Iceland - Page 4

Geothermal area Seltún

We visited another high temperature area today: Seltún. A high temperature area is defined by the temperature of the groundwater at a depth of about 1 km: If this is higher than 150°C, it is called a high temperature area. Here it is about 200°. Between the brown mountain slopes it bubbles and steams. Fumaroles release not only water vapor but also stinking hydrogen sulfide. It stinks like rotten eggs. A wooden footbridge leads from the parking lot marked paths through the area with hot springs and mud holes. We walk out of the stench, up to the 300 m high Hverafjall. From here we have a magnificent view over the vast barren landscape, in which all shades of brown are represented with scattered green. Small lakes, isolated mountains and silence let us pause here for a while.

If you spend a few days traveling with local guides, you will learn some curious things about this beautiful country. Since the country currently has only 320,000 inhabitants, you have to be careful not to meet your cousin while dating. To rule that out, here's the app Islendinga, which checks the degree of kinship. Icelanders often introduce themselves with both first names. This is more unambiguous than the combination of first and last name. There are no family names here, the surname results from rules: Father = Eric Einarsson so son is Bjorn Ericsson (son of Eric) and daughter is Guðrún Ericdottir (daughter of Eric). Since married persons both keep their names, daughter, son, father and mother have different surnames. In practice, of course, the system is more flexible. But even at the World Cup 2018, one could feel the strong bond among Icelanders.

Reykjavik

Today the weather was such that the colors of the capital came into their own. So we saw the city center again from the bright side: brilliant light reflections on and in the Harpa, magnificent colors of the water in front of the uninhabited island of Engey, the sun illuminated its brown mountain slopes and white peaks. A rainbow stretched from the downtown skyline across the bay. In the evening we had Icelandic cuisine, not for the faint of heart. Thank God it was a buffet, so I could turn to the wide range of fish and meat dishes, ignoring mutton testicles and sheep's head on the other hand. Especially the fermented Greenland shark stank disgustingly, its meat must first rot so that its natural toxins disappear. Manu ate it of course 🤢.

In the late evening the sky was clear, we went again long to the promenade in the hope of auroras. Some photo enthusiasts stood here with high-tech equipment and waited. But unfortunately we saw none. Early at 3 o'clock I went again to the sea and really, a small green glow was to be seen, what my old smartphone camera caught only badly. And then the time was already over again in the unique country.