Alkureyri, opened out to the jewels of Iceland. Even the weather took pity on us. By mid-day the sun broke out as we visited the sulphur fields, but I’m ahead of myself.
Our morning started with the drive to Godafoss. The country side became more beautiful and peaceful the further from town. Godafoss is a majestic horse shoe shaped thundering waterfall, on par with the world’s best. We tourists were granted a whole forty minutes to see it. Should I return to Iceland it will be a land-based visit with time to drink in the beauty.
Over the course of the day, we circumnavigated the fourth largest lake in the country. I longed to get off the bus and simply meander along the shore watching water birds.
Namafjall, a sulfurous volcanic hot spot in a deep valley, actively vented steam and the associated stench of sulfur. Far better the activity had left the rocks painted in gorgeous color. Sandstone colors contrasted with blues edging the sulfur pits. Otherworldly like Death Valley or Devil’s Kitchen in Kenya. “Awesome” has been so used and abused that upon encountering the truly awesome, words are inadequate to the task. Embrace speechless; put the phone down. Live in the beauty.
Weird and twisted spires of volcanic rock, populated acres of the park best known for the Black Castle. That particular formation possessed a naturally circular opening not unlike a drawbridge. What we saw was a tantalizingly small part of the whole. When I saw the trail map it was hard to be well behaved, rather than allowing my feet to set out on an adventure.
Skutustadageiger, just pronounce it the way it’s spelled, is an area of geologically interesting craters formed not by the lava pushing up like most craters but rather by the collapse of ground that filled with water. The water dried leaving grassy bowls. Happiness would be simply sitting by the lake and contemplating the eons.
Previous posts of the Icelandic Saga:
https://www.clarenovak.com/location/isafjordour-rural-iceland/
https://www.clarenovak.com/location/reykjavik-a-year-in-the-arriving/
