The Daily for Wednesday May 19, 2021

[StLouisCruisers]

12 minutes ago, sailingdutchy said:

We were in Reykjavik , Iceland for a couple of days with the Eurodam in 2012 on the Voyage of the Vikings cruise .

 

Thank you all for posting a lot of very nice pictures which brought back some great memories . We had this extra day in Reykjavic because we had to skip our stop in the Shetland Islands due to a huge storm we had to go around that and because the days we were there were cold and rainy I went out by myself , did a lot of walking and exploring through Reykjavik went to the beautiful museum and had a real nice day , on the second day I joined a small group tour  that I had booked before we left to do the Golden Circle Tour  like I see many of you did . 

 

I will see if I can post some pictures without duplicating too many .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statue of Leif Erikson the Norwegian explorer who discovered Iceland on the square in front of the Hallsgrimskirkja Church 

 

 

 

View from the tower of the church 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The place where the famous chess match took place between Spassky and Fischer  ( World Championship during the Cold War ) 

 

 

 

In this Store / Restaurant there was a trench covered by glass to show the crack between the 2 Tectonic Plates that went right through this place .

 

 

 

A few of my waterfall  and nature pictures , I know this is a repeat .... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to get back on board we are leaving soon for Greenland ! 

 

 

I would love to see a lot more of Iceland and its beautiful untouched nature ………have to convince DW first ,😀. she loves places with palm trees and there are none on Iceland to be found …….

 

Tony 😀

 

 

Very good pictures of Iceland, and so many different pics from the rest of us.  Thank you for going to all the work to post them.  I hope you get back to Iceland sometime.

[ger_77]

7 minutes ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

😡Sorry for so many duplicates!

all my pictures were upside down!

Took me forever to get this done!

Don't apologize; I'm loving the photos, as I am pretty sure everyone else is as well.  BTW, could you have parked your yacht in a less conspicuous place?  LOL

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

Gerry

[arzz]

Our first couple of times in Iceland were in the mid to late seventies. At that time Iceland Air was the cheapest way into Europe, landing in Luxembourg after a stop in Reykjavik.  (Luxembourg is an incredible spot to taste Europe from and well located for Touring Europe).  Each time we scheduled a day or two stopover in Iceland. 
 

During our first visit (which was in June) we had sunshine that lasted through the midnight sun times, all night long. This is apparently such an unusual occasion that the locals were up all night partying in the streets. What a delight. 
 

We did an all day circle tour and were amazed at the depth and variety of scenery. We went through Glacier fields, geyser fields, flat green and rocky landscapes and then through lava fields that could have been on the moon. Each time the scenery changed the current scene became all the eye could see in any direction. Our driver/guide warned us that at the time it was not really safe for folks who did not know the area to drive as roads that were visible and dry in the mornings were often hidden and underwater by nightfall from the melting of the glaciers. 

 

Tourist facilities were few and far between. At Thingvellir the bus parked on the shoulder of the road and we walked in - no walkways, no tourist facilities - just a bus load of folks and a warning to watch where we stepped so that we would not be swallowed by geysers.  
 

However, we assumed that if you left a suitcase in the middle of the airport and returned a few days later it would probably still be there untouched - so safe was the atmosphere. 
 

Since there were no tourist stops on the circle tour lunch was provided at a boarding school cafeteria that was on our route. It was a simple lunch that I called the “white meal” as everything we were served was white (I recall plain boiled potatoes, lutefisk in white gravy and white bread.)

 

Iceland Air stopped flying from Chicago. We couldn’t wait to go back and we had several stops in Iceland during a Prinsendam cruise about a decade ago. How surprised we were to see the large parking lot, tourist shops, restaurant and huge crowds at Thingvellir (and elsewhere). We were no longer the only Iceland tourists in the world. 

Iceland is still remarkably beautiful and I can’t wait to someday go back. 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2021 by arzz

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good afternoon.  Just as I was finishing reading all the posts about noon here when CC stopped working.  Instead, I spent a few hours in the attic going through a boxes.  Saved some of the DDs’ things, but those that were toast were tossed.  
 

Most of the other boxes I tackled had stuff from DH’s working days.  So we spent time going through papers and old office equipment deciding what to keep, what goes to Goodwill and what to toss.  It was a start, but there are a lot more boxes.

 

The Boys and Girls Clubs help a lot of kids, but we don’t have one near us.  We like our family doctor here and the nurse practitioner in Quartzsite.  We haven’t had a vegetable garden since we moved from Pennsylvania in 1985, but younger DD has one.  In the southern part of Texas, they need to be  planted in late winter/early spring since by July it’s too hot for a garden.

 

@kazu  I think it is time to take us off the celebration list.  Canada geese aren’t the only attack geese.  We’ve had ordinary domestic white geese try to attack us.

@rafinmd Roy, congratulations on your great nephew’s graduation.

@StLouisCruisers  Hope your DS makes it to rehab this week and that her pain lessens soon.

 

Lenda

[cat shepard]

A multitude of thanks to all who shared pictures, info and memories of visits to Iceland. Though I won’t be cruising, I promise to attempt to repay the favor. I am now officially excited!

[AncientWanderer]

45 minutes ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

😡Sorry for so many duplicates!

all my pictures were upside down!

Took me forever to get this done!

 

GREAT photos!  It was overcast when we were down there in the early morning, so the photos I took were mostly lame.  But agree the San Diego port is looking AMAZING!  Really spiffy all over the general area.  So excited to get going again!

BTW...there were a lot of news people set up in the morning, so there will probably be some coverage in the newspaper and TV.  Everyone is SO ready!  😊

[DeeniEncinitas]

8 minutes ago, AncientWanderer said:

 

GREAT photos!  It was overcast when we were down there in the early morning, so the photos I took were mostly lame.  But agree the San Diego port is looking AMAZING!  Really spiffy all over the general area.  So excited to get going again!

BTW...there were a lot of news people set up in the morning, so there will probably be some coverage in the newspaper and TV.  Everyone is SO ready!  😊

🌺🌺🌺🌴🌴

Your so right! We got there around 11 and we saw crew people being escorted in groups going into the B Street Pier terminal.The Port Authorities said they were giving the vaccines in small groups. They were excited and said cruising is coming back.

Denise😊

[1ANGELCAT]

Good evening, I hope everyone had a great day.

 I’ve been to Reykjavik on a land trip and as a stopover enroute to Scotland. 
I remember being in the Blue Lagoon in a snowstorm and it was mid April. 
I also remember being the only people in the restaurant early in the evening and still waiting to be seated.

    Blessings and prayers to all on our lists.

 

[kb4683]

Good Evening.  Been a crazy day for me today -- had a cardiac loop monitor implanted this morning and spent most of the afternoon dozing.

 

Thank you to all who contribute.  Healing thoughts for those on the care list and congrats to those on the very long celebratory list.

 

We were in Reykjavik October 3, 2010, on Grand Princess (a TA from Southampton to Fort Lauderdale).  I didn't find any photos that haven't already been shared.

 

🍷As a side note, we visited Chateau Giscours (where our wine of the day is from) on November 23, 2012, when on our "Immersive Wine Cruise" on Celebrity Constellation.  Our port of call was an overnight at Le Verdon-Sur-Mer.🍷

 

 

 

[DeeniEncinitas]

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

I forgot one more picture!

I liked this one the best!

[daisybertie]

Good morning. Thanks for all the lovely pictures of Iceland. The nearest we have ever got to Iceland is by watching endless Scandi noir detective stories on Netflix! They are usually very gory, and it always seems to be snowing! 
Our soil is no good for growing vegetables, or much else for that matter. It’s mainly rock and clay, so most of my plants are in pots. Every year I say I am not going to try vegetables again but still do. It is a constant battle against the possums, and the snails. The only thing that has grown this year is parsley and basil in a wired off cage that DH constructed. I even failed at growing lettuces from seed! Best wishes to all.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

 

9 hours ago, GeorgeCharlie said:

Of course, the current tourist "hotspot" to visit in Iceland is the Fagradalsfjall volcano, which is about 40 km (25 miles) from Reykjavik.

 

Internet picture taken May 10th. showing the volcano in Rekjavik's skyline.

We drove by there in 2017, but all was quiet then.

8 hours ago, 57redbird said:

DH doesn't have a blood clot - YAY!!!  Slowly making progress with PT.  Thanks for all the good thoughts.

That is very good news.

8 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

In 2018 the Seabourn Quest sat in this same spot for several hours waiting for a break in the weather but it never came.  The winds kept us out of that harbor thanks to the tiny opening it was left with after the volcanic eruption.   I believe that was in 1973.  I really wanted to see that port and be on the lookout for puffins.  Here's what it looked like in August. 2018.

Maybe we’ll get there someday.

5 hours ago, mamaofami said:

Checking back in to say my second 15 year old got his shot today a d my oldest grandson living in LA is getting his first one this Friday My family is making progress.

Glad your Mohs surgery site is healing.  Soon you will be joining your family with a shot.. 

2 hours ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

🌺🌺🌺🌴🌴

Your so right! We got there around 11 and we saw crew people being escorted in groups going into the B Street Pier terminal.The Port Authorities said they were giving the vaccines in small groups. They were excited and said cruising is coming back.

Denise😊

Always good to know the crews are getting vaccinated.  Each shot brings us closer to being able to travel and to board a BHB.

Edited May 20, 2021 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[Cruising-along]

3 hours ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Canada geese aren’t the only attack geese.  We’ve had ordinary domestic white geese try to attack us.

Most definitely.  Our son was chased all over the park as a toddler -- to this day he hates all geese.

[erewhon]

Thanks for all the daily reports and photos.

We have not been to Iceland so appreciate seeing all the photos.

@57redbird thanks for telling us your  good news.

@DeeniEncinitasthanks for all the photos. 

We appreciate our General Practitoner (family doctor).

It's a pleasant sunny day here.

Take care everyone.

[TiogaCruiser]

4 hours ago, DeeniEncinitas said:

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺

I forgot one more picture!

I liked this one the best!

Did K-Dam salute Star of India?

[St. Louis Sal]

I always seem to miss checking in on the days of ports I’ve been to. Although I admit my visit to Reykjavik and Iceland was a land tour not a cruise. There have been so many beautiful pictures posted  that brought back many memories.

 

My husband went with our group to Black Beach without me and as he is not a photographer, I have no pictures. Instead I opted for a glacier climb. Because of the volcanic activity a lot of the glaciers were covered in a layer of volcanic ash. This was the most strenuous excursion I had ever taken. It started with a mile+ hike over a rock strewn beach, and then the climb up the glacier using my ice axe and crampons to anchor myself. I think our guide must have found this group of older Americans woefully inadequate to the climb. We were passed by a group of younger tourists, one of whom did the climb in a bright raincoat carrying her purse and a shopping bag 😳. The gentleman in the picture is using an axe to cut steps in the ice to make it easier to climb in that section. I will add a few more pictures in another post.

 

St Louis Sal

[St. Louis Sal]

On our tour in 2018 we stopped by the home of the President of Iceland. Our bus driver was disappointed he wasn’t home, as she said he would have come out to greet us if he’d been there.  And of course I couldn’t resist just one waterfall video.

 

St Louis Sal

Edited May 20, 2021 by St. Louis Sal

[Sharon in AZ]

4 hours ago, St. Louis Sal said:

We were passed by a group of younger tourists, one of whom did the climb in a bright raincoat carrying her purse and a shopping bag 😳. The gentleman in the picture is using an axe to cut steps in the ice to make it easier to climb in that section. I

Thank you for your pictures. You are much braver than me, that sounds like quite a hike!