More lava fields...

The building to the far right in the photo is the Cowshed Cafe. After driving through lava fields all morning in the mist and rain with temperatures hovering around 40, the blue skies above this farm that sits on a lake looked very, very appealing. It has a farm to table restaurant and features lamb (the menu says they have 140 sheep but I had lamb shank with rhubarb jam the way the Icelanders like it so I suppose they now only have 139). John had beef goulash from the beef they raise. And my salad had mozzarella they make at their dairy. You have a choice of a table looking into the barn where the dairy cows are (there's a window between) or a table overlooking the lake. Oh yes, the photo is the back road to the place. I was just about to open the gate so we could drive through.

Waddling out of lunch we drove the short distance to the hot baths for a little rejuvenation.

According to a Denver couple we met while soaking, Amazon is going to Denver. Did you read it here first?

This photo is for you Becky. Around the year 1,000, the designated lawmaker had to decide what religion Iceland was going to be. He meditated on it for a day and a night and then decided on Christianity. Gathering up the carvings of the pagan Norse gods, he threw them into these falls now known as Godafoss (translated as waterfall of the gods). One might think there would be a church nearby, but no. There's only a gas station. It does, however, have restrooms for which many a traveler, I'm sure, has been extremely thankful as restrooms are very few and mighty far between!

Over, around, through, up, & down...

That pretty much describes the roads we went on today. Only 11,000 people live in the villages and along the roads we travelled today. We started today in Hofn. That is pronounced "hup" while inhaling as though you were hiccuping quickly. The scenery is extraordinary, like driving through a photo essay National Geographic might have done, where each corner you turn is prettier than the last.

The road pictured above we just travelled from Hofn (you aren't still trying to pronounce that, are you?). Then we continued on around fjords, spotted sheep everywhere and flocks of wild swans, over mountain passes and under mountains via tunnels, up up up a switchbacked road on a mountain that thought it was an Alp, and down down down to Seydisfjordur described as the prettiest village in Eastern Iceland. To be honest, that wouldn't take much as the major architectural style seems to be silver metal with a few windows. This village is starting to jazz things up considerably by painting the metal on a lot of the buildings all sorts of lively colors. I suppose if I had to deal with winter in Iceland I wouldn't chose wood siding either. It just occurred to me, the siding is probably the reason for the big aluminum smelter we passed today.

The gallery above is one of my favorite paint jobs. (Leigh, I fully expect to come back to find you jazzing up the outside of your studio a bit and trying to convince Bruce to add some color to the driveway...). Should one feel faint at the thought of having to drive back over that mountain (you might appreciate this Judy) you can always catch the ferry to Denmark and fly home from there. 

Char (I agree with you Chris, I can't get enough of it) continues to be on every menu and John had sea wolf for lunch (tasted sort of like halibut). We tried to stop at a place known for its homemade turnip chips but they were closed for a wedding. And, Karol, I hate to tell you, but we passed on a chance to order haggis with sweet turnip mousse.

Argh!

Sorry, I just spent an hour putting together today's blog and the connection dumped it all. Sooo... Try number 2 - you're getting a shorter version...

Scenery like northern Utah & a lot of Idaho including Craters of the Moon. Idaho doesn't, however, have moss covered lava fields.

One lane bridges like New Zealand. Courtesy rules!

Glaciers, the world's largest sandur (took us close to an hour to drive across it!)

Sheep everywhere including in the road, always alive, never DOR.

Photos? Oh yes...

Vik, the southernmost point in Iceland. The rocks off the point are the Troll Rocks formed when the trolls stole a sailing ship but were caught in the sun which turned them and the ship to stone. The black sand beaches are beautiful and the seafood heavenly! Not much is spent on architects but would you if you lived under a volcano set to explode again? We moved right along...

Our last stop was to see the birthplace of Iceland's icebergs. When we stopped for the night we had the local beer that's made from those icebergs and flavored with local Arctic thyme. (As I enjoyed my beer, and, yes, it was good, I tried not to wonder how they got all that silt out of the thousand year old ice...)

Clear & Beautiful!

The photo shows tectonic plates where the laws of the country were once recited every year to the population (at least those who made it there... The land is really rugged!). If any laws were forgotten from the previous year, well, they obviously weren't needed any longer.

Gulifoss Falls, with the required rainbow. Those little tiny specks are people. We're here in the off season and there were still 11 tour buses in the lot when we arrived.

John sends this photo to Red's Body Shop. Imagine having to paint that thing?!

And, last but not least, a geyser. We happen to be staying overnight within walking distance of it. We were told the hot water is sometimes a little slow getting to the shower but not to worry, there's plenty of it.

Now if we can only stay awake long enough to see the Northern Lights which everyone says are going to be spectacular tonight....

Getting to know your airports...

Early to rise (not necessarily into the air) and we're off (thanks to Terry delivering us to the airport). My goal is to share 4 things a day. Of course Day 1 has been all about airports. You'll be pleased to know Syracuse's local brewery now offers breakfast (once you go thru security). My apologies for the large photos but I can't figure out how to get them smaller....

And then there was JFK... For a VERY VERY VERY long time. But it did bring back memories of traveling across country in Bridge's VW bus. So, Bridge, if you ever think of putting Tillie out to pasture you might consider... A bar!

Her cousin now residing at JFK was very popular!

Oh my, that's only two things. #3 Our first experience eating at the Shake Shack (hopefully the last). #4 The absolutely worst breakfast I've ever tried to eat on a plane. Remind me next time to pack some food. Nevertheless, we have arrived in fine shape and looking for a great time (and better food)!

Testing... Testing... Testing...

When one reaches a certain age, a fuzzy photo is much appreciated! The 3 "sirens" on our new musing rocks are Bonnie, yours truly, & Pat. They were here to, among other things, send John & me off to a little vacation in Iceland. And, because I haven't done the blog in so long I'm having to learn it all over again, today's post is a practice run. So stay tuned... One never knows what excitement awaits!

Home!

First, trivia from yesterday... The state is Iowa. Where was Judy when I took the photo? Any of those would be correct. It was all one big blur.

Travels today = Ohio (more corn)... Pennsylvania (the name is almost longer than the time you're in it)... And finally NY! Yes, there is a little corn but what you notice first coming from the west are the vineyards. Acres & acres currently being harvested. Finally we're home! There's nothing like a good vacation to make you young again! Over & out until next time...