| 
Me, at the check-in counter in Baltimore |
First signs of Reykjavik! Reykjavik was the first place in Iceland
to be intentionally settled. The first settler was Ingolfur Arnarson,
who named it Reykjavik, Smoky Bay, named after the steam rising from
the earth. |
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The Hallgrimskirkja, Reykjavik's most imposing structure, at the top
of
Skolavordustigur. The church was named in honor of Rev. Hallgrimur
Petursson, author of the hymnal 50 Passiusalmar (50 Passion Hymns).
Note the statue of Leif Eiriksson in front, presented to Iceland by the
USA in 1930. |
A view of the Reykjavik Harbour from the top of the Hallgrimskirkja
tower. |
Icelandic cafe latte |
| 
Kaffitar, one of the coffee shops in town |
Jerry and coffee |
Jerry and random tourist photo op, in the "Garden of Eden" a greenhouse
and tourist trap along our Golden Circle Tour. |
| 
Big Crater (sorry, I don't remember the name!) |
Jerry taking a picture of the Big Crater |
A view of Iceland |
| 
Me with the Big Crater |
A stained glass window in a church along our tour. Sorry, I also can't
remember the name of this church--I was a wee bit jet-lagged! |
Inside the church. The church of Iceland is Lutheran. |
| 
More church stained glass |
Gullfoss Falls. The river Hvita (White River) drops 32 meters in two
falls. |
Although the falls were beautiful, it was so cold and windy that we
could not stay outside very long to look at them! |
| 
Jerry and the falls |
Me and the falls, trying not to get blown away! |
Me, Jerry, the falls |
| 
Our tour bus |
Strokkur Geysir (The Butter Churn). |
Waiting for Strokkur Geysir. Nearby is Geysir, (pronounced GEEzer)
is what all the world's spouting hot springs were named after, but
it ceased errupting in the early 20th century after thousands of
tourists tried to set it off by pouring in rocks and dirt. It has
been known to spout up to 60 meters! |
| 
It was a bit windy, so hard to see the water among the steam.
|
Eruptions are caused when boiling water deep in the spring, trapped by
cooler water on the surface, explodes and spews out everything above it. |
As in Ireland, there seem to be many multi-colored buildings in Iceland.
Maybe to brighten it up a bit in the midst of some pretty dreary
winter weather? |
| 
The Atlantic Ocean, looking south.All day long it pretty much looked
like dusk, with the sun so low in the sky. |
A view of the Hotel Loftleider |
A view of downtown Reykjavik |