Reykjavik, Iceland July 4 2015

Today we are arriving for the Disney Magic’s first visit to Reykjavik, Iceland.  We are not arriving until noon or so, so this morning at 11 a.m. we are celebrating the United States Independence with a celebration in the atrium.

I wander off around 10 a.m. to take some pictures outside and run by Cabana’s for my third breakfast this last month.  I am not one to get up in the morning and go right to breakfast.  Doesn’t work.  I have a cheese omelet.  It is yummy.  They were serving red, white and blue pancakes

We wander down to the atrium at 11 a.m. for the party.  It is a fun filled 4^th of July celebration with our Disney friends.  There is the National Anthem, dancing and lots of fun.  There are even pretzels and frozen ice sculptures.

 

We arrive at noon, the ship is to be cleared about 1:15 p.m.  For the first time since getting on the ship we will be disembarking from deck 3, however, we have been told, due to tides, we may come back and find we are embarking on deck 1.

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital and Iceland’s largest and most populated city.  It has dark winters and it is contrasted by the summer’s midnight. 

Today we are on an excursion with Ice Limo which has been booked privately with Ryan.  We are on an adults only van which seats 20 people.  We are doing the Golden Circle Tour.  We start at 1:15 p.m. and we are due to arrive back at the ship about 11 p.m. or so.

First we go to Gestastofa.  It is a national park and is notable for its unusual tectonic and volcanic environment in a rift valley.  The continental drift between the North American and Eurasian Plates  can be clearly seen in the cracks or faults which traverse the region, the largest one, Almannagjá, being a veritable canyon. This also causes the often measurable earthquakes in the area.

Next we headed to Geysir.  Geysir is a high temperature geothermal area with a base temperature of about 250 degrees Celsius.  There are actual geysers and pots here (think of Yellowstone-Old Faithful) except this geyser shoots off about everything 3-5 minutes.

I love these first two pictures showing the geyser on the verge of the eruption:

Then we head to Gullfoss Falls, also known as the Golden Falls.  Tourists have been visiting Gullfoss since 1875. 

Then a rainbow came out

Then we see some beautiful Icelandic Horses as we continue on our journey

Then there is nothing more patriotic then stopping for a quick bite at a restaurant and getting an Icelandic Hot Dog (which Scott highly recommended) for our 4th of July celebration!

 

Next we worked our ways towards the glacier topped volcano that erupted in April 10 2010 (also called E15 by the locals because the newscasters overseas could not pronounce the name) Eyjafjallajokull.  This farm stands at the base of the volcano.  The mountain (volcano) stands at 5,417 feet at its highest point.

Next we drive towards the glacier so we can get up close to see it.

It is getting quite cold Olaf and I need to stay bundled up

Now it is off to some waterfalls.  It is already after 9:30 at night

Then one last waterfall

Now we are headed back on the long drive towards Reykjavik.  It is after 11:15 at night.  Sun will set at midnight tonight.

We get back to the ship at midnight.  A very long day, but beautiful scenery in Iceland that is not to be missed.  We are back out at 8 a.m. in the morning, so it is off to bed.  Tomorrow we are visiting the Blue Lagoon.

That's it for now.  Goodnight from the Disney Magic!