The Way Home via Various South Coast Tourist Stops
[Photos taken on 14 May 2017, posted online 6 September. Always fun to look back.]
On the way back home from the family reunion at Steig, we stopped by various interesting locations, both to stretch our legs, and to visit various Ingress/Pokemon GPS-located stops. We’ve found that be a good incentive to go to places we might otherwise drive right past! (53 images total)
The beach of Reynisfjara, seen from Dyrhólaey. There have been So. Many. Photos. taken of this beach!
Looking to the right, this is the parking lot, and path entrance to the vista point.
We hiked a bit out to a vista point. On the right are warning signs because people have died down there, after going down to the ocean and getting caught by “sneaker” waves. (They are much bigger than the others.)
Trying hard not to fall over in the wind!
The view inland was less spectacular. They’re trying to put up a service center so that people don’t have to poop and pee in the wild.
A little further west along the road, we stopped at Skógarfoss for the first time, and decided to hike up to the top of the staircase. This waterfall features in various music videos, such as… this one with Justin Bieber which is basically a tourist video for the South of Iceland.
Looking down, while walking up.
Sturdy steps!
They’ve closed off a few perilous paths.
Up at the top. Notice the selfie-stick lady?
Father and son.
Selfie-stick in action! Insta-smile! 🙂
Not a good place to fall down. Also not sure about the graffiti.
Anna looking respectable.
Emma taking a selfie with Anna’s help.
Proof I was there! Emma took this photo.
Time to go down again. There are quite a few interesting things in the area, such as a museum or two, but we didn’t linger long.
Walking towards the waterfall a bit.
Obligatory selfie.
The view in the other direction.
Partial family photo.
Bjarki wanted to take one family photo with me in the picture.
Emma!
We took a quick peek at the Skógar museum (visible from the waterfall staircase), just to score some portals.
We might stop by again, and take a better look!
Even further west, we drove a bit inland to find this church. Finnur was the only brave enough to climb over the closed gate, to visit the Ingress stop. The rest of us waited in the car.
While we waited, a doggy came to say hi, much to the enjoyment of the kiddos.
Next up, on the way to the main road again, this “hidden” waterfall, Gljúfrafoss, or Canyon Waterfall.
If you quint, you can make Anna out with her arms up in the air, up on that large “rock” that’s in front of the waterfall. Note the sign on the lower left, it’ll reappear two images down.
The view to the right includes the famed Seljalandsfoss, where we opted not to stop.
Finnur stayed with Emma by the river running from the waterfall. It is possible to go into that crevice to look at the waterfall tumbling down, but we didn’t really have the rain-gear needed.
Emma enjoying throwing rocks into the water.
Meanwhile, Anna and Bjarki kept posing from the top of the cliff!
Bjarki watching my slow progress up the rock/cliff.
The path up is well trodden, but requires quite a bit of climbing.
Bjarki traversing a narrow path, that had a chain to hang on to, and…
… a lovely plunge to your death if you slipped and fell.
Lookup onto the top level. You can gather where the waterfall is by where all the people are looking.
The waterfall through a small hole in the wall.
My mountain goats by the edge, as I try not to lose my cool, fearing for their safety.
“Bjarki, please make sure you don’t step backwards and die while taking a photo!”
The water tumbling down.
Bjarki at the top of the rock.
Two pieces of wood serve as a stepping aid to get up and down from the top part of the rock.
Bjarki wanted to carry the big camera on the way down, but I took it from him when he was about to take a photo like this, looking down into the abyss, using both hands, i.e. letting go of the chain keeping him safe!
After I made it down, Finnur went up to the top as well.
Emma still throwing rocks in the river, while Anna looks on.
The crevice, and Finnur and Bjarki making their way down.
Horsing around before we took off.
We kept driving west, and stopped at the swimming pool in Hvolsvöllur to chill for a bit. There was almost nobody there! You can just barely see the top of the red slide above the fence.
After we’d had enough of swimming, we kept driving west, and stopped in Selfoss to eat dinner at the thai place.
Ok, it’s a Thai/European place with hamburgers and fries on the kiddie menu.
After dinner we drove straight home, and then it was back to life as usual!