The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other things.

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

At the point of the peninsula there were interesting lava formations by the sea-

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The volcano took on a different look-

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And on the western shore of the peninsula the scenery changed-

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And another church on the way back to Reykjavik-

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On our way back from the west coast we saw a rare white tailed eagle.By the time I got my camera out though it was gone.

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Time to start again.First some views from the Hilton lounge-

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On Monday night we had our best meal in Reykjavik at the Fish House.Reading the menu we were unsure of our choice but after tasting the food we were converts.I started with the Fish soup.It had a piece of fish,a lobster tail,a couple of small scallops and a coconut jelly.The broth had just a hint of chilli.That and the coconut jelly turned this from a good dish into a perfect blend of favours-

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Rojaan had the veal carpaccio with thinly sliced beetroot and a foie gras puff,she enjoyed it-

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She then had the lobster and monkfish dish which had good flavour and cooked just right-

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Whilst I had the fish of the day-salted cod,plaice and blue ling.Again each cooked perfectly.The only let down was the blue ling which had little taste.The plaice was great-

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We then went for a drive around some of Reykjaviks sights.First the Viking ship statue-

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Then the Concert Hall by the old harbour-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Some more of the Concert Hall-

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And the birds flying in front of the view across the bay-

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Then the Hallgrinskirk-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Monday and it was a public holiday in Iceland.We went for a drive to Vik.Going there was not too bad for traffic.I recommend the last 60Km into Vik.Really beautiful scenery.There were many waterfalls.Some unknown-

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Some famous-

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And Glaciers you could see from the road-

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It was again a very windy day and once more if you were passing walkers or the many cyclists you could give them a free shower if you operated your windscreen washers whilst passing them.The first time it was accidental!
Vik is a delightful small town with a church in prime position and majestic mountains for a back drop-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Then there is their famous black sand beach.If my zoom was powerful enough it would show in the last photo the next land mas-Antarctica.

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So some more of Vik-

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Behind Vik are the snow and icefields-

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On the return from Vik the traffic was really heavy with all the locals who had gone south for the long weekend returning.This was not helped by the conduct of many drivers particularly of tour busses.Others would cross straight across you on the highway.Particularly annoying were a pair of young women tourists who must have gottten their licence out of a corn flakes pack-driving straddling the middle line.If you tried to overtake they would pull across further.

Fortunately our plans were to turn off to Stokksevri and their supposedly famous restaurant Fjorubortit.Now basically only 2 dishes-a fish soup and lobster tails in garlic and butter.The soup was lighter and definitely inferior to the previous 2 in Reykjavik.There were some very mushy lobster tails as well indicating that they had been frozen and not thawed correctly.
Son if you want quantity at a lesser price this is the place but if you like quality then go elsewhere.It is a stop for many tour busses and that says it all for me.

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

First pictures of our meal-

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From Stokksevri we returned to Reykjavik via Grindavik and the Blue Lagoon.This had the advantage of having hardly any traffic.The road to Grindavik though was through a lava field.Mile after mile of lava.

We did not pay to enter the Blue Lagoon.Think the price is just too high.Besides there are hot pools outside the complex if you really believe in their healing powers-

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Also couldn't help taking this photo.Watch out for the hill!

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The Google Earth car went by-

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At a lookout close to the Blue Lagoon you could watch planes landing at KEF-

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[amaroo]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

First pictures of our meal-

Great updates. The food looks excellent!

That poor google guy.....driving that landscape must get to him.

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

On Monday night the Blue car fellow came to the Hilton to pick up the car.We felt the service was very good.It worked for us as we like to be independent.We weren't very hungry so just grazed in the Hilton lounge.
On Tuesday after breakfast we picked up a bus pass from thr Hilton front desk.This is complimentary for all guests and allows 4 people to use any bus in the Reykjavik area.You can pick up a bus map and timetable from the Reykjavik Information centre or look on line at straeto.is.

So we caught the bus downtown.This is one of the shopping streets-

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There is a lot of street art-

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The other shopping street has a great view-

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And some of the buildings-

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As you can see Tuesday turned out to be a beautiful day.Blue sky,sunshine and very little wind.Certainly different to our 3 days driving.After we walked the 2 main shopping streets we walked to Icelandic Fish and Chips recommended here.On the way passed some more street art-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

So at lunch we shared a serve of cod and a serve of Pollock,a serve of garlic potatoes and one of crisp potatoes along with a trio of dips-

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The batter is certainly nice and the fish cooked to perfection.Unfortunately we found it very bland as were the dips.The potatoes were very good.With a beer and a glass of wine ~ $60 so not inexpensive.

Across the road a rare touch of floral colour-

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First to show some of the other sights from the Hilton lounge.First there is a hop on/off bus with an open top!

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But seeing you can get free rides on the public busses from the Hilton it is no surprise no one gets on or off this service at the Hilton.A good view of the bay.Ideal for small sailing boats and liners alike-

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But finally Wednesday comes around and it is time to board the Explorer.It is docked at the Old Harbour.We sleep in,have a leisurely breakfast in the restaurant before getting a taxi to the ship.Just 4 Km and it costs 2000ISK($20).Taxi pulls up right at the ship and so midday and we board.A lot of the staff are still on from our April cruise so we catch up with them.Then lunch with a couple from San Francisco and another from the UK.

Good to see the ship being refuelled-

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Overhead was the flightpath for Reykjavik city airport-

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With a lot of supplies being loaded-

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But will it be enough of the good stuff?

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

The Art Museum is just across the road from the Explorer-

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And just outside the wharf the little Engine that could-

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A trawler leaves-

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Now Iceland has no Army,Navy or Air Force but it does have a Coastquard-

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And a final look at Reykjavik-

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before the gangplank is raised-

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Then comes the introduction to the Explorer.At least 80% of the passengers have been on her before though.Then comes the boat drill before we head off into the wild blue yonder.
The long serving Captain of the Explorer watches as the first woman to captain a Silverseas ship takes the Explorer out-

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Past the Coastquard-

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And an old Icelandic boat-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Past the Concert Hall-

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And locals anxious for their last look at the Explorer-

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And off into the Ocean we steam-

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Our last view of the Hilton-

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and the church-

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as the pilot leaves-

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and Reykjavik faids from view-

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Of course then your mind turns to food.Had dinner with a couple from Melbourne.Good company and food.difficult to sleep that night as seas are ~4 metres.

Thursday and it is grey and overcast.Still the same swell.Lectures on Arctic birds and the history of Iceland.Seemed rather routine-drinking by age 3,first murder at age 7 nothing out of the ordinary.
Then lunch and after the mandatory zodiac briefing.Apparently even world champion zodiac paddlers have to attend.Then an afternoon snooze-need to get a bit of energy for dinner.
Dinner was nice,not great.Feature was that the swell had increased to 6-7 metres and plates went sliding across the table at times.Sleep was difficult with things sliding of tables,drawers sliding out.Even packing things away in a cupboard didn't work-it opened and everything spread across the room again.

 

[smit0847]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Great TR. I spent 5 days in Iceland a few months ago and visited most of the places you did!

Scenery was absolutely breathtaking - no photos really do it justice! Sort of like a mix between Finland and NZ.

Did you see any icebergs down in the South East? That was the highlight for me - watching them float past the road was one of the most surreal experiences of my life.

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Smit0847 we did not see icebergs-didn't get far enough and a little late in the season.But we ended up seeing plenty on the cruise.

Friday dawned and the sky was still grey.Raining,cold and looking miserable.But then we saw our first iceberg-

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Then the first sight of land-

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Then a real bonus-4 fin whales-

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And the bird life increased in numbers-

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The morning remained cold,grey and wet but it couldn't detract from the natural beauty of the fjord-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

More of Skjoldingen fjord-

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At least it was calm as we cruised in Skjoldingen fjord.Although it remained overcast the scenery just got better-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

As lunch approached there began to be a little bit of blue sky appearing.This certainly enhanced the colours-

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Yes indeed the blue ice has a certain magic.Here is some more as a zodiac cruise of the glacier was offered.The zodiacs give a perspective to this magical place-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

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Weatherwise the afternoon was the complete opposite of the morning.As we came to the narrowest part of the fjord the colours were amazing-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Captain Maggi was doing an excellent job.The zodiac in the following pictures is the cruise photographer getting some great shots-

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[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

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[sjd]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Spectacular photos and, as always, great report. Keep travelling, it is very entertaining for the rest of us.

 

[drron]

Re: The time has come the walrus said to talk of planes and ships and many other thin

Reflections-

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Icebergs-

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