Back to the USA

On our last day in Iceland (and in Europe), we spent the time before our afternoon departure exploring more of Reykjavik as well as the Reykjanes peninsula (where Keflavic is located). In the former we strolled through the marketplace near the old harbor before moving on to the Perlan (if you don't remember, this is the building constructed around the hot water storage tanks for the city). Here we got excellent views of the surrounding city from the observation deck mounted on this structure. We also attempted to get a view of the interior of Hallgrimskirkja (the lava pillar cathedral), but this attempt was thwarted again by another (prohibitively expensive) organ recital in progress. 

On the barren lava fields of the peninsula, we saw (some of) the Blue Lagoon, a man made lake of hot, milky blue water that was formed from runoff from a nearby geothermal station. Bathing in this lagoon is a big attraction, which we did not indulge in for lack of time and interest. Most of the lagoon is hidden from the casual passersby, but we saw several pools of the iconic blue water by the road leading to this site. Running short on time, this was our last stop in Iceland before returning the car and taking the shuttle to the Keflavic airport, where we awaited our six hour flight back to the United States. (TS)

A statue of Leif Erikson (Leifr Eiricsson in Icelandic) standing outside Hallgrimskirkja. Done by Alexander Calder, this statue was a gift to Iceland from the United States in 1930 as part of a festival commemorating the 1000th anniversary of Iceland's first parliament at Thingvellir (Thingvellir is the site of the separating tectonic plates which we had visited the previous day).   

The dome of the Perlan. Taking advantage of the abundance of geothermal activity here, Reykjavikers and other Icelanders store (and pipe in) their hot water separately from their cold water. Because of this, the hot water often smells of sulfur, which was quite a surprise during the first shower.    

 Reykjavik viewed from the Perlan, with Hallgrimskirkja prominently visible in the center of the image.

The author on the Perlan

Lava fields in Grindavik on the Reykjanes peninsula

Crevasses and fissures in lava field mounds

More cracks, as well as the thick moss

 Although this thick green moss appears soft and plush, it is actually very rough. 

Mom, Maryrose, and Nathaniel in front of the milky blue waters near the Blue Lagoon. Silicate minerals give the pool its color.  

This water is runoff from the Svartsengi geothermal power plant, which runs the super heated water fresh from the ground through turbines to generate electricity. 

 Stone towers on the peninsula

The Keflavic airport

In flight to Dulles