Weekends in Reykjavik

Well, you read about the nightlife, of which we partook slightly...more as observers than anything else, but it did lead to some late morning starts. On Saturday we headed out to the golden circle for visits to a southern coast fishing village (desolate and beautiful), majestic waterfalls, geysers, and a bit of political history. We first headed south and passed a geothermal steamplant, which we visited. The bore holes for hot water go about 3 kilometers into the earth, right down to the hottest rocks the pipes can manage. Up comes the HOT mineral laden (read corrosive) water from which the dry steam (go figure, but that is what they said), which is used to turn turbines for energy. Then the hot water remaining is used to heat cold fresh water which is used to heat water for the homes of Reykjavik 20 miles away. That water flows through insulated pipes to flow into showers, radiators, under flows and streets etc. The typical utility bill here for a 3 room apartment is no more than $25 for heat, electricity, water and so on. Once the heat exchanger takes much of the heat from the corrosive water, it is pumped back into the ground to start the cycle over...very sustainable. There are numerous earthquakes (daily) and so the pipes carrying the water are laid above ground in zig zagfashion. It is said they "dance" when the earth moves...I guess so! The plant supplies all of the country's person needs for electrricity and water. There are seven of these plants;the rest of thep ower goes to industry such as aluminum smelting.

AFter the steam plant, it was off to the village of Stokkeryi and some fabulous lobster soup. A simple cream bisque with broth, a slight amount of cream, miniscule amounts of red peper, salvia and chunks of lobster, all to be soaked up with wonderful loaves of bread. The village isliterally on the edgeof the oceanwith largeberms piled up to protectthe homes from bad storms. All on lava, with little soil around. Many many horses and foals to watch, very lovely, in the fields. Sleepy after lunch, we attempted to drive the back roads upto a waterfall called Guillfoss. Though it looks fine on the map, it took us to the wrong side of the river so we had to back track to get to where we could actually see the amazing falls. Certainly no litigation here as the death defying path to the falls edge was inhabited by more than af few people...yes, us too.
After the waterfalls,it was a short tripup the road to see the "Geysir" from which all others take their name. It was, however,out to lunch so we caught the next one "strokkur" on camera. Thenit was off to Thingvellier. This is a magical valley with a small river running through it surrounded on both sides by large cliffs,all of which are easily accessible. The first icelanders began gathering here (The Althing) annually over 1100 years ago for political and legal purposes, the first parliament and legal trials in the world, 100s of years prior to any other country. Since most inhabitants here were escaping the tyranny of kings, they were making an effort to be fair.
We ended the day with dinner (about 10p.m.) at a restaurant Thrir Frakkar, where we ate smoked puffin breast and other unimaginably delicious dishes. We decided the "ugly american"is now the British tourist who can be amazingly loud and rude. Bed by midnight after watching the partiers outside for awhile. Fortunately our room is sound proof! Snore