The Golden Circle

We flew from Akureyri to Rekjavik turning a 6 hour drive into a 40 minute flight. The beauty of the trip is that it was like flying 40 years ago. We didn't have to go through any security or baggage inspection, we just got on the plane. 

Thingvellir drowning spot

Then we started the Golden Circle. The first stop was the historic site of Thingvellir. This central location was the site of Iceland's original Parliament in 930. The 36 tribal leaders would create laws in a circle next to the river while the people could listen from the hill above the river. This is also where judgement would be made. If death was the sentence men would be beheaded, unmarried women who had babies would be drowned in the river. The people would also celebrate here in the shelter of the cliffs. The cliffs are formed by the mid Atlantic ridge.

We stopped at a greenhouse farm, which specializes in cut flowers. Why here? Because of 3 good neighbors: hot water to heat, cold water, and pumice from the nearby volcano, a light soil which is easy for the roots. The fertilizer is mixed in with the water and is fed to each plant by computer. Because of the high cost of electricity, they only sell cut flowers within Iceland, protected by a tariff against foreign competition. But the flowers are shipped direct and always are in water, so they last for several weeks.

Geysir area

Our next stop was Geysir. This was the original geyser from which all others are named. Discovered in 1274, it erupted until a recent earthquake about 25 years ago.  But the neighboring Strokkur geyser erupts every 10 minutes about 20 meters high.

Strokkur Geyser

The last stop was Gullfoss, the Golden Falls a tiered falls of 32 meters. It reminded us of a small Victoria Falls as it falls into a 70 meter canyon.

Gulfoss

We stayed at the Hotel Selfoss, which had a fabulous buffet dinner and the cheapest glasses of wine we've had on the trip. This rated as the best hotel on the trip in my book.