From the plane, it looked very cold down there with all that snow.   As for the Lava Fields, bleak is one word you could use.   Mebbies it's just me, but I couldn't see the rock for the lava ...

The following photo is of a group of hot springs on Iceland's south west peninsula.   These springs are due to water, superheated by molten rock below the surface, being forced to the surface.   Iceland's position on the Mid-Atlantic ridge means that there is a high level of volcanic activity and very high level of earthquakes (hundreds of minor earthquakes can be recorded per year).

The final photo is not just any crack, but the actual fault line running the length of the Mid-Atlantic ridge.   So here I am, part of me in Europe, part of me in North America (although Iceland is regarded as being in Europe).   Iceland is very gradually widening (a few centimetres a year) due to the spreading of the earth's crust along the length of the Mid-Atlantic ridge.

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Can't remember the name of the place, but it's on the South West tip of Iceland.   You can already see gulls starting to nest up in the picture.   However, as I'd chosen early April to visit, I missed the main influx of birds two weeks later.

Spectacular bit of coastline, especially seeing the breakers come in against the rocks.   [Return to 'Iceland' map.]

Whale watching has been added to the Icelandic tourist itinerary since whaling was supposedly banned (a way of providing alternative incomes for whalers).   I say 'supposedly', as Iceland, along with Japan, are still allowed to take a small number of Minke Whales (lower picture above) for supposedly scientific purposes (such as restaurant studies in Japan - hmm).   Like who are you trying to fool.

Trying to photograph whales is very difficult, as you only have a few seconds as they come up to breath before they dive again.   I normally don't opt for a video camera on my various trips, as it is so easy to miss your entire holiday as you live behind the camera lens.   However, a video camera (or digital camera with a video facility) is probably the best way of capturing these fantastic creatures on film.   I also saw some dolphins (even harder to photo) in this trip and Iceland also attracts Humpback Whales and even the odd Sperm Whale or Blue Whale.   However, I was there in April (both times) and the best time for whale spotting (and bird watching) is during the summer months from May onwards, as they return to the local feeding grounds.

The top picture is of the local Ganet population making a sizeable dent in the fish stocks - dinner time is seriously chaotic as can bee seen above.   [Return to 'Iceland' map.]

Because Iceland is sat on top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, there's lots of volcanic and geo-thermal activity, also resulting in geothermal springs and geysers.   The Icelanders take advantage of this, using heated water from the ground to generate some of their electricity and this heated water is also used in their mainly outdoor swimming pools.   I visited one place, the world famous Blue Lagoon, where locals and tourists can bathe in the waste water from one of these geo-thermal power stations.

By the way, the public bathing area has now been moved away from the geo-thermal power station and you don't get the same surreal feel of the original site.  The top picture it the original site, as used in a Guinness advert back in the 1980's.   The bottom picture is as it is now (and Poll just couldn't stay out of the picture - modest parrot that he is), with the power station now somewhere in the distance.   Bathing in it is still an experience though.

Come on in, the water's lovely!   You don't notice the smell of sulphur and taste of the minerals after a while.   Supposed to be therapeutic...   [Return to 'Iceland' map.]

At least I think that how you spell one of these old Norse type names.   This place (note the Viking theme) serves up some top notch grub, but is really expensive.   Especially the beer at £3.50 for the equivalent of half a pint.   Sorry, I'm going on about that beer again.

Trouble is, if you try to sneak out without paying, these two have their say.   I'll not argue, £3.50 seems quite reasonable.

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Poll (foreground top) admiring the capital of Iceland.   A little non-descript, but one point of note is the main Lutheran Cathedral, outside which stands a statue of Leif Eiriksson, who landed in North America a good 500 years before Christopher Columbus.

As for the two characters on the left, well, I think they sneaked into my bag somewhere in Reykjavik and I didn't have the heart to send them home.   Ah, aren't they cute.

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