also make for fun pictures. Unlike Old Faithful, these ones are not regular.  So everyone sits around waiting, camera's in hand!

On the second to last day we traveled to Thingvellir. This is an important political landmark (the original settlers held their first 'Parliment' here, between 930 -1798 AD) but more important to us, it is an fault and fissure zone. 

This is part of the great Mid-Atlantic range, slowing pulling apart.  This is where the American tectonic plate is slowly drifting away from the Eurasian tectonic plate.

The land is literally spreading apart and growing below you. What an amazing place to study plate tectonics!  We are just glad no one fell into the abyss.  I understand this is the land of trolls!  Who knows what is lurking down there.

And with that, we piled up in the camper van, placing wet socks and shoes under a heater vent, and made our way back to civilization.