Iceland > The water shoots up 30 meters

At half past eight, we have breakfast in the nearby restaurant Potten en Pannen. It turns out that breakfast is included, though that wasn’t entirely clear to us beforehand. At nine o’clock, we depart for a full-day excursion in the surrounding area. Margo had mentioned that drizzle was expected, but it turns out to be steady rain instead. By bus, we leave Reykjavík heading east. Our first stop is at the Kerið Crater, which was formed during a volcanic eruption. The force of the eruption created a crater lake about 100 meters wide. In Hveragerði, we visit the remains of a house where, after an earthquake, a boiling hot spring appeared directly beneath it. The residents had to move out, and the house slowly sank into the pit. The village of Hveragerði lies directly on the fault line and experiences frequent earthquakes. The numerous hot springs in the area are used by locals to heat, among other things, the tomato greenhouses. We also visit a garden center in the village, where we stop for a drink. Because it’s raining quite heavily, wandering around the village doesn’t seem very appealing.

Iceland - The water column of the Strokkur geyser

Once back on the bus, the rain fortunately turns into drizzle. We make a brief stop at the Brúarfoss waterfall to take some photos. The river cascades down about ten meters across a broad ledge. Naturally, we climb down to the base and make our way up via the salmon ladder — a series of concrete basins that allow salmon to swim upstream past the waterfall. From the top, there’s a lovely view over the rushing water. We then drive on to the so-called “Golden Triangle” — the three must-see sights of Iceland: the Gullfoss waterfall, the Strokkur geyser, and the Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, also known as the Parliament Plains. Our first stop is the waterfall. On the way, we already pass the geyser area. The Gullfoss waterfall is the largest and most powerful in Iceland. A narrow, icy path leads down to the falls. The mist from the crashing water freezes on the path, forming patches of snow and ice that make walking quite slippery. Despite the tricky footing, the view is well worth the effort — the wintery scenery and the thunderous roar of the falls are truly spectacular. We have lunch at the nearby restaurant. In Iceland, it’s common to get a free refill, so when our soup bowls are empty, we cheerfully line up for a second round. The staff refill them without hesitation. After lunch, we drive a short distance back to the geysers. Unfortunately, it’s still raining. With umbrellas up, we walk to the old Geysir — the namesake of all geysers.

Iceland - The sacred site Thingvellir is one of the most fascinating places in Iceland

It used to erupt every half hour, shooting boiling water up to 60 meters high. However, due to years of people adding soap powder to trigger eruptions, the geyser has become dormant. The nearby Strokkur geyser now steals the show, erupting every five minutes with a jet of hot water about 30 meters into the air — an impressive sight. Around the geysers, numerous pools of boiling water and bubbling mud pits create an otherworldly scene, enhanced by the strong smell of sulfur rising from the steam vents. After about half an hour, we get back on the bus and continue to Thingvellir. Thingvellir, or “Parliament Plains,” is a rugged lava field located along the rift between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. In this desolate landscape, Icelandic chieftains first gathered in 930 AD to make laws and settle disputes — the birthplace of one of the world’s earliest parliaments. Fortunately, the weather improves a bit (just light drizzle now), allowing us to take an extended walk across the plains. It feels strange to think that the first democracy in the world began amid such a wild landscape of rocks, lakes, and fissures. The bus meets us again on the far side of the valley, and we head back toward Reykjavík. Around five o’clock, we re-enter the city, while Margo tells us the plan for tomorrow — our domestic flight to the north. At seven o’clock, we meet in the hotel lobby. We walk toward the city center via the main shopping street, Laugavegur. Along the way, we spot a cozy pizzeria and decide to have dinner there. Afterwards, we take some photos by Lake Tjörnin and enjoy a cup of coffee at a small café on our way back to the hotel.