Reykjavik is a genuine city.
Unfortunately we only had one day here.
Our excursion was well-chosen.
So many had signed up for the Blue Lagoon excursion so early that it was booked before the cruise began. After we got on the ship we learned the hot water doesn’t come directly out of the ground into the lagoon but runs through the geothermal plant before being dumped into the lagoon. Then they mentioned repeatedly that one had to get fully naked and shower before getting in the lagoon. On top of that it was cold again today. Bottom line: people lined up to drop out of the Blue Lagoon excursion today.
We had previously opted for the excursion to Iceland’s lava fields and the Viking museum. We drove through areas where as far as one could see there were rocky fields of lava covered in a grayish-green moss. We stopped at a scenic overlook near a lake surrounded by black mountains that had been created by volcanoes. The wind was gusting at 50 miles per hour and blowing black sand, and we had to fight our way back to the coach, but we were laughing the whole way.
We also stopped at a “hot area” where pools of water infused with sulphur is bubbling up out of the earth. It was easily the worst thing I have ever smelled in my life. It was absolutely stankodelic, like rotten eggs on steroids. The name of the place was Krysuvik. I suggested to The Wife the Vikings had named the place, and that the name, loosely translated meant “place of Thor’s flatulence.” I thought it was funny. The Wife asked if I was still in the seventh grade.
Our last stop was at the Viking museum. By this time, I think I had heard all there was to say about the Vikings. However, this museum was unique in that it contained a modern replica of the Viking long ship experts believe Leif Erikson sailed to America. We were able to actually get into the boat and look out the huge glass window at the front of the museum at the ocean and wonder what it must have been like to set out in such a craft 1,000 years ago without GPS or other modern forms of navigation.
After the museum we headed back to the ship but on the way passed by some prominent landmarks, including the place where Reagan and Gorbachev met in 1986 to discuss nuclear disarmament.
Then it was time to finish packing and head to the airport. It was a good final day in Iceland. GS