Golden Circle 24 Sept 2024

Community Highlights Europe Golden Circle 24 Sept 2024

Feeling more rested today and fortified with a good breakfast of fresh bread cheese tomatoes coffee applesin juice and grape yogurt drink - filled my water bottle with good Iceland water now off on our excursion!
Very satisfied with Andrea Guesthouse and dined with a pleasant cameraman from Switzerland, here filming a documentary on a Swiss owned bed and breakfast.
Not windy yet or raining but chilly at 3 degrees. We walk to the BSI terminal to hook up with Reykjavik Excursions. It is an actual bus and we should have had the front seat but a rude little man came after we did and hustled right past us and grabbed the front seat where he took the outside seat, plopped his daypack on the window seat and mans planed until the last two passengers, an older couple, got on and since the bus was full he had to let one of them use the window seat. A more considerate individual might have moved over.
So that was a wee sour note to start off with but our driver and tour guide, Peter, was entertaining and informative so we thoroughly enjoyed our day.
Iceland had no human inhabitants until about the year 900. Norsemen came to the sub arctic island and settled.
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Yes some were Vikings but they were primarily farmers looking for land. Many brought wives from Ireland. There was only one land mammal on Iceland when the Vikings arrived. The arctic fox. Seals and whales were in the ocean.
There were no reptiles of any kind and very few insects. Mosquitoes are unknown to Iceland! Many birds spend time here including Ravens, pelicans and puffins. Puffins winter further north so there are none to be seen in September.
So now we have people, birds, and foxes living on the land where smoke is rising from the ground - Rek the Icelandic word for smoke is the first part of the main city's name. Reykjavik. Steamy Bay. Houses are heated by steam now and the hot water comes in hot already!
Volcanoes, icebergs, earthquakes, geothermal water.
A geologist's dream. The landscape is littered with rocks.
Well it didn't take long before more animals were introduced to Iceland, Sheep thrive here. There is a population of 400,000 people. In the spring including the lambs there are a million sheep. And 90,000 Icelandic horses.
These horses are the pride of Iceland. If a horse leaves Iceland it is not allowed back.
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Over 1000 years ago agriculture was the number one industry. In more recent history fishing took over. Today the biggest industry is tourism.
Besides livestock other creatures were brought into Iceland by accident. Mice, rats, rabbits, mink, are now inhabitants. In 1000 years 600 polar bears have floated in on icebergs from Greenland. They are shot, not shipped back. By the time a wayword polar bear arrives it is pretty hungry and people and livestock look good. Greenland doesn't want it back either. So typically they are shot. One floated in to a remote summer home area last week. An elderly woman living alone reported the unwanted visitor rummaging in her yard. The animal was put down.
Trolls are said to live in the mountains. They cause much mayhem and mischief. Earthquakes, volcanos and rockslides are their handiwork. The hidden people (elves) live everywhere and walk among us but are invisible. They can influence both good and bad luck. If you have an affair with one of the hidden people watch out. No good will come out of it even though they are much better looking than visible humans. Folklore is popular in Iceland passed down through the ages.
An average Icelander speaks the language of Vikings, old Norse. They can read the sagas from the thirteenth century. They still practise a mainly patronymic naming system. Their last name is their father's name plus son or daughter (Dottir). Occasionally and also acceptable they use their mothers name plus son or daughter. Their names are listed alphabetically by their first name. Even in the library. Foreign writers are listed alphabetically by surnames though
Today our first stop was Thingvellir National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home of the longest running Parliament in the world. The cradle of a nation that was formed in about the year 930 when a group of chieftains and freemen gathered to declare the common laws of the land. In those days if someone was banished for a crime they were to hightail it out of Iceland immediately (like within 48 hours). If that sorry criminal was not quick enough to leave it was the responsibility of an average Icelander to kill him. The death penalty meant men were usually beheaded and women were drowned. The Commonwealth lasted from 930 to 1262. Every year the Laws were recited from the Law Rock. This was a big gathering every summer with the vibe of a festival mixed with reunion and outdoor market. Over the centuries Iceland fell under Danish rule, was part of the Kalmar Union.
Iceland formally became an independent republic on June 17, 1944.
This is an auspicious location - where Europe and America meet. Today we crossed from North America to Europe. The continental divide. A seven kilometre rift valley separates the two plates.

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We now make our way to see a reliable geyser. It performs every three to eight minutes, although steam is rising continuously. Near by is the now dormant geyser with the name Geysir.
But here is the active one, Strokkur geysir:
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On to the Gullfoss waterfall:
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And now we wend our way back to Reykjavik through countryside that reminds me of another planet, or maybe a Shire. The native trees are stunted, hard to get lost in this forest of bushes:
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I wouldn't go tramping around there are so many ravines and cracks to fall into! Forget mountain climbing with so many active volcanoes and shuddering earthquakes that send rocks tumbling down mountains but hey - that's just me. At 75 it pays to be cautious! Lots of people hike and climb mountains here, big with locals and tourists alike.
There was more vegetation when the Norsemen arrived. But heavy sheep farming took its toll in some areas where the sheep grazed and ate the tender plants to the root exposing bare dirt which eroded, was blown away, leaving barren rock which now is being mitigated.
Our driver was humorous and told us old folk stories inbetween comments on the landscape
Very worthwhile.
We got back at 420, the wind has picked up We have been lucky with the weather so far, no rain!
For supper we had hotdogs - a concoction served here with beans and cheese piled into the bun along with the Weiner, and condiments like relish and mustard, served in a paper sleeve, all dressed.
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Interesting.
Because we are travelling with carry on only buying souvenirs is almost impossible. I did purchase chocolate covered licorice but we are it! Also have a chocolate bar with puffins on the label and a pig motif plastic bag from Bonus so hope I can hang on to these. Chances are slim for the chocolate bar

This featured blog entry was written by CherylGypsyRose from the blog Europe on a Budget 2024.
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By CherylGypsyRose

Posted Tue, Sep 24, 2024 | Iceland | Comments