Iceland - ilivetotravel's travel log

Þingvellir: Where History and Nature Meet in Iceland!

Whale Watching in Iceland

Iceland’s South Shore: The Dyrhólaey Peninsula and Vik

Filed Under: Europe, Iceland, Travel Journal Tagged With: Akureyri, fjord, food, Iceland, Keflavik, northern town, photo, pylsur, Rekjavik, travel

Goðafoss: The Waterfalls of the Gods and Water Art

15 April 2015 by Raul 4 Comments

Goðafoss, (“Godafoss” for ease of my typing!), or “Waterfall of the Gods“, is one of the must-see waterfalls in Iceland. The Godafoss waterfalls are about 36 ft high (12 m) and are located at the Skjálfandafljót River. It is located somewhere between the northern towns of Akureyri and Husavik. More precisely, it is on the ring road going east from Akureryi, right after the road to Husavik branches off (route 85). The story goes that a key Icelandic chieftain in the year 1,000 AD was trying to decide whether Icelanders would adopt Christianity. After deciding in the affirmative, he returned home and threw his images of the pre-Christianity pagan gods into the waterfall and, hence, the name for the waterfalls.

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The waterfall from the highway

The water was gushing generously, as one would expect a proper waterfall would do. Perhaps this time in June was still a time of heavy melt?

Fast-flowing!

Yours truly

Looking from the waterfall back towards the road along one of the trails

Majestic!

The main part of the waterfall

Not only was the waterfall impressive but the flow over the one closest to me drew my eye as the following pictures attest… I need to figure out how to turn some of these into neat art pieces for my home!

Filed Under: Europe, Iceland, Travel Journal Tagged With: art, Canon EOS Rebel, flow, Godafoss, Iceland, Olympus, photo, travel, water, waterfall

Can’t Beat Whale Watching in Iceland!

7 April 2015 by Raul 2 Comments

A trip to Iceland without whale watching would just be missing something – it would just be wrong. Therefore, on my trip to there last summer, whale watching was part of the agenda though, initially, I was not sure it was my top priority (I was wrong!). As we were going to spend time up north (in Akureyri), we had easy access to a larger fishing town called Husavik, purportedly, one of the best places to whale watch in Europe.

We drive over there to catch a morning boat and spent a good three hours spotting minke and humpback whales. We did not see any blue whales. The morning started slow as we were crossing the bay but, once we were more in open sea (still not far from land as you can see in the pictures), that’s when the show began (and don’t miss the photos of the scenery at the end!).

It was fun to see the whales come up for air a few times and then go down for minutes before re-appearing elsewhere. As you can imagine, there is not just one boat out there so there is a little bit of watching what the other boats are doing as the boats give chase to the whales (or, rather, where they think the whales will re-surface). We had good luck (and/or a good crew) because we got close enough to these giants.

Here is a sequence of one of the whales:

And another sequence with the whale blowing through the hole:

Finally, on the sequences, one that shows how close the boats get to the whales (or, is it the whales to the boats??):

Of course, the magic is done mostly by the crew as this picture shows:

Iceland, sea, whale watching, Husavik, ship, boat, Canon EOS Rebel

The lookouts

Not only was the whale spotting and watching great fun but the scenery was breathtaking too.

A few tips

It may be cold/windy so go ready. Additionally, wearing something waterproof would be a good idea though we did not get wet. Some boats will give you a jacket (notice the pictures with people on a given boat wearing the same color!).
If things go well, you will be close enough to the whales with a regular camera but a moderate zoom can be helpful. The zoom built-in into regular cameras will do the trick.
Bring a snack if you think you will get hungry in the three hours. At the end of our tour, they passed hot chocolate around which was nice.
Don’t stress over getting a “great” spot on the boat. There should be plenty of good sight lines during the tour.
We did not experience any rough seas or anything that could really make us seasick – the waters were calm. However, there is no telling how the seas may vary due to weather or month so check ahead and go prepared if you tend to feel seasick.

So, pretty neat tour – I highly recommend it!!

——– More on Iceland ——–

Þingvellir: Where History and Nature Meet in Iceland!

Iceland’s South Shore: The Dyrhólaey Peninsula and Vik

Filed Under: Europe, Iceland Tagged With: blue whales, humpback, Husavik, Iceland, mink, photos, travel, whale watching

Iceland’s South Shore: The Dyrhólaey Peninsula and Vik

15 December 2014 by Raul 6 Comments

The south shore of Iceland is a popular route for visitors to the island. One can do a day trek from Reykjavik (though, arguably, a long day) to see the major sights along the ring road on the south (e.g., waterfalls, glaciers, black sandy beaches). The south shore deserves more than one write-up so I will separate into the waterfalls, the Myrdalsjökull glacier, and the Dyrhólaey peninsula – Vik area. Here, I want to share some of the views from the latter, the Dyrhólaey peninsula and Vik, just a short distance east of the peninsula, where our day trip ended before returning to Reykjavik.

Vik

I will start with Vik, since it is a small place to talk about. Vik means “bay” in Icelandic hence why many towns on the island end in “vik” (Reykjavik, Dalvik, Husavik). It is the southernmost town in Iceland. When I read about Vik, it is called a village – it has less than 300 so “village” seems appropriate. Be its size as it may, it is a scenic spot for sure, even if the time of day I visited was not the ideal light for great pictures (I wish I had been there at sunset though that was likely around midnight!). The basalt rock stacks or towers coming out from the ocean (go straight south and you will not hit land until Antarctica!) are quite impressive.

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Church in Vik

Vik, Iceland, village, scenic, landscape, photo, travel, Canon EOS Rebel

Beautiful fields of purple

These recall turf houses even if it is not turf on their roofs; note the layers of rock behind them!

Vik, Iceland, village, flowers, scenic, landscape, photo, travel, Canon EOS Rebel

Isn’t this an incredible sight??!! Basalt rock spires in the water.

The Dyhólaey nature reserve

Dyhólaey was declared a nature reserve in 1978. This covered not only the landscape but the incredible wildlife there, mostly birds I assume. We saw plenty of cliff birds perching right along the edge of the cliff and then flying off. The contrast of the white feathers and the black sands below was pretty neat to see. The black sands are definitely a reminder of the impact of volcanic activity in Iceland, especially in the south of the island.

Dyrholaey, peninsula, Atlantic Ocean, Iceland, south shore, cliff bird,travel, photo, Canon EOS Rebel

These birds are a sight to see as they fly to and from the cliffs.

There is a lighthouse at the top of the peninsula, one of two structures there (the other seems abandoned, maybe a former residence for the lighthouse keeper?). The lighthouse dates from 1910. I am not sure but I suspect no one lives in the property any more.

One can walk down to the beach right at the base of the peninsula where the black sands and smooth small rocks are right at your fingertips.

As you can see the views from the top of the cliff are spectacular and worth admiring – definitely worth the drive over.

Dyrholaey, peninsula, Atlantic Ocean, Iceland, south shore, black sand, basalt,beach,travel, photo, Canon EOS Rebel

Love this lonely stack of basalt

An arch that reminds me of the 12 Apostles in Australia

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Looking inland to the glaciers and volcanoes

I agree – the vista is worth soaking it!

——– More on Iceland ——–

Þingvellir: Where History and Nature Meet in Iceland!

Whale Watching

Filed Under: Europe, Iceland, Travel Journal Tagged With: Atlantic Ocean, basalt rock, black sand, Canon EOS Rebel, Dyrholaey, Iceland, lava, lava rocks, lighthouse, Olympus, Peninsula, photo, south shore, travel, Vik, volcanic

Hallgrímskirkja Church: The Young Icon of Reykjavik

4 December 2014 by Raul 1 Comment

Hallgrímskirkja Church in the heart of Reykjavik is a “young” building. It was completed in 1986 but took close to 40 years to erect. Its design, driving up in a pointed way to the sky with its tower, reflects on the landscape of the island country with its lava flows. The structure is not the tallest structure in Iceland but is the tallest church. Though young, it has become the icon of the city due to its highly visible profile and unique architecture.

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Approaching the church from the back, on a slightly gray day

Outside, you can admire the structure from up close which allows for any number of neat pictures from different perspectives. Outside you can also admire the statue to Leif Erikson, allegedly, the first European to reach North America (I mean, who knows if another Viking got there before him?!). Interestingly, the statue pre-dates the church as it was given by the U.S. to Iceland in 1930 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the establishment of Iceland’s Parliament at Þingvellir.

The statue of Leif Erikson in front of the facade of the church

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Close up of Mr. Erikson – and the clock tower

A visitor and Mr. Erikson meet – as seen from the clock tower

The inscription that describes the gift from the U.S. of the statue on 1930

A visitor takes advantage of the statue’s base for a shot of the church

We went inside and, as many Protestant churches, the interior was plain. I assume the more so to help the faithful focus on God. Being a tourist-visited site, of course, removes some of that aura but, at the time I visited, there was an organist playing (or maybe just practicing?) which drew attention to the pipe organ at the back of the church.

My favorite part is the observation deck at the top of the church tower. As usual, when it is available, I always go up to gain a birds-eye view of the places I visit. This deck did not disappoint as it helped frame the city of Reykjavik within its setting, hugged by mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. I leave you with some of the views I enjoyed from up high in Hallgrímskirkja!

Detail of the roof above the altar area

View of the neighborhood by the church

Looking towards the area where our apartment was

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The Pearl Observatory (and restaurant)

View a little further away from the church

Looking now further away from the city center

Looking further away in another direction

And now in another direction!

Filed Under: Europe, Iceland Tagged With: architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, church, design, Hallgrimskirkja, Iceland, Olympus, photo, Reykjavik, travel, views

A Stroll around Reykjavik

27 November 2014 by Raul 4 Comments

One of the pluses of going to Iceland, besides witnessing the magnificent statement nature makes there, is enjoying visiting somewhere that is manageable in size. One can cross the island in one day from coast to coast thanks for a great ring road that is in pretty good condition (especially, when one considers the climate). Another pleasant aspect of it being of manageable size is that its capital, Reykjavik, is quite approachable and easily explored on foot – perfect for a stroll to discover!

Pedestrian friendly areas

With a population of about 125,000, traffic in this city is not a problem; one can easily walk around, cross streets, etc.

Reykjavik, Iceland, architecture, travel, street, red, Samsung Galaxy

Walking around Reykjavik is delightful

Reykjavik, Iceland, architecture, travel, street, lone biker, Canon EOS Rebel

Plenty of road space for bicyclists

But Reykjavik has in its city center a nice pedestrian street, Laugavegur. Shops of every kind and a few eateries can be found in this street. We actually stayed right off it in an apartment we rented on Vatnsstigur – a perfect spot central to everything.

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Hallgrímskirkja Church as seen from Laugavegur street

Reykjavik, Iceland, street scene, travel, pedestrian street, Laugavegur, Canon EOS Rebel

Laugavegur is a fun street to walk about!

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Neat way to close up the street to cars!

Looking from one end of Laugavegur – it was a nice “warm” day!

The Old Harbor (which still functions as a harbor for fishermen, etc.) is a place with great seafood restaurants (also has a Viking museum and other places of interest). The one I went to was not fancy at all but it served OUTSTANDING fresh seafood.

Reykjavik, Iceland, Old Harbor, seafood, fishing, travel, photo, map, Olympus

The Old Harbor has been re-vitalized and it’s a great spot for dining.

Reykjavik, Iceland, Old Harbor, seafood, fishing, travel, photo, Olympus

One of the many restaurants in the Old Harbor

Interesting architecture

I found the town to be quite charming even if I cannot say its architecture is overwhelmingly incredible. The type and materials of construction, of course, are designed to deal with the climate the town experiences. But, some of the designs are pretty neat visually, to my untrained eye at least.

Reykjavik, Iceland, buildings, construction, color, architecture, travel, photo, Olympus

Corner door AND sharp color contrast – my kind of place!

Nice contrast between these two neighbors

Reykjavik, Iceland, buildings, construction, color, architecture, travel, photo, Canon EOS Rebel

A propos of it being a seaside city

Nice contrast between the exterior wall and the window frames

Simple is also OK

Typical corner door and “cut-out” above

The picket fence is a nice touch

My favorite corner door and “cut-out”

Don’t forget to look up!

Sharp color contrast

And food along the way

A stroll around Reykjavik is NOT complete without having an Icelandic hot dog.

Reykjavik, Iceland, hot dog, cart, travel, food, photo

One of the many hot dog carts around

There is more to see in Reykjavik, of course, like Hallgrímskirkja Church, museums, etc. But, start with a stroll like this and you will love this northern town too!

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Read and see more about my trip to Iceland:

Thingvellir (or “Þingvellir” in local alphabet) – where history and nature meet
A “post card” from northern Dalvik
The Blue Lagoon – where is Brooke Shields?
Our week-long itinerary

Filed Under: Europe, Iceland, Travel Journal Tagged With: architecture, buildings, church, construction, Iceland, Laugavegur, Old Harbor, pedestrian street, photo, Reykjavik, travel

Postcards from Iceland: Dalvík

14 September 2014 by Raul 1 Comment

Dalvík, in the north of Iceland right at around 12 o’clock, is a small town of about 1,400 inhabitants on the western side of the Eyjafjörður fjord. We drove through this fishing town on the way to our base in Akureyri as we rounded the peninsula where Dalvík sits on route 76 going east after visiting Hólar earlier that day. Route 76 is not part of the famous ring road. It is a very scenic road hugging the coastline and passing through a couple of charming small towns (Siglufjörður and Olafsfjörður) – a drive I would recommend.

We enjoyed some of the views around Dalvík and here I share some of my favorites. What do these images remind you of?

Dalvik, Dalvík, Iceland, fjord, Eyjafjordur, fishing town, mountains, boats, churches, Canon EOS Rebel, photo, travel

Incredible landscape around Dalvík and across Eyjafjordur.

Fishing and fish processing are the key industries in Dalvík

Dalvik, Dalvík, Iceland, fjord, Eyjafjordur, Dalvíkurkirkja, fishing town, mountains, boats, churches, Canon EOS Rebel, photo, travel

Beautiful church (Dalvíkurkirkja) that must almost get lost in winter with it being white!

What seemed to be the main church stands out well against the mountains around the town

——– More on Iceland ——–

Þingvellir: Where History and Nature Meet in Iceland!

Iceland’s South Shore: The Dyrhólaey Peninsula and Vik

Whale Watching

Filed Under: Europe, Iceland, Special Photos Tagged With: Canon EOS Rebel, church, Dalvík, fishing boat, Iceland, landscape, mountains, northern town, photo, scenery, travel

Þingvellir: Where History and Nature Meet in Iceland!

31 July 2014 by Raul 5 Comments

One of the key stops along the Golden Circle in Iceland (a nice day trip from Reykjavik) is Þingvellir (or “Thingvellir”, as the first letter is a “th”-ish sound), in the Þingvellir National Park. It is a site of great importance both because of historic and geological reasons. It was here than in the 10th century, Iceland’s parliament was set up less than 100 years after the island was populated by settlers from what is Norway today And it stayed there until the very end of the 18th century! Setting up this parliament was key in creating a unique Icelandic sense of nation.

The park is also the home of the largest lake in Iceland and it contains the crest of the rift valley in the mid-Atlantic. As you walk in down a paved path, a large cliff wall on your left frames the scene. It is an imposing wall!

As you walk down on it, you are shown to the spot where parliament was founded. It is barely noticeable except for the flag pole and the framing put in place on the actual site – oh, and all the tourists!

Þingvellir, Parliament, Iceland, Golden Circle, history, signficant, travel, photo, Samsung Galaxy

See the flagpole in the distance?

Standing on the spot gives one a great view down to the valley. But walk down to the water, perhaps the church and admire the cliff walls from below.

Þingvellir, Parliament, Iceland, Golden Circle, history, signficant, travel, photo, Canon EOS Rebel

Looking up to the site of the first parliament!

Þingvellir, Parliament, Iceland, Golden Circle, history, signficant, travel, photo, church

Church below the parliament site

But stop and admire the natural beauty of the site!

Þingvellir, Parliament, Iceland, Golden Circle, history, signficant, travel, photo, nature

Awesome land!

Beautiful!

Þingvellir, Parliament, Iceland, Golden Circle, history, signficant, travel, photo, nature, lava, rocks

The strata of lava point to the incredible geological uniqueness of Iceland

It was one of the first “sights” I visited in Iceland (after the Blue Lagoon) and it definitely help frame the country for me by marrying its history with its incredible landscapes!

——– More on Iceland ——–