If I could have swapped one of our sunny days in Selfoss for this day instead, it would have been perfect.  Godafoss Waterfall would have been beautiful on a sunny day, but it was raining; not the best conditions for photography.  Still, what an amazing sight!  We hiked the path up one side, and then doubled back, crossed the bridge, and hiked up the other side.  The volume of rushing water was so powerful that the sound was mesmerizing.  I shot a short video, just so I could hear the sound of that water again when I returned home.

(For all pictures, click on the image to see full screen view.)

At one point during the days’ travels, we passed through a five-mile-long tunnel through a geothermal area.  The temperature was 51degrees outside of the tunnel, but 66 degrees inside the tunnel!

Our next stop was interesting.  We observed the process of harnessing geothermal energy to bake Hverabraud (Icelandic rye bread) in the ground.  The best part (of course!) was getting to taste it.  Quite dense, the bread was piping hot, sweet and tasted great with butter. 

Historically, the bread was baked in a wooden vessel, but now, buckets with lids are used.  Sites for baking bread can be found around hot springs close to villages in the Icelandic countryside.  Each family has their own hole in the ground in which they bake their bread. 

Namafjall, the next place we visited, fascinated me.  Watching the bubbling hot mud pools in this geothermal area and seeing the variations in the earth made it feel like we were on another planet.  Three thousand feet below the surface, the temperature is about 400 degrees!  Due to the hydrogen sulfide in the steam, it smelled like eggs – not the most pleasant odor; but, it was worth enduring to see this fascinating area.

We continued on to Dimmuborgir, and I experienced the same feeling I had at the mud pools and several other places we had visited in Iceland: I was on another planet!  But, isn’t that what travel is all about?  I love experiencing the unfamiliar!

Dimmuborgir is full of whimsical “black castle” lava formations created when the crater row erupted around 2,300 years ago.  Our group had fun spotting faces in the lava.  Can you see the curvy lips and full cheeks in this one?  (Hint:  They appear just above the grassy area.) 

Our final other-worldly visit was to Skutustadir.  Click on the link to see an awesome aerial shot taken on a sunny day. These pseudo craters are in the Lake Myvatn area near the Krafla volcano system.  During eruptions, lava ran across the area, which at the time was swampy wetlands.  The heat caused steam eruptions, which resulted in their crater-like shape.

Bruce and I enjoyed hiking around the area and taking in the views from the tops of the craters.

In the evening, our group was split in half for home-hosted dinners at two homes.  Our group was hosted by Esther, Gunnar, and their two adorable daughters, Berglind (9) and Elizabeth (4).  They were such a sweet family, and they lived in a lovely apartment.

Throughout the evening, their TV was tuned into the video cam of the erupting volcano – such an amazing sight that had us enthralled in between conversation and petting their cute dogs.

Esther is studying computer science to become a programmer, and Gunnar is a commercial fisherman.  He caught a huge cod for our delicious dinner that was prepared by Esther.  Berglind kept busy as our server and did a great job!  Bruce gave Esther and Berglind each a pair of his fused glass stud earrings as a gift, and I gave Gunnar some of my photo cards to share with Elizabeth. 

It was such a fun evening, and a highlight of the trip (as always!).  Looking back, my favorite travel memories have been of the home-hosted visits I have done with Overseas Adventure Travel, and previously, Vantage Travel, when we traveled with them (before their bankruptcy).

Esther, Gunnar, Berglind, and Elizabeth: Thank you for such a special evening I will always remember! 

Next up: Watching Wonderful Whales!

Note: If small group travel is of interest to you, I highly recommend Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). Although Bruce and I travel together, they do not charge a single supplement for those who travel on their own. Singles also get their own room at hotels. If you book, you can get $100 off your trip by providing my name and customer number (Elaine Krugman, #3018126) as the person who referred you. I will also get $100 off future travel– a win-win!