Slept well, had a shower in water that smells slightly of sulphur because it’s geothermally heated.
Got picked up by the bus to take us to the Blue Lagoon, a large heated lake about 45 minutes outside Reykjavik.
The landscape is amazing – the ground is covered with volcanic rocks which are green with lichen. There are mountains covered in snow in the distance but the land is flat. It really looks like an alien planet.
The Blue Lagoon is a man made lake heated by geothermal power. It was quite busy and you had to go out of a door into the cold wind and down a ramp into the lake. The short distance between the door and the lake seemed like miles because it was freezing. Once in the lake it was wonderful, heated mineral water at about 35c. We spent about 3 hours in the water with a short break for a drink. They also had saunas and steam rooms which we used. There was also a place where you could get some silica mud to plaster over your face and naturally we did that, photos will be uploaded.
It was relaxing and great fun, and we’ve also booked it again for our last day.
Took the coach back and rested for a while before heading out for dinner.
Went to a French restaurant called Snaps. We ordered a charcuterie plate (meats, cheese, pickles etc) to share which was very good. Song ordered a Bouillabaisse – a seafood stew, and I ordered the beef bourguignon. It was fabulous. Beef chunks on mash with onions, bacon and mushrooms in a beautiful gravy. I also had the obligatory beer. The meal cost about $140. Eating out in Iceland is expensive.
Tomorrow we pick up a hire car and drive to Akuyeri in the North, it should take about 4 hours but we’ll be stopping on the way to take photos. We hope to see the Northern Lights, the chances are better up there. We’re only staying one night, then driving back to Reykjavik, but keeping the car to drive around The Golden Circle.
