Reykjawik
Reykjavik is beautiful city (pop. around 300,000) sitting on a harbor with a view across to gorgeous mountains. The city is small and walkable and has a lot of charm. We spent time on the walking path around the harbor, looked inside Harpa (the performing arts center) and exploring the shops on Laugavegur, the main shopping street. There is also the beautiful cathedral, Hallgrimskirkja on the top of the hill. You can ride the elevator to the top for a panorama of the city for $9USD.
We didn’t go to the Blue Lagoon (close to Reykjavik) because it is excessive expensive. Beside this you must book long time in advance. Instead we visited the Nature Geothermal bath in Myvatn which is as nice as the Blue Lagoon but half so expensive.
The Golden Circle
Thingvellir is the site where the Vikings installed the Parliament – out of doors! The site has a superb natural setting in an immense fissured rift valley caused by the meeting of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.
Geysir
This is the original hot water spout after which all other geysirs are named. It sits in a geothermal area, a valley of hot springs and mud pots. The Strokkur geysir shouts every five to ten minutes 15m to 30m high.
Gulfoss waterfall
If you view the falls from above it appears that the waterfall is actually going underground! It is a very interesting perspective making Gulfoss one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls.
Gullfoss plunges into a gorge of foaming water so there is no way you could possibly even view it from the bottom. There are multiple angles that you can view Gullfoss from above and each offers a stunning perspective of the powerful waterfall crashing into the river below.
Snaefellsness Peninsula
Walk Anarstapi to Hellnar
This easy hike takes you along the coast of the Snaefellsnes Peninsula over stunning cliffs and through rocky lava fields. The walk is easy with slight up and down as you go over cliffs and down through lava fields, but not difficult at all. The path will also takes you right by the stone bridge/Arnarstapi Arch. Waves spray through the rocky arches and the rocks are full of nesting birds.
On a stop on the Sneafellness Peninsula we have been attacked by very aggressive arctic terns. They nest on the earth and are during the months of June and July so aggresive that we even couldn’t get out of our car! The local administration even installed a warning plate on the road.
Stykkisholmur is a very attractive port town, a great village for a stroll. The other day we took from there the ferry to Brjanslaekur over the Breidafjordur Bay
