ICELAND REDUX: Thou Shalt Not Steal

...lest yee be cast into the pool of the waterfall!

The waterfall in question, Þjófafoss*, translates to "thieve's waterfall" since thieves were supposedly drowned in the pool as punishment for their crime. Why this particular pool of water was used is unclear to me since certainly there were simpler and more readily accessible options. Maybe it was a sadistic act to let the thieves see this majestic scene before meeting their fate! Who knows?

Þjófafoss was my first major destination on Day 6, my last full day in Iceland. While relatively easy to get to, it's not close to much else of note and is not very well known. It is located in the middle of a large lava field (solidified, of course) with a mountain in the background. The scene is absolutely stunning, and it may be my favorite of the entire trip.

After Þjófafos, I headed to Bruarfoss. I visited Bruarfoss during my first trip to Iceland (if you read my blog from that trip, http://toiceland-2018.blogspot.com/2018/05/sun-we-dont-need-no-stinkin-sun.html, you will recall this is where my boots fell victim to the mud). Since it was one of my favorites of that trip, I wanted to go back.

I was quite surprised to find that they have since built an access road and a parking lot for Bruarfoss...along with a food truck, no less! Then there is short path to the actual falls. This is so much nicer than when I visited six years ago** when only photographers (and locals) knew about these falls and were willing to undertake the not-so-easy hike. As a result, there are (unfortunately) many more tourists coming to this spot. (I noticed similar changes at other locations, and I suspect it will only be a matter of time before many of the "hidden gems", like Þjófafos,will no longer be hidden and peaceful. Sigh.)

After Bruarfoss I found my way to a campground nearby. It had seen better days in my opinion, but I had power and access to bathrooms (water closets, or WC, as they call them here) and a shower.

*Approximate pronunciation: fyoh-ya-foss.

**In an earlier post I said eight years, but it's really been six. Still a long time!

Editorial note: I'm actually writing this from home. I got behind, as often happens near the end of my trips!

Nice little valley just outside Vik

Sea stacks at Reynisfjara black sand beach

Abandoned buildings often have some very interesting grafitti

In keeping with the "new perspectives" theme, this is my take on the classic image of a person -- often in a brightly colored jacket -- with their arms outstretched in front of Skogafoss (like this one). I rather like these strangers in their brightly colored backpacks. Looks like they're on an expedition and have just discovered this waterfall! (Coincidentally, there’s a scene in the movie Secret Life of Walter Mitty where he is hiking with two sherpas in the Himalayas, but it is actually this waterfall!)

Steps to the top of Skogafoss. Yikes!

Getting a good photo of this waterfall, Gljúfrabúi, eluded me last time. It is located inside a small gorge, and the blowing mist from the waterfall makes it extremely difficult to grab a shot without water on one's lens. But I got it this time!!