Return

Yesterday I left Iceland, determined to return. There is so much left to see!  And to see once again. 

Reading some magazines I picked up about Iceland at the Reykjavik airport, I have turned down MANY pages. 

It's an expensive proposition to travel in Iceland. Most goods and services have to be brought to the country.  And much of the food as well. I'll be saving up!

Easy departure from Reykjavik. 

Only 3 of us in First Class. Odd. 

Amazing views over Greenland. 

And again over the landing approach at JFK. Boat contrails. 

Luxury at the Delta Sky Club at JFK. 

The seat on the flight to Atlanta could be made into a bed. The flight was continuing on to Brazil. Hmmm. 

Atlanta greeted us with a humid  84 degrees. Yikes!

A night's stay in Atlanta and just now my traveling friend has gone through security  headed for her home. 

As I await my personal pick-up to take me home, I'm back at the beginning of this blog. Fortunate. I am so very fortunate that I have the means and good health to travel to far off locales. 

And upon return, to begin to dream, then plan, then prepare for my next travel adventure. 

Traveling mercies. 

Day 10 on Iceland

Today is the last full day of the Iceland trek. There's still so much more to see and do. And to experience. 

It rained most of the day, but that did little to slow us down. We still saw waterfalls, and got wet doing so. 

We found cozy places to get cuppas and vegetable soup. We found beautiful items crafted by local artisans. 

Now tucked into a hotel close to the airport, we are mostly packed up for tomorrow's flights home. 

It's hard to leave this place where I have been gobsmacked over and over and over again!

Plans to return are in the works. Traveling mercies. 

Day 9 continued

After Black Beach we drove over to  Dyrhólaey to wait for the puffins to return from a day at sea. 

Awesome setting. 

It was really cold! After 6 or so puffins showed up, we were forced to leave to warm up. 

The view outside the hotel room was a small rock wall with nesting gulls. Lots warmer to view them!

I have to describe dinner. 

Angelica soup, poured at the table. 

Sun-dried tomato bread with butter and salmon mousse for spreading. 

Salmon with fresh horseradish mashed potatoes and spinach. 

Shrimp cocktail with olive proespuma. 

Dessert. 

Only possible to consume it all because it was shared. And it was delicious!  

Day 9 on Iceland

Up early this day. Usual breakfast feast and we headed fown the road. Destination Vik. A cold and rainy day. Vistas clouded by clouds and mist.  

First stop was the glacier lagoon for cuppas and quick iceberg viewing. 

Not long after we arrived in Vik, the rain stopped and the sun appeared off and on. Time to check out Black Beach with its basalt columns and giant rock structures on the ocean's edge. 

More Vik adventures to come after I get on down the road.....

Day 8 on Iceland

Today we departed Seyðisfjörður, one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It was so hard to leave!

While having breakfast, we looked out the window and saw that the weekly ferry from Norway was arriving. Hurrying down to the dock we watched the ferry pull in and park. 

So now we're thinking maybe we should travel to Norway some day and ferry over to Seyðisfjörður. 

It was a beautiful drive up the road out of town

The return trip south was up and down and around a number of fjords. It turned out to be amazing. Views along the roads were spectacular, and walks through the tundra and across black sand beaches delightful. 

Waterfalls and sheep everywhere. 

We stopped for a picnic along the way. 

Walked a labyrinth we found in a small town. It can only be walked when there is no snow on the ground. 

We spent some time in Djúpivogur for shopping, cuppas, and a walk along a local art installation. 

"Eggin I Gleoivik" by Sigurour Guomundsson. 34 eggs, each one representing a local bird. The eggs are all similar in size except for the largest that belongs to the red-throated diver, the official bird of Djúpivogur.

Great salad - and view - for late dinner tonight at Foss Hotel. 

Day 7 on Iceland

This day brought sun, warmer temps, and a wonder-filled adventure. 

After another breakfast feast we set off. But first, provisions for a picnic and gas. And a car washing. The back roads we have traversed had turned our white Pulsar brown. I took advantage of a simple car wash operation behind the petrol station. A high-powered wanded brush did the job quickly.   I think there was no charge. 

We headed north, our destination was Borgafjörður eystri, the northernmost fjord on the east coast of Iceland, and home to a sizable puffin colony. Sunny skies and warmer temperatures made this the perfect day to go in search of puffins. 

It felt like we drove to the top of Iceland. 

We saw waterfalls and swans along the way. 

The road descended to the sea. 

A few kilometers down the road, we found puffins!

Stairs lead to a promontory for puffin viewing. 

A rare treat!

Speaking of treats, on our return drive we found a beautiful hotel located on a lake where we enjoyed an afternoon treat of ice cream and cappuccinos. 

Yum!