Review of Visits to Norway/Iceland/Greenland on Fall 2018 Cruise.

[GeorgeCharlie]

Then we were on to see the Kerid crater, which is one of the regular stops on the Golden Circle route. The crater is on private land and the land owners apparently charge an entry fee of 400 ISK. Must have been included in our overall tour fee, as we didn't have to pay anything extra.

 

Kerid crater is filled with blue-green water amid stark black and deep red slopes.

 

 

There is a path lining the rim for visitors to walk around and they just replaced the path leading down to the lake with a series of earth filled steps.

 

 

 

A short video clip taken at the bottom of the crater. You can see how clear the water is.

 

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by GeorgeCharlie

[Krazy Kruizers]

As usual -- great reports and picture and videos.

 

I can hardly keep up with everything.

[GeorgeCharlie]

Vatnsleysufoss, otherwise know as 'Faxi' or Faxafoss, was next on the itinerary. It is a small waterfall of only 7 metres (23 ft) in height, but what it lacks in stature, it makes up in astonishing width of 80 metres (260 ft). 

 

 

There is a restaurant and campground, plus upper and lower viewing areas.

 

The upper level viewing area has new viewing platforms and sidewalks being constructed.

 

 

Someone must have liked this rock - so instead of removing it, or building the platform over it - they built around it. Wonder how many people will trip over it?

 

 

The river is famous for its salmon and is a favorite fishing spot for the locals.

 

 

They have even built a fish ladder on the left side of the falls.

 

 

 

[GeorgeCharlie]

Strokkur is Iceland's most visited active geyser. One of the three major attractions on the Golden Circle sightseeing route, the other two major attractions are Gullfoss Waterfall and Thingvellir National Park.

 

Strokkur is found in the Geysir Geothermal Area, titled after the Great Geysir, which lent its name to all others across the world. Strokkur is the most active geyser on site; Geysir itself is in a period of infrequent activity. Strokkur erupts more regularly then Geysir ever did, blasting water to the heights of 15-20 metres ( 49-66 ft) every six to ten minutes, although it is known to reach up to 40 metres (130 ft).

 

 

 

The Geysir is rarely active these days, but when it does erupt, the water can shoot up as high as 70 metres (230 ft).

 

 

There were big groups standing around Strokkur waiting for it to erupt, but no one waiting for Geysir.

 

There are a number of walking paths throughout the area, going by the geysers and the many fumaroles emitting steam and gas.

 

 

 

Litli-Geysir (Little Geysir) has been hibernating for some time, seems the last time anyone wrote about it erupting was in 1871.

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by GeorgeCharlie

[GeorgeCharlie]

Seeing the Geysir is a major stop on the Golden Circle route, it has a signification tourist centre containing restaurants, cafes, shopping center, hotels, campgrounds, and even a golf course. 

 

 

When we were there the parking lots where full of large tourist busses, as it is where they normally stop for lunch. Fortunately, we had a much better place to go for lunch.

[GeorgeCharlie]

Some video clips from the geyser area.

 

People standing around waiting for Strokkur to erupt, fortunately the wait is normally less then 10 minutes.

 

 

But when it blows - you better be ready, as it only last seconds.

 

 

Also walked past this rather poor example of a geyser. Maybe it will grow into something big someday!

 

 

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by GeorgeCharlie

[Krazy Kruizers]

You never disappoint with the wonderful reports, pictures and videos.

[puppycanducruise]

I'm really enjoying your review.

The pictures are wonderful.

Those cinnamon buns (and doughnuts?) and other treats  look great.  Can't blame you for getting one.

[cat shepard]

I want to be a geyser reminds me of Yellowstone’s paint pots a bit, but not as colorful.

 

Lynne’s pics, your review and coffee - what a super way to start my day.

 

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by cat shepard
Hit enter too soon.

[GeorgeCharlie]

I guess the farmers have a real issue with tourists stopping and feeding their horses. The problem is that the tourists will give the horses human food (like bread) which they cannot digest - as a result the horses can get very sick - to the point of where they have to be put down. So what some farmers are doing is they will set up a small pen just off the highway and keep a few horses in the pen. This allows tourists to see the horses close up, plus there is usually horse food pellets available for the tourists to feed the horses. The horses are rotated out on a regular basis.

 

 

The small white container in Lynne's left hand is what the food pellets come it. 

 

 

The pen had been set up beside the driveway into the farmer's house.

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by GeorgeCharlie

[Krazy Kruizers]

Love the horses.

[GeorgeCharlie]

The Gullfoss (Golden Falls) is one of Iceland's most iconic waterfalls. The plummets down 32 metres (105 ft) in two stages and the canyon falls reach up to 70 metres (230 ft) in height.

 

 

Being that it is one of the most viewed stops on the Golden Circle tour, it is well developed for tourists. It has many paths and viewing platforms so you can see the falls from a number of different views. It also has restaurant/café, toilets and souvenir shop.

 

 

 

 

 

[GeorgeCharlie]

There is a human interest story related to the falls.

 

The following is from the Guide to Iceland website.

In the early days of the last century, Gullfoss was at the centre of much controversy regarding foreign investors and their desire to profit off Iceland’s nature. In the year 1907, an English businessman, Howell, sought to utilise the waterfall’s energy and harboured ambitions to use its energy to fuel a hydroelectric plant.

At the time, Gullfoss was owned by a farmer named Tómas Tómasson. Tómas declined Howell’s offer to purchase the land, stating famously “I will not sell my friend!” He would, however, go on to lease Howell the land without the knowledge of a loophole that would allow him to proceed with his plans.

It was Tómas’ daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who would lead the charge to stop Howell’s ambitions. Having grown up on her father’s sheep farm where she helped pave the first road to Gullfoss, she sought to get the contract nullified, hurriedly saving her own money to hire a lawyer.

The ensuing legal battle was an uphill struggle; the case continued for years, forcing Sigríður to travel many times by foot to Reykjavík, a distance of over 100 kilometres (62 miles). Circumstances became so difficult that Sigríður threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if any construction began.

 

Her tenacity, however, resulted in success. In 1929, Howell’s withdrew from the lease, unable to keep up with the costs and difficulties of his plan. The waterfall fell back into the hands of the Icelandic people.

Today, Sigríður is recognised for her perseverance in protecting Gullfoss and is often hailed as Iceland’s first environmentalist. As such, she is one of the most famous figures in Iceland’s history. Her contribution is forever marked in stone; a plaque detailing her plight sits at the top of Gullfoss.

Interestingly, the lawyer who assisted Sigríður, Sveinn Björnsson, went on to go down in history too; he became the first president of Iceland in 1944.

[GeorgeCharlie]

Lunch was at the BarnLoft Restaurant. This restaurant is part of a hotel/restaurant/cow barn complex on a working farm and was an interesting place to have lunch - to say the least.

 

It is in a renovated barn, with ice cream shop and rooms on the first floor, and the restaurant on the second floor. You can look directly through windows into the dairy barn, which means you can watch cows eating hay, while you munch down a beef burger.

 

 

They produce their own dairy products (ice-cream, cheese, beef) and get their vegetables from surrounding farms. The food is Farm Fresh to the table.

 

The menu is written on a large chalk board above the bar.

 

 

 

The farm is run by four siblings and their families. They are the 7th generation living on the property, having lived in the area since around 1750. They are dairy farmers first and foremost, but since 2002 the business has developed with increased tourism in the area. The restaurant opened in 2013.

Edited November 14, 2018 by GeorgeCharlie

[GeorgeCharlie]

In the ice cream shop on the first floor there are also windows looking out into the barn.

 

 

 

 

Cow coming into the barn.

 

Hanging on the wall by the ice cream display.

 

The place also comes with the indispensable farm dog. 

 

 

 

[GeorgeCharlie]

Somewhat ironically, the final place we were to visit in Iceland, was also where Iceland as a democratic country got its start - the Thingvellir National Park. Thingvellir is one of Iceland's most important historical sites, fundamental to the history of Iceland and the Icelandic nation.

 

Thingvellir is historically connected with the Althing (Assembly), the national parliament, which was established at the site in 930 AD. Sessions were held at this location until 1798.

 

On site are the Thingvellir Church and the ruins of old stone shelters.

 

 

Although the park has significant historical and cultural value, it is likely better know to tourists for its geological significance. The park lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

 

It is here where people can easily walk down a rift between continents. 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking down the crest of the rift ridge towards Lake Thingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland. The lake is a popular fishing location, with artic char and brown trout. This lake is unique in the world in one respect - in that it supports four separate varieties of artic char. The brown trout in the lake, whose origin can be traced to Britain, has been one of the most talked freshwater fish in Iceland - primarily due to its large size.

 

 

[GeorgeCharlie]

It was in the souvenir shop at Thingvellir where I purchased a rather unique Icelandic trinket. It was a full-sized copy of the Eyrarland Statue. 

 

The Eyrarland statue is a bronze statue of a seated figure 6.7 cm (2.6 in) tall and is from about 1000 AD. It was unearthed in 1815 or 1816 on one of Eyrarland farms in the vicinity of Akureyri.

 

 

Copy of the information sheet in the store.

 

If the object is correctly identified as Thor, then he is holding his hammer Mjollnir, which is sculpted in the typical Icelandic cross-like shape. It has been suggested that the statue is related to a scene from the Poetic:Edda poem Thymskvida, where Thor recovers his hammer while seated by grasping with both hands, during a wedding ceremony.

[GeorgeCharlie]

Seems like HBO likes Iceland. The following is an excerpt from the Guide to Iceland website.

 

Another trait of Þingvellir that draws guests is its use as a shooting location in HBO’s Game of Thrones series. 

The aforementioned Almannagjá gorge is used to represent the Gates of the Moon, which lead towards the Eyrie, home of Lady Lysa. It is visited in Season One by Caitlyn Stark and her party (including an imprisoned Tyrion), and in Season Four by the Hound and Arya Stark. Buildings are edited on top and behind it, and the walls are lined with crossbowmen on the show; if you are a diehard fan, however, you should be able to recognise the location very quickly.

The surrounding area is also used as the site where the Hound fought Brienne of Tarth and was left for dead. The lake Þingvellirvatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake which sits to the south of the park, was used as the bay from which Arya leaves Westeros to head for Braavos. The special effects crew simply removed the mountains from the far side of the lake to make it appear like the water opened out into the ocean.

[Traveling Dot]

I was on this cruise too.  I am enjoying reliving through your eyes and words this wonderful adventure.  I was on most of the same tours but you saw and did some things that I did not.  I guess it depended on which bus you got on. 

[GeorgeCharlie]

After six days visiting Iceland, we were off to Greenland.

 

It was two days sailing time to our first port in Greenland.

 

On our second sea day we were to cruise the Prince Christian Sund - sailing east to west through the straits. 

 

The following is the Captain's comments on the possibilities of us sailing the Prince Christian Sund.

 

 

 

[GeorgeCharlie]

8 minutes ago, Traveling Dot said:

I was on this cruise too.  I am enjoying reliving through your eyes and words this wonderful adventure.  I was on most of the same tours but you saw and did some things that I did not.  I guess it depended on which bus you got on. 

 

Hi Dot,

 

Great to hear from you. Yes, although the overall tour itineraries were similar, it seems each guide had their own preferred adjustments - some good and some not so good.

 

Bill

[GeorgeCharlie]

As I mentioned before - this was an 'interesting' cruise - to say the least.

 

We have been on a few cruises, but this was the first time sailing the North Atlantic in hurricane force winds, heavy swells, icebergs, and then throw in poor visibility to kept the situation from becoming boring.

 

The Captain mentioned the wind speeds were up to 80 knots, which is just short of being Category 2 hurricane winds, that start at 83 knots (96 mph).

 

Here you can see what it looked like as we were passing an iceberg (one of many).

 

 

At breakfast that morning, due to the heavy seas, the staff had to quickly clear the settings off the tables which were not occupied and place them on the floor for safety. There was a lot of broken dishes on this cruise.

 

 

Our cabin attendant said he had eight cabins where the people never came out of their cabins.

[oceanmom]

Love revisiting the places we saw on the 2017 Viking Passages cruise. Thank you!!

[GeorgeCharlie]

2 hours ago, oceanmom said:

Love revisiting the places we saw on the 2017 Viking Passages cruise. Thank you!!

Hopefully you also had a great cruise.

[idiebabe]

18 hours ago, Traveling Dot said:

I was on this cruise too.  I am enjoying reliving through your eyes and words this wonderful adventure.  I was on most of the same tours but you saw and did some things that I did not.  I guess it depended on which bus you got on. 

 

So true, Dorothy!

 

We did the Tour on the 1st day in Reykjavik with GeoIceland.  As Bill noted it was very chaotic that day in the Parking Lot getting on a Minibus.  We boarded one of the brand new MiniBuses and it was having Speaker problems.  It took 15 minutes (after we were loaded up) to leave the Parking Lot because of the issue and the Guide and his Supervisor thought the Speaker System was working.  It wasn't!  We ended up at a Gas Station not far from the Port for about 45 minutes waiting for the Supervisor to meet us and it was then determined we would have to transfer to another bus.  So off we go to a Parking Lot at what seemed to be a "Rental" dealership.  We transferred to one of the older Minibuses and cheered because we now had a working Speaker System.  We lost well over an hour and GeoIceland said we wouldn't miss anything since the Ship was not leaving that night and not in a hurry to get back to the Ship.  After reading Bill's review we did miss a few stops.  At Faxifoss it was just a drive-by and not a stop so unable to get pics there.  We had lunch at the Geysir Center and not at the Restaurant where Bill's Group had lunch, etc.  

 

To end the day when it was time to leave Thingvellir National Park to head back to the Ship our Minibus (along with two others) was detained in the Parking Area for about 20 minutes by the Police.  They were checking the credentials and inspecting the Vehicle.  The Police Officer gave the Tour Guide a ticket but we weren't sure why and the Tour Guide didn't say.

 

We really enjoyed the Tour and our Tour Guide was very good but now feel we did miss out on a few things!