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PHOTOS OF ICELAND: LAGOONS, LAVA, & LOTS MORE

7/2/2012

 
If a picture is worth a thousand words, I could write a novel of gargantuan proportions when it comes to Iceland.  Eat your heart out Tolstoy.

I was like a kid in a candy shop, each vista of this tiny Mid-Atlantic island floating just below the Arctic Circle better than the last digital morsel I'd savored seconds earlier via my Nikon.  Where else are the lagoons a mystic blue and the waterfalls a dime a dozen; where ancient lava fields are covered in rich green moss; where tiny red-roofed houses are set against majestic volcanic ridges?
And of course with 22 hours of daylight to work with every day of our 7-day Ringroad tour this past June, is it any wonder I walked away with my pockets loaded with 4000 plus digital images?  I'm not very good at packing light either.  I was virtually comatose by the end of each day from the visual overload.

Put on your best costume friends, or at least your favorite mask (mine is oatmeal), because it's gonna feel like Halloween when I get done treating you to my delectable digital delights from the land of fire and ice.  The rugged landscapes are the best rock candy known to man and environmentalists.  They make great eye candy too. 


1.  Iceland's Blue Lagoon was voted the best medical spa worldwide by "Conde Nast Traveller"
     and hubby Jim.

Picture
2.  This quaint New England town look alike is Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.  Sixty percent
     of the 320,000 people living in Iceland are residents of Reykjavik; 99% of the population of
     Iceland live in urban areas.

Picture
3.  The landscape of Krafla in the highland desert region of Iceland is both harsh and
     beautiful.  The terrain throughout Iceland is too rugged for railroads.
Picture
4.  The East Fjords, one of the oldest geological areas in Iceland are bounded by a magnificent
     mountain range that provides one of the most diverse collection of rocks and minerals in
     Iceland.  Two lane roads are the norm for most of Iceland, many of which are dirt roads.
Picture
5.  Runoff from nearby glaciers is the source for many of Iceland's mighty waterfalls, including
     Skogafoss in southern Iceland.  That's some shower head.
Picture
6.  Rustic churches punctuate the magnificent beauty of Iceland with an exclamation mark of
     simplicity. 
Picture
7.  Glaciers are the bread and butter of Iceland's beauty and splendor, including Vatnajokull
     Glacier in southeast Iceland.  Glaciers cover more land in Iceland than in all of Europe.
Picture
8.  An empty vastness surrounds the highland desert plateau Moorudalsoraefi.  
Picture
9.  Purebred seems the order of the day at this horse farm outside Skagafjordur. 
Picture
10.  It's a losing battle for ground as powerful forces beneath the surface of Iceland separate
       the American and Eurasian tectonic plates.  In the middle, no man's land.
Picture
11.  This crater in south Iceland, called Kerid, erupted somewhere between 5000-6000 years
       ago.  Talk about feeling as old as the hills; or craters, as the case may be.
Picture
12.  This chunk of ice is just one of many that are part of Jokulsarion Glacier Lagoon. The area
       is privately owned and has been the backdrop for numerous movies, including Tomb
       Raider, Batman Begins and two James Bond movies, A View to Kill and Die Another
       Day. 
Picture

A little trivia about Iceland for cocktail parties,  around the office cooler and for those awkward lulls in the conversation with in-laws and first dates.  Enjoy.

  1. We have our ghosts and a trendy fascination with vampires that covers everything from paranormal activity to blood thirsty animals.  Icelanders have their elves and trolls.  Some roads in Iceland have actually been diverted during construction to avoid disturbing areas where elves and trolls are believed to live.
  2. Gender equality in Iceland makes it the best place in the world for women to live; which is probably why the first female president in the world recently took office in Iceland.
  3. The literacy rate in Iceland is 99%.  They have more books per capital than any other country.  I just want to know who the slouch is.
  4. At birth, an Icelander automatically becomes a member of the Lutheran Church, the official church of Iceland.
  5. Life expectancy in Iceland is one of the highest in the world - 81.2 years for women and 76.4 years for men.  Look what braving the elements will do for overall health.
  6. According to an international study in 2006, Iceland is the 4th "Happiest Nation" in the world.
  7. Iceland has twice as many sheep as people.
  8. More Coco Cola per capita is consumed in Iceland than any other place in the world.  That's one concession that paid off big time!
  9. There are more internet connections in Iceland per capital than any other place in the world. 
  10. Because of Iceland's close proximity to the Arctic Circle, summer days and winter nights are almost 24 hours long.
  11. Names are listed in Iceland's phone book by first names only.  Most Icelanders do not have a family name.  Children have a given name, followed by their father's name and either the word son or daughter.  So my Icelandic name would be Sherry Albertsdottir.  My brother's Icelandic name would be Chris Albertsson.
  12. Iceland is one of only two places in the world (the other is in Africa) where you can stand on the American and Eurasian continents at the same time.



Tomorrow, the Blue Lagoon.
Vikki S.
7/2/2012 05:28:37 am

Love this new blog. The pictures are amazing. I am waiting for more adventures.

Sherry
7/2/2012 11:36:57 am

Appreciate your heartfelt support Vikki from the get go.

Jen
7/3/2012 01:06:46 pm

This is great mom! You have an ability to tell a great story and your photos have always been priceless :)

Sherry
7/4/2012 03:03:22 am

Your my inspiration dear.

M J
7/3/2012 01:29:55 pm

WOW or should I say POW for all those spectacular pictures!
Looks like you found something fun to keep you busy and keep all of your family and friends up to date as well as envious of your adventures. Congrats on your new blog!

Sherry
7/4/2012 03:04:22 am

Still sharing my work day with a good friend. Thanks for joining in MJ.

Ebony
7/3/2012 03:31:32 pm

I love the blog as well as the photos, they make me feel as if I'm right there with you.

I'm excited to see what's to come! Keep on traveling!

Sherry
7/4/2012 03:05:32 am

Thanks Ebony! Any friend of Jenny's is a friend of mine.

Iceland tours link
7/10/2012 08:36:47 pm

Incredibly awesome place nice pic. many thanks for sharing this wonderful place pictures. really great.

Sherry
7/11/2012 02:47:40 am

Sharing with friends is like going there again. Thanks for your sincere appreciation and compliments. Always appreciated.

Diane Petrik link
7/11/2012 03:21:08 pm

Absolutely love your blogs. Keep traveling and writing.

Sherry
7/11/2012 03:42:24 pm

Will do Diane, under one condition. You join me from time to time. Thanks for your heartfelt support.

Lil bro Chris
7/15/2012 09:28:44 am

Big Sis. Loved this tour of Iceland. It's on my bucket list. I love all the pictures and history. Jim's dip in the spa looks very enticing. This is a great idea for your blog. You love taking pictures and then you dazzle us with your narrative. Keep up the good work!

Sherry
7/17/2012 07:27:01 am

Think about joining us next time Chris. Would be awesome to share the experience with you.

Lil sis Lynda link
7/17/2012 06:13:45 am

What a treat to relive the grandeur and excitement of Iceland! I look forward to reading more of your travels! :-)

Sherry
7/17/2012 07:28:11 am

I look forward to making more of those trips with you and Rod. Always need material for my blog. Always enjoy your company.

Kathy (Cuz)
7/20/2012 08:18:47 am

Iceland consumes more Coca Cola than HOT Atlanta! Who knew!

Sherry
7/20/2012 09:08:59 am

Obviously Coca Cola must have won the concession for the entire island, because you rarely see both coke and pepsi available at the same ball field, theater, vending machine, etc. With the one option available, it makes sense the comsumption per person in a single country might be very high. I had no complaints.

Iceland tours link
7/31/2012 06:58:18 pm

Awesome place ..speech less

Sherry
8/4/2012 10:05:41 am

Ditto!


Comments are closed.

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