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The Magic of Iceland - Aug 10-22, 2003

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Day 1-4 | Day 5-7 | Day 8-10 | Day 11-13 | Iceland Tour Route Map

Trip Itinerary:
Day 	Date	Hotel - Location			Sights/Comments				
8	17	Hótel Laugarhóll			Rock formations of Borgarvirki and Hvítserkur, Vatnsnes seal colonies,
							fjord Hrútafjörður, Hólmavík exhibition of sorcery
9	18	Hótel Laugarhóll			Strandir, Dalir, fjord-carved areas
10	19	Hótel Edda - Laugar í Sælingsdal	Planting trees at the Reykjanes peninsula, Klofningur-peninsula

Day 8 - Serene mountain lake reflection


Borgarvirki Fortress #1. It has been suggested that the people of the Huna District, who were under constant threat of attacks by the chieftains of Borgarfiord, used it for defence in the 13th century.


Borgarvirki Fortress #2. As related by our guide Hinrik, the inhabitants were under seige and almost out of food. In desparation, they decided just to throw the remainder of the supplies over the wall to deceive the seigers into believing that they had plenty, and could hold out indefinitely. Oddly, it worked (or so the saga goes..)


View Fortress #3


Iceland's only "dinosaur" Hvítserkur stands just off shore in Húnafjörður. Hvítserkur is in constant danger from the sea, and concrete has been used to strengthen the foundations against the pounding of the Atlantic Ocean.


Curious sheep next to "dinosaur"


Vatnsnes seal colonies


Vatnsnes seals basking in the sun


Vatnsnes #3 - I liked the rust colored moss...


Hólmavík exhibition of sorcery, I got 'selected' to assist. 'magic rock' inset


View from Hótel Laugarhóll. Swimming pool is a excellent large geothermal pool, with supposedly 'blessed' water. Side story that goes here was that I needed to do some 'sink' laundry (if you are wearing 2 pairs of socks a day, laundry is req'd...). The socks wouldn't dry, and I couldn't get the room heater to turn on. The manager came and took all my damp laundry, and said he would bring it back later. When I got back from my evening hike, his younger daughter was in my room sorting my laundry. Islandic hospitality!


Day 9 - Remote Strandir Fjord


Remote Strandir Fjord #2


I had to hike back down the road to get this one. Van stop was at next picture...


Remote Strandir Fjord #3


Harbor at Djúpavik. I think everybody on the trip liked the quiet town and quaint hotel where took a break at. In fact, several people opted to remain here while the rest took the loop trip up the fjord(s). They also had kayaks for rent here, but the guy who rents them (the hotel owner's son) was not there when we first got there. After the loop trip, the weather was windy, foggy, and looked like rain (it didn't), so I lost interest in taking a kayak sojourn


Stranded jellyfish at Djúpavik


Mandatory cow picture to entertain others...


"End of the road" beyond Gjögur. Abandoned herring factory area. Rained slightly at lunch


Had to climb inside the abondoned cistern/tank. Not sure of function.


Seems everyone who didn't climb into the tank felt obligated to send a picture of me climbing back out...


Tiny harbor town WC stop along Norðurfjörður


Evening hike from Hótel Laugarhóll


Evening hike from Hótel Laugarhóll #2


Day 10 - Stop at end of Hólmavík district to dispose of magic rocks (I didn't... see later)


Landmark for recalling planting trees at the Reykjanes peninsula. Hinrik 'promised' to update us on the growth progress when he plant more next year....


Planting trees at the Reykjanes peninsula. Vehicle lug wrench doubles as a tree hole digger


Planting trees at the Reykjanes peninsula #2


Planting trees at the Reykjanes peninsula #3. Larch and Sitka Spruce


Lunch at community center near Króksfjarðarnes(after bug vacuuming..) Hinrik displays his music talent


Long 'Bridge' panorama (actually a causeway...) across Gilsfjörður


Trek to monument at Krosshólar


View from monument at Krosshólar


View from hill above Hótel Edda - Laugar í Sælingsdal


Same View from hill above Hótel Edda - Laugar í Sælingsdal with 10x optical and 3x digital zoom


View from hill above Hótel Edda - Laugar í Sælingsdal #3. Moments later, I fell into a 'blueberry hole', with a slight ankle twist. Should have thrown away the 'magic rock' when I was told to do so...


Day 1-4 | Day 5-7 | Day 8-10 | Day 11-13

    Credits:
  1. U.O.N., Olympus C-740 UltraZoom Digital Photography by William F. Smith (3.2 MP, 2048x1536, 10X optical 38-380mm)

Last Update 10-Sep-03