While the visit to the Snaesfellsness Peninsula was short, it was time to drive south, eventually to Reykjavik for a proper visit (since our initial visit scheduled for the beginning of the trip turned into a visit to Detroit). But I had to see the town of Grindavik first which is located in the Reykjanes Peninsula where Keflavik Airport is located. This area is now considered highly active with earthquakes, volcanic fissure eruptions since 2023 with spouting lava occurring from January - November 2024. The town of Grindavik was partially impacted, closing entire neighborhoods permanently, and requiring the major highway to be rerouted due to lave crossing the roads. To protect the town and nearby Blue Lagoon and power plant, protective 20 - 80ft high earth barriers were constructed to hole back the lava. So I had to see it!
And, we had to give Reykjavik a final goodbye.
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| Reykjavik is colorful |
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| and artistic |
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| Hallgrimskirkja, Leif Erickson by US sculpture stirling calder |
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| Iceland supports those in need of recognition |
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| pride flags flew across all Iceland |
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| 60ft, stainless steel Sun Voyager-dreamboat and an ode to the sun, symbolizing hope, progress, freedom, and the promise of undiscovered territory. 1990 |
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| close view of Harpa Concert Hall |
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| Harpa-unique, light reflecting |
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| Turk would NOT enter the penis museum |
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| functional art everywhere |
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| move quickly!! |
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| stop your whole body, now! |
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| downtown Reykjavik-reminding of the culture |
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| influencers everywhere |
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| kung fu puffin? |
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| another gorgeous work |
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| What is cool american flavor? |
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| no live puffins seen on this trip |
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| an ad for something, love your fish? |
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| local menu at corner brewery near our hotel |
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| beer was GOOD |
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| 'art' in front of steak house.... |
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| Iceland drift wood comes from SIBERIA |
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| bus ride to Perlan Museum |
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| Ice Cave at Perlan |
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| ya, it was REALLY cold |
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| our ride into the volcano-Perlan |
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| our closeup volcano experience |
Iceland does a great job of helping people experience their volcanoes and glaciers without actual life endangering proximity. Tho that can happen too. At the Harpa, we experienced the Volcano Express ride that required us to be well buckled into our moving seats as we observed the 2010 eruption just outside the city. It was well documented so everything we saw was real, impressively so.
Then we did the Perlan immersive volano tour that took us deep into the core of the earth to see and understand the constant change of our planet and its eruptions to the earth's surface. One feels quite vulnerable after these experiences!
The town of Grindavik tangibly shows the impact of the ground opening up and spitting out magma.
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| fissures opened, spewing lava throughout town 2024 |
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| house cracks show impact of fissures/earthquakes |
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| homes now unlivable, areas fenced to close them off |
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| lava over the highway |
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| black is the protective lava wall |
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| several homes burned from lava |
For our last night of the trip, we got reservations for Skal, a Michelin awarded restaurant around the corner from our hotel. Each reservation is a strict 2 hours and the place runs like clockwork - personal and enjoyable - but clockwork. The chef's tasting menu was delicious, surprising and fun. An American couple just beginning their vacation sat next to us which made for a lively conversation.
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| our chefs |
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| scallop, basil, something, something |
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| peas, something crunchy, local...yum |
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| I love how whimsical Iceland is. This image, 7ft tall, greeted me at ladies restroom at the airport |
