Things Look Familiar

It’s interesting that even though it’s been eight years since I was last here, many things look so familiar.  I’m not just talking about the major scenic locations, but also more mundane things, like certain buildings, where I got gas, signs, grocery stores I bought food at, etc.  I guess that’s because I’m such a visual person, which is no surprise given my love of photography. 

My flight to Iceland was uneventful (only 5-1/2 hours).  After picking up my campervan (more on that in a later post), I headed towards Reykjavik to get the “ring road”, Highway 1, and head east.  I wasn’t exactly sure what my final destination was the first day, but I wanted to get as far east as possible. Along the way I stopped at several of the spots I had visited the last time.  However, my timing was not very good since I managed to hit these locations about the same time as all the other tourists (yes, I am one too).  People were everywhere, and the parking lots were crowded.  I grabbed some quick photos at a couple locations and moved on since I figured I could potentially hit these spots again — at a better time — on the way back. 

One thing in particular that was different from my first trip were the lupins.  I was here in May the first time, and they hadn’t bloomed yet.  They are in full force now and are virtually everywhere, in patches along the highway, in large fields, and blanketing hillsides (with glaciers in the background, even).  I’m not a “flower person”, but they are truly spectacular with their purple petals.

Eventually I decided to head all the way to Fjadrargljufur Canyon (don’t ask me to pronounce this).  

This was on my “must visit” list, but it was closed for environmental reasons last time I was here because it had gotten very popular, and people were destroying the delicate flora (particularly the mosses) by venturing off the established paths.  The reasons why it had gotten popular because it was a film location for Game of Thrones (don’t ask me which episode — I didn’t watch this) and because it was featured in a Justin Bieber music video (even though I’m not a Bieber fan, I did watch this video).

As the day went on, the rain started to pick up, and I was concerned that conditions might not be good at the canyon.  But, as I got closer, the rain disappeared.  And, the canyon did not disappoint — it truly is spectacular!  And even though the trails are now roped off and you cannot now venture down into the canyon (like I had hoped to do), I did manage to get some good shots.  So chalk up “the one” for the day (I told myself that if I can get at least one “good” shot, then it was a successful day).

Rather than drive any further, I decided to hunker down at a nearby campground.  The rain was coming back, and it was forecasted to get worse.

Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Lupins 

Skogafoss waterfall

Fjadrargljufur Canyon (in monochrome)

Fjadrargljufur Canyon 

Fjadrargljufur Canyon — I think this may be one of the spots where Justin Bieber was standing, hence the heavily trafficked path (this was roped off off, but obviously some folks disregard the ropes, which totally irks me)