Reykjavik

Monday 30th June

Because I had booked a tour, I was up by 9am and ready on the dock at 10.45 to board the coach for an 11am departure. I was one of the last there and ended up in the back seat. Each time the bus accelerated, the engine had a high-pitched whine that was driving me mad, so after the first stop I moved to the front to the 'Reserved' seats that no one had taken, and from thence to the front seat next to Paul, the Cunard escort.

Our tour took us first to a geothermal energy plant. It was interesting seeing steam rising from the ground. 

From there we drove a short distance to a geothermal area where we could walk and look at hot streams. Unfortunately the hot springs are now just holes, as activity moved to a different location after the last earthquake.

 Our 'lunch' was at a cafe that specialises in cooking using geothermal energy. I tasted a range of breads and cakes and rhubarb jam, while chatting to another couple from America but originally from China.

Our next stop was Thingvellir National Park. It's spectacular! It is situated on a rift between two tectonic plates and widens by 2 cms per year. The land is filled in as quickly as it opens, so one does not see open gaps. One end had a high ridge and a stream but the rest was firm enough for a road to go over it. There were lakes and moss-covered rocks. We had 20 minutes so I set off up a track, following Paul. We took photos of each other at the best spot (just as the rain started so some photos were spoilt by water drops on the camera lens and had to be deleted).

Paul continued to a lookout in the distance, saying he'd run back down in time for the bus. I walked back slowly, taking photos of rocks.

Paul didn't return. Our guide was anxious, but was certain that he must have continued to the lookout to wait for us there as it was our next stop. I told her that I had not heard her say he could do that and I was sure he'd be coming down, but she decided to leave. She would not accept my offer to walk back up the path and direct Paul back to the lookout if he was on the way down. Unfortunately she didn't look closely at the coach to see that three other passengers were missing. Paul had met them on the track and had slowed down to walk back with them. They were within 200 metres of the coach when it drove off! 

Our coach went up to the lookout and of course Paul was not there. The guide walked down the path (having first given me her phone number for the bus driver to call her in 10 minutes) and found all four and brought them back. That probably delayed us by over half an hour. I wish I'd been more insistent about waiting for him or walking up the path after him.

Here's the view from the lookout.

Our final stop of the day was a lovely view of mountains, with pipelines carrying hot water to the cities to heat their houses. Unfortunately it was raining so I could not take a photo.

We finally got back to the ship at 5pm, just in time to get ready for dinner and an evening of dancing. 

We had a late departure from Reykjavik. About 9pm I suddenly remembered my plan to take photos of the port and rushed out to do so before we left. It was still light enough for photos to come up well. These Northern nights are amazing.