Elizabeth Glover
Absolutely fantastic! Our guide/driver, Thor, was super knowledgeable and obviously very proud to be an Icelander. He pointed out interesting things along the way, and talked about Iceland culture and gave some history and introduction to the places we were going to. At Thingvellir the bus drops you off at the main parking lot and then picks you up at the one at the other end of the walk; this is fantastic and saves a long walk uphill. Geysir is a fairly comfortable walk, though of course use care if you're there when it snows! We saw Strokkur give a double burst, erupting once and then three seconds later erupting again. Very dramatic! Gulfoss is more physically challenging, with a lot of stairs. The steps are spaced nicely, so even my out-of-shape, ouchy-knees self could make it. 100% worth the effort. It's such a dramatic falls. Late lunch at Fridheimar tomato farm was delicious! I have never had such sweet cherry tomatoes, and that's including super-sweet varieties I grow myself! Keri∂ crater is more than just a hole in the ground. It's well worth reading the informational display, that explains the geology that created it. I didn't have the legs left to walk around it, but several people on our tour did. We were very lucky in how the rain/snow would pause just as we got to each place. I wonder if Thor just had a good feel for the weather and timed it right or what. The trip back to Reykjavik at the end was a bit harrowing, with white-out conditions at one point, but Thor is a skilled Iceland driver, and he got us through just fine. The other people on the tour were all convivial—sourpusses don't visit Iceland (or at least they shouldn't). This is a country where you have to roll with the situation as it develops, and we were all flexible and put our trust in Thor to keep us safe. As he did!
