Iceland: Sue's Journal Part I

Krystina returned from England with our friend Sue who was bravely joining us for her first sailing trip on Snow Dragon. Though she has been on Snow Dragon previously, including joining us in Tromso, Norway in the middle of winter. She has always favored visiting us when we aren’t moving. This time she surprised us by accepting our invitation to come to Iceland and sail with us from Siglufjordur to Isafjordur. To give our blog readers a different perspective, Sue has kindly allowed us to post her travel journal.  

Sue Relaxing At Bill And Sarah's Hotel

8^th July

Krystina came at 8.15 for Gatwick. A long wait at the bagdropp and necessity to purchase wine meant a scoot to the gate. Over Scotland we entered cloud and I couldn’t see anything until we were practically on the runway at Keflavik. It was grey and cool after the heat of the U.K. We caught the airport bus and Frances met us at the bust station in Reykjavik. Whilst on the bus I sent an email using the bus wifi! We went with Bill and Sarah in their rental car to the apartment that we will be using for two nights. It belongs to Johanna, a friend of Frances and Krystina who they met on Flatey collecting eider down! After much trudging on tied legs we found one of the places recommended to Bill for supper. And had a lovely meal at The Sjavargrillid (Seafood Grill).

Cured salmon and smoked Artic char

Salad with beetroot & feta

Pasta with Langoustines and prawns in creamy tomato sauce (Yum)

Crème brûlée with ice cream and sorrel sorbet with fresh sorrel leaves.

We were returned home by Bill and Sarah. Bed at 11.35pm-exhausted. A wonderful night’s sleep, under a Manchester United duvet!

9^th July

Krystina brought me tea at 8am. I showered using geothermal heated water! Bill and Sarah collected us at 9.15 for an excursion. Clear blue skies. I’m pleased they wanted to “do” the Golden Circle. We started at the far end at the Gullfoss Waterfall-very impressive, plunging into its gorge. I was surprised by the number of wild flowers including some alpine meadows. The mosses and lichens covering the sides of the mountains provide an array of greens making a colorful backdrop. There were many tour buses, but it was warm and sunny enough to get away form the crowds and sit on the edge of the gorge in tee shirts, and eat our picnic. We found orchids and meadows full of color.

Gullfoss Waterfall And Sue Photographing Orchids  

We went on to Geysir (which gives its name to geysers) to watch the geyser, which spouted spectacularly every five minutes. There were snipe and whimbrel. We continued on to Thingvellir which is a very significant place. It is where the North American plate and the Eurasion plate meet along the fault line, which is pushing apart by 1.5cm each year. It also has historical Viking significance. It is where the chieftains were obliged to meet each year for the annual “Althing”. When Iceland became independent, it is where the declaration was read.

Finally we ended up at Slippbarinn, Bill and Sarah’s hotel, where we had dinner. Fish stew followed by a concoction of meringue, white chocolate ice cream, berries and caramel. Very good.

 At 9.30pm, after saying ‘Good-bye’ to Bill and Sarah, who had an early flight to Boston in the morning, we called at the new concert hall, ‘the glass box’ on the harbourside. We wandered inside one of the world’s most amazing modern buildings. What a wonderful construction!

Inside The Harpa

For more photos please click on Sue's Journal Part I Album