Day 15 Saturday September 9th, Second Day Iceland

The Blue Lagoon

Swafar picked us up at the ship for our second day in beautiful Iceland. We have been blessed with really great weather considering it is a September Hurricane Weather Voyage. Our destination was the peninsula and the Blue Lagoon but our first stop was a common area used by fisherman to dry out the fish in open air (see picture below – brought back too many memories to start off with it). We didn’t stay long, thank god, because the smell was overpowering through closed windows and stayed with us for miles. However, the finished product is an excellent source of protein.

We passed a number of geothermal plants responsible for getting the warm water to the customers who use it to warm their homes.

While the western part of Iceland we saw yesterday was covered by waterfalls, this section of Iceland is mostly lava covered. . There are two types of lava fields: ououlava (pointy) and pahoehoe (smoother lava). I wouldn’t google those words because it is just what it sounds like and not necessarily what it is. Normally I would google them and figure it out, but Internet is just way too expensive to waste it on being right. There might be some volcanic activity in the southwestern corner.

I decided to enroll in the University of Iceland - no tuition is required although there is a 60,000 Kroner registration fee. A private college can be between 6 or 700,000 per semester. Every foreign college looks good to me.

Klamama (?) Lake was a sea of blue surrounded by black lava, crevices on the bottom opened making the lake 114 meter deep. It was here they filmed Noah. In other places the hills have different colors depending on the minerals: sulfur causing an orange or green tint, silica blue, and iron orange.

The end of the peninsula afforded spectacular views of the sea, the cliffs, Fire Island, a huge rock (I think called Man Rock?) the lighthouse and my favorite kind of bird…the kind that lets you hug him and doesn’t peck you to death.

At Krysuvik we saw more geysers. That isn’t a low lying cloud. That is sulfur mist from the geysers. Although I tried to remember breathing sulfur is good for you, it was still an obnoxious smell until we got used to it. Terry is taking an itouch picture; Swafar is standing on the fence looking at the lighthouse, the geysers and the rainbow that often accompanies the mist. I think this was one of the few times he got out of the car to accompany us to our lookout point. That has to be the reason I don’t have a really good picture of him. Most of his narrative was delivered from behind the wheel.

Swafar told us that in 1627 Algerian kidnapped people from Iceland and enslaved them. The wife of Pastor was captured for one and a half years. She was returned after being sold and was never the same. The ghost of a woman haunts the geysers.

Our final stop was at the Blue Lagoon. As you know, I’m not much for swimming, lounging around in swimming pools, or lounging around at all. We had bought the executive entrance/lounge for a 3 hour stay and I could hardly see myself immersed that long. I probably could have spent that long in the dressing room. Two candles, soft lighting, soft music, robes and slippers were provided. Showering is required and I was advised to coat my hair with conditioner before entering the pool. While it is supposed to do wonders for skin, it is not kind to hair. Downstairs in the lounge Omar showed me how to make coffee and there was fresh fruit and Icelandic pure water to drink. We entered the lagoon through the indoor pool. The bracelets we wore opened the doors to our rooms and the regular pool area.

It was wonderful. Although I occasionally wondered what was on the bottom of the pool, it was impossible to see be. The Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater unique active ingredients: minerals, silica, algae. The seawater originates 2000 m/6560 ft beneath the ground where it is heated by earth’s natural forces. The lava surrounding the lagoon was formed in 1226 and is called Evil lava because it is rough and difficult to cross due to its porous surface. The lava to a great extent is covered with a fragile most which should be handled with care.

Although looking at the plants it’s difficult to know that all the hot water is located under it, going to one of the many geysers in Iceland made it real.

Sadly we had to say goodbye to the Blue Lagoon and head back to the ship since all aboard was 4:30. Since we had not eaten lunch we went up to Sea View on the top of the ship and ended up eating way too much since dinner was like an hour away. Nonetheless we went to our standard seating and left early to attend the magic show. After the show Terry and I watched the 2nd part of Big Miracle in the cinema. Terry went gambling. I caught a tiny bit of the 2nd show and went back to the cinema for the first half. It’s convenient being in close proximity to such varied entertainment - something for everyone. Who said cruising was entertainment at it’s finest? I DID!

pictures above - My Kind of Bird, Pennisula

Vieiw of Sea at Pennisula

Swafar and Terry at Geyser

Fish Hangout

Geothermal Plant

The Pennisula

Lava Lake