Thursday, September 13, 2018

Iceland - Otherwordly Fire and Ice Journey



Iceland the mythical country, thats what sums it up for me. From having the moss lined lava fields and the rocks that look otherworldly, straight out of middle earth or a post apocalyptic era depending on your state of mind, to having everything  else in between. The everything else I allude to is volcanoes and the remnants of their calderas and craters similar to Big Island, Hawaii, the accompaning black sand beaches and lava formations. We then have gorgeous waterfalls of all shapes and volumes, to the Niagaraesque Gulfoss, the textbook definition of a waterfall Skogafoss, the waterfall you need to experience SjelandsFoss, the picture perfect Kirkjufellsfoss, the hikable Svartifoss and the waterfall that falls into the cave which is absolutely mind boggling Gljúfrabúu. These and many myriad other waterfalls was something that stood out for me, like Doubtful Sound echoes all over the country. There are huge icefields and glaciers aka Jasper lining the road and the inclement rain and weather which makes everything green and gloomy at the same time. Finally there is the Yellowstonesque geysers and geothermal activity to top it off. One country so many different facets from ocean to mountain to glaciers all within the hour.

Getting back to writing a short blog about the Iceland and deviating from my normal journal modus operandi, I have noticed that as I have gotten older, there is way too less time to write detailed journals so I am trying this compromise since I have missed writing for a while now. Loved the trip the connection made with the kids who I was initially pissed off with, took me a while to get used to the whining and the constant maintenence required, but if you pick and choose your moments you learn to enjoy them for yourself and also with them. What else can I say about Iceland, beautiful, mythical, otherworldy and so distinct in terms what you experience. The walk into the glacier, the amazingly beautiful Jokulsarion glacier fed iceberg carved lake, each and every waterfall that lefy indelible memories hopefully enshrined even more by writing about them.

The active volcanoes that are everywhere in Iceland waiting to unleash are another sobering reality of the country's past present and future. The FJAÐRÁRGLJÚFUR canyons that are as beautiful as anything I have laid my eyes on. You literally have to take it in to understand that soon these moments will be gone and you will back staring at the computer screen that is the reason for all this being possible.

And to sum it up, it was a wonderful trip with a lot of eye opening instances, a lot of soaking in the beauty and great family bonding. Mythical Iceland!!!

Some pics/videos below:


The contintenal divide between the Eurasian and the North American Plates, pretty surreal being here.




Geothermal activity, beautiful mountains
My precious!!



My precious too!!

Blue Lagoon, relaxed after spending an afternoon in this man made wonder.



Svartifoss

Jokulsarion



Skogafoss



The crater

Whispering sweet nothings!!

What can I say, beautiful!!


Öxarárfoss

Icelandic horses

The awing voluminous Gulfoss 



Inside a glacier who would have thunk it??

Kirkjufellsfoss

Those model horses, as my sis said, Giselle Bundchens of horses!!


Unadulterated landscape