Having checked the forecasting, I planned to have the so-called Golden Circle Excursion with the ticket I had bought via the internet from Reykjavik Excursions. I woke up at 6.45 a.m. (very early) when the sun already shone fully. I was happy to see that the forecasting was precise! After breakfast, I walked to the BSI bus station and arrived there 20 minutes earlier than the bus schedule, just because of the suggestion from the company that I should be present at the bus earlier and show my reservation number to the bus driver (I emailed to ask beforehand). I shouldn't have believed this info! When I was at the bus, the bus driver told me that I should have the tickets. So, I tried to explain that I bought my tickets via the internet and didn't have my printer. Also, his company's sale said that I just had to show the registration number to the driver. Then, he said something like "go to the bus". I thought that he understood me and boarded the bus. I was wrong! He rarely understands English, meaning not understanding me! Before the bus left, the driver came to check tickets from passengers, including me! He said again "ticket, ticket". I needed to run to the ticket office to get the tickets as the driver requested, and of course, I needed to complain by saying that if one who works for the company doesn't know the correct answer, he or she should ask whom knows it and that if the precise answer can't be found, simply saying "I don't know" is better a wrong answer. I hate incorrect info given in a definite manner from someone who is supposed to know!
After the long queue, I finally got the tickets in time. What's the point to give money to the company in advance and don't get any benefit?? I don't understand this. They should terminate the internet booking system after all! I should stop being in the complaining mood now because there is more to complain soon...
I ran to the bus and still got a window seat. Right before the bus left, a Chinese-look girl came to sit next to me. Below is the picture I took from the bus.
After 45 minutes, the bus arrived and stopped at 9.15 at Hakid in Thingvellir. Thingvellir has its significance lying in both its great symbolism and serenity. The Icelandic parliament which is Europe's oldest national assembly was established here in AD930. The geology of Thingvellir is also interesting. Water that flows into Thingvellir Lake comes from springs and fissures streaming long distances underground. The flat lava plains is laid out between the visible edges of plates that are moving apart (about 7 mm per year). Having realized these facts, I felt that despite the serenity of the valley, a quiet violence exits and is waiting to explode.
The path through the valley was built following the contour of the ground. It looked impressive from up high.
The main walking path was surrounded by rocks. The rock formation appeared very dramatic. Most of the tourists today seemed to be seniors who were still fit and eager to climb the rock.
Along the path, there was a stream with a little waterfall Öxarafoss.
I hasn't mentioned the funny fact about the bus yet. This first stop was supposed to be a sort of "shorter than a minute" stop. Then, the bus would continue to the service center where a cafe and tourist info was located and be leave from there 10.10 a.m. As I didn't think I would need coffee, I decided to walked the whole route to the service center. I checked the distance to the service center from a bus driver and he said is was around 1.5 k.m., which shouldn't take me longer than 20 minutes to reach the destination. After the path ended, I packed my camera and walked full speed along the road, starting at 9.30 a.m. The road just continued and continued while no sign of the service center was placed anywhere. After 20 minutes, I asked a traveller who was walking from the opposite direction and he said the service center was 5 minutes away. I felt better... However, I still didn't see anything after 5 minutes. I then started to run. It was lucky that I has been quite active in exercising lately, meaning I could manage the run for catching the bus. Luckily, it was rather warm today, meaning I was comfortable to run with only a short-sleeve t-shirt on.
After Strokkur erupted...
The waterfall from far distance...
Arriving at BSI bus station in Reykjavik at 16.45 p.m., I asked some info about other bus routes at the ticket office. Then, I walked slowly to the residence, dropping by at some shops on the way.
I finally arrived at the service center and saw the bus leaving. I waved my hands (and arms of course), so that the bus driver noticed me and stopped to pick me up. Not only I had missed the bus, but also many more. The driver thus drove back to look for the missing passengers and found a group around the first stop. Later, a passenger told me that a couple seated behind him never came back... Funny system and management, isn't it.
Still, I felt like I had made the right decision to walk. Otherwise, I wouldn't have seen anything.
I started to talk with my neighbor. Her name is Sue Mei. She said she came from Liverpool, England. That's why her accent is so British. We chatted about this and that.
The next two stops never took place. The bus just passed through without stopping. At one point, the bus stopped for a second at the horse riding, so that I could take a photo from my window.
The bus finally stopped for 1 hour 45 minutes at Geysir hot spring area. There were rather many geysers and hot pools in the area.
The main attraction was Strokkur which erupted every 5-6 minutes with the height of about 20 m. I found it difficult to take photographs of the erupting geyser. It wasn't easy to focus the churning gush.
After Strokkur erupted...
Nice color ground is everywhere...
Strokkur from distance...
My favorite was the lovely hot pools Blesi: one in milky blue and another in clear turquoise. The colors looked amazingly beautiful.
Another pool in the area (which I don't remember the name)...
The lovely soft flowers (I don't think it was cotton) were blooming along the hillsides...
A little "forest". As now I am becoming keen to hunt photos of trees in Iceland, I walked around this little forest for a while.
I didn't know that I would be experiencing the mountain today. First, I decided not to go up there as I never like "climbing". Then, I changed my mind, just because I saw many old gangs walking up there with no sign of hesitation. As the ground was quite loose, I was careful with my steps.
I reached the top of the mountain (someone else may call it "hill"). When looking from up, I saw a pretty and peaceful field and village in the valley. I sat and relaxed myself on the soft grey moss and had the sandwich I bought from 10-11 there.
Then, the bus continued to the waterfall Gullfoss (golden falls) where we would spend 45 minutes. Although this waterfall isn't one of the biggest in Iceland, it appeared immense to me. I felt a bit soaked while walking along the trail through thundering mist. The history of this waterfall was interesting too. At the turn of the last century, it was under a treat of being lost to British energy developers who saw its potential to generate electricity. The land owner at that time Tomas Tomasson refused to sell the land although he was offered a huge sum. His daughter Sigridur Tomassdottir attempted to protect it by protesting the government and hiring lawyer to fight developers. She sold the farm to her foster brother Einar who gave the falls 40 years later to the state as a protected area.
The rock formation looked as impressive as the falls.
The bus was waiting to leave the waterfall.
The bus dropped the passengers at the other side of Thingvellir, so that we could spend 45 minutes and walked to Hakid where the bus had stopped in the morning. So, I could walk on the path I had not gone and take more photos, but no more long-distance walking.
On Thingholtsstraeti, I noticed a patient cat waiting for a bird on a tree.
On this street, many nice wooden villas and houses are located. It seemed to be a rich area.
When arriving at the residence, I filled my stomach with the lasagna and took shower. I checked the email sent by Kristin about what would be going these days. I was interested in a so-called a group pray by Snorri Amundsson at Hijomskalardur, a park next to the city pond Tjörnin. Although I was pretty exhausted, I decided to go because I thought that it might be similar to the complaining choir.
On Hringbraut, I shot a photo of a cat posing on a wall.
On the opposite of Tjörnin, I saw a little "forest".
Tranquil Tjörnin around 9.00 p.m. ...
The tiny duck swam with full speed behind its mother.
When arriving at the park, I saw a tent which turned to be the place for the performance that I wanted to see. It looked weird and wasn't what I had expected. Very disappointing, indeed.
So, I walked around the park and photographs trees.
