Day 2 - The Golden Circle

Last night after a night stroll, a beer at a local bar and some photos i headed to bed

Around 8 o'clock i had a wonderful coffee, called slowly brewed coffee. Basically the guy needed more than 5 minutes to brew it (and not because he was late). It was a filtered coffee but the water was poured over the grinded coffee beans slowly slowly. And it was a very tasteful coffee.

And this was the beginning of another wonderful magical day. Today i am able to say that i got to know the Earth. I saw her breathe and move. She showed me the power of water and how the scenery can change over and over again. Valleys, mountains, glaciers, lakes and much more.

But lets take everything from the beginning. After exiting Reykjavik, i followed Road 1 and then 36. A first stop to the magnificent Mosfell church. Today i wished that when i die, i would really like to be buried like these people here....Macabre yes, but again so nice.

A few kilometers before Pingvellir National Park i had this magnificent view.

I never got to know the reason why people build these piles but they looked amazing. Today i am not really sure if i can express myself. Its been over 3 hours since i left the area i am still so overwhelmed. Next stop the Pingvellir National Park. At Pingvellir you can see the house of the Prime Minister which is accessible by anyone (and not fenced as some others).

Also you can see the "Law Rock", the place where in the 10th Century, the first ever Icelanding parliament was set.

Most important for me is the ability to view the American and the Eurasian plates, tearing apart (divergent movement). The lake between the two mountains is the boundary

Breaks and faults on the American tectonic plate

To the right of the picture the Eurasian plate and to the left side the American tectonic plate

Also at the American plate's side movements still occur

 

Next stop the famous Geysir. As you probably know geysers are water springs with the characteristic of discharges of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by steam. You can consider that the Earth is breathing. And it sure has a bad breathe. Sulfur smell allover, basically smelling like eggs gone bad. Have a look at the video and enjoy 

 

A few kilometers further to the East someone can see the magnificent Gullfoss, the Golden water falls. They are so imposing and powerful. Again here is a video and some pictures. Before the waterfalls i was able to look at the far end the Langjokull glacier. 

There is no way i can describe these emotions, these images that have been reported, recorded and downloaded to my brain. But for sure each day seems to be more and more amazing.

Tonight i am heading down to a restaurant that is voted by trip advisor reviews as the best one in Reykjavik. I will let you know for sure!

Tomorrow i will leave Reykjavik and head to Akureyri. A long way with supposingly not so many things to enjoy...