We spent today exploring the western region of Iceland, experiencing the natural beauty of Thingvellir National Park! Our day started with a 1-hour drive north to the Hakid Viewpoint and Visitor Centre in Thingvellir, which sits on the tectonic plates. It also features views of the Almannagja Gorge and Thingvallavatn Lake, which came into view as the sun rose at 10:50 am.
We then went to the Laugarvatn Fontana Geothermal Baths, which has a Geothermal Bakery tour, where they actually cook bread by burying it in the ground! The use of the hot springs, which contain boiling water, to cook a pot of rye bread ingredients that cook while buried for 24 hours. While we were there, our group dug up yesterday’s pot, planted today’s pot (which will be enjoyed by folks tomorrow), then cooled it with water from Laugarvatn Lake, which made delicious rye bread that we ate with butter and smoked fish. It was delicious!
After our fill of bread, we went to a local dairy for some tasty ice cream, which had a dining room lined with windows where the cows and humans could watch each other eat.
With full bellies, we ventured out to visit two of Iceland’s most amazing waterfalls. First up was Brúarfoss, an incredibly picturesque collection of waterfalls that converge into vibrant blue water before flowing down the stream. The trail to the observation deck was extremely slippery that day, with many people falling. There was a gentleman who was kind enough to offer his hand and support me (and my camera) as I took those crucial last steps before reaching the platform. His act of kindness touched me. It was such a blessing to capture these photos. I got to play with a long exposure, which made some of these photos look like a painting.
Our next breathtaking sight was Gullfoss Falls, one of Iceland’s iconic features. The hike here was much easier and offered multiple viewing options. The cold winter wind was gusty, and I often had to secure my hat before taking more pictures.
Our day of sightseeing was capped off by a delicious dinner at Vínstofa Friðheima Bistro, which was in a building that resembled a greenhouse. At the large family table, Shannon and I enjoyed a cheese plate, tomato bisque, and a lamb salad. Everything was incredibly delicious and made for a memorable evening.
After an extremely long day, I tried to take some photos of the Northern Lights. Throughout our trip, we’ve had significant cloud cover, making it difficult to view the lights. We’re hopeful that the next two nights will bring a reprieve from cloud cover, but I got a quick glimpse of the lights this evening.
