Welcome to Iceland--say cheese!

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Climbing the glacial tongue

July 4th, 2007. On Solheimajokull, a glacial tongue of the "mother" glacier, Myrdulsjokull (jokull = glacier). We strapped on crampons! And learned how to walk on a glacier, avoiding crevasses. The black stuff you see is volcanic ash. Jeff and Donna pose under an ice arch, in a photo that looks oddly photo-shopped for some reason.

Aw...

...ain't they cute?

Also July 4th, on the way back from the glacier walk, at Seljalandsfoss (foss = waterfall).

Where the old Things were

July 5th. We picked up our mighty Toyota Avensis wagon and headed out on the ringroad. First stop: Thingvellir, where the Althings were held--the parliamentary meetings, starting in 930 AD.
The valley is subsiding because it's where North American and European tectonic plates are moving apart. Hence these big rifts. The chieftans set up camp sites up here for the Althing, for two weeks each summer.

Geysir (the original)

July 5th. Onward we went to the eponymous Geysir, except the actual Geysir is pretty much asleep now, and Strokkur, his younger brother, spouts off every five minutes instead.
The whole area is covered with steaming sink-holes and hot springs. What a pong!

Tourists harrassing the locals

Half of the Icelanders believe in the "hidden people," including elves, trolls, and fairies. These are represented heavily in all sorts of art, especially big lawn ornaments.

Gullfoss--the Golden Falls

Gullfoss is often considered the most beautiful falls in Iceland because of the dual folding formation. There is a monument to Sigridur Tomasdottir, who prevented the falls from being "developed" for hydropower.

Skalholt

The Bishopric at Skalholt used to be the center of Catholicism, but then the Lutherans took over. There has been a church here since 1056, though this building is modern.
When we visited the cathedral in Akureyri (see below), we saw this stained-glass window picture of Skalholt.

Horsies!!

July 6th. We started our day on horseback. Our German guide Berit led us up a hill for a fantastic view. No one could tell Eric what his horse's name was, so he named it Brego. Vivian rode Gola (light wind). Donna rode Grela, nicknamed "Glacier." Jeff rode Ym.
Icelandic horses are sturdy, even-tempered, and cute.

Homage to Johann Sigurjonsson

Our (V&E) first hotel room was decorated with photos and poetry by Johann Sigurjonsson, 1880-1919. He was photographed with his wife in this striking pose, so everywhere we went we too struck the pose.
His famous quote, from a play, "Distance makes the mountains look blue and men great."

Skogafoss

July 6th. We hiked above Skogarfoss and up to the ridge, photographing all the way.
There was also an interesting folk museum there. We saw evidence of Icelandic ingenuity, such as skates of bone, horsehair rope, spoons of cowhorn, a cow's bladder barometer, cod-fish slippers, and a ram's condom. The museum's founder and curator, Thordur Tomasson, herded us into the church on the property, sat down at the organ and led us in a rousing version of Battle Hymn of the Republic. He thought Jeff was Italian.