SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2005



Leaving Reykjavik

Woke up around 7:30am and tried to recharge the laptop using Iceland adapters, and this time, successfully. However, we were never able to log onto the Internet, here. Neither could we get our camera battery rechargers to work, so we ran out of battery power, later this morning.

It was partly gray, some patches of sun, as we walked across the alley / courtyard behind the Hotel, to an upscale Danish Restaurant. Mostly gourmet fish dishes and sandwiches. I ordered smoked salmon with cucumber, tomato and scallions on toast - it was delicious!

Then, we went to the lot to pick up the car, and checked out of the Borg, as we would be heading back to the Reykjanes Peninsula, and staying our last night out in Keflavik, by the airport.

Our last tourist stop in Reykjavik was the magnificent Halgrim's Cathedral, just a few blocks away.

Hallgrim's Church, Reykjavik

There is a huge statue of Leifur Erickson in the courtyard of the church which was presented to Iceland by the US - recognizing Leif as the first European to set foot in America (Vinland), some 100 years before Christopher Columbus.


Leifur Erickson, Reykjavik

After posing for some pictures with the statue, we ventured inside this massive cathedral (Lutheran). The Sanctuary is a bright, open-air space with huge cloth panels hanging down, acting as acoustic enhancements.


Interior of Hallgrim's Church - Reykjavik

I couldn't help but go sit down at the organ console - controlling the massive pipe organ, way up in the organ loft!


Pipe Organ Console

The pipes of the organ are a masterpiece - centered high above the entrance in the back, made of gleaming silver and brass, creating an imposing focal point.


Massive 5-story Pipe Organ above Entrance!

We then purchased tickets to the observation deck, and took the elevator to the 8th floor, which afforded some spectacular views of the city.


See the statue down there?

Each vantage point provided a new perspective. Like the one, below, looking towards the Bay (Flaxafloi). . .


Bird's-Eye view of Reykjavik

Colorful houses and rooftops, everywhere . . .


Bird's-Eye view of Reykjavik

After such a spectacular "Good-Bye" to the beautiful city of Reykjavik, we journeyed back to Keflavik, near the airport, for tomorrow's early morning flight. (Near Lake Kleifervatn) from the earlier pictures.

We drove out to the quaint seaport town, which is home to the aiport, as well as the Nato airbase. And, as we got checked into the hotel, I saw a piano sitting off to the side of the lobby, I couldn't resist checking out.

There was a man sitting at the bar, smoking a cigar, and asked me if I played. I said yes, and he asked me to play something, so I did. He applauded, enthusiastically and said he always wished he'd learned to play, but just never did!

Said he was from California, and asked me if I was there with the movie? To our surprise, he said he was there for the filming of the next, BIG Clint Eastwood movie, "Flags of our Fathers!" Due out in 2006! It is about the stories and bios of the men at Iwo Jima! He was the ammunitions expert for the movie, (Kevin McCullough), which had just "wrapped" the previous night, with a huge cast party, at the hotel!

The waitress at the restaurant, that evening told us they had people staying to "put the beach back the way they found it." I guess they had literally blown up sections of the black-rock beaches, filming. . .


Black Rock Beaches near Keflavik

Kevin told us that Clint chose Iceland for the black-rock beaches which closely resemble those of Iwo Jima. And there you have the scoop! Clint stayed at the luxury "Nordica" hotel, just outside of Reykjavik - there for around 3 months of filming.

Note: at this writing, the last big Clint Eastwood pic was "Million-Dollar Baby" (with Charlize Theron).

So, after we got all checked in, we took our last excursion - out to the Blue Lagoon Spa, about a 20 min. drive from the Hotel. (Hotel Flug - an Iceland Air Hotel). We could see the giant puffs of steam rising against the mountains and volcanos from the main road. Clearly visible, even from a great distance.


Blue Lagoon Spa

The entrance to the Blue Lagoon was a winding path through the same black lava rock, which we had to drive through to get there. . .


Blue Lagoon Spa

And, once inside, it was like entering a world, all to its own! Pictures don't even come close to doing it justice! We walked out to the pool - glowing an eerie bright blue, with steam rising into the cold, misty air.


Blue Lagoon Spa

It was like a dream! Imagine seeing this beautiful sulfuric blue water, with white puffy steam clouds evaporating off its surface into the cold, sleet coming down that day! And wanting to jump into it . . .


Blue Lagoon Spa

It is a huge facility with many pools, all connected by these small, arched footbridges, creating an archipelago of tiny islets, around a bigger sea - the size of a lake. . .


The Footbridges connecting the many pools

Stepping into the 100 - 110 degree geothermal waters is just a phenomenal feeling! 3,000,000 tons of fresh water is replenished each and every hour, from over 6,000 ft. below the surface, and is piped directly into the pools. In fact, the entire country is heated this way, and also their entire electrical power! The island has zero pollution, as there are no fossil fuels burned here!


Steve luxuriating in a dream pool!

A virtual fountain of youth! There are several spots where the volcanic mud collects, and with these small, wooden paddles, you scoop it out, and put it on your face, as a natural, geothermal mud mask!


Natural Mud mask!

There are many alcoves, a sauna and steam room, a cave grotto where you can swim through, and there is even a hot, steaming waterfall!


Blue Lagoon Spa

We met a couple of the most gorgeous girls, while sitting in the cave. They could have very well been models, but were more like business or professional types. They were sitting next to me, and I asked them if they were from California, judging from their accents. How wrong I was! One girl was from Norway, and her friend, a native Icelander! However they had studied in the States, doing some kind of internships in Washington D.C.! Which probably means for the government, perhaps the embassy.


Blue Lagoon Spa

It is true, the people there speak perfect - immaculately perfect English! And, if you have ever tried to learn Icelandic, it is extremely complex to speak. The people there are also highly intelligent, and as I've mentioned before - some of the most beautiful people on the planet! Gorgeous, golden skin, mainly blue eyes, blonde hair, tall, high cheekbones, just stunning to look at. They put us all to shame!

After our Spa, we took a spin through the gift shop for goodies to bring back home. We drove back to the hotel and had a very nice dinner - Haddoc in coconut sauce, rice, a bottle of chablis and a desert of ice cream and warm pears! Scrumptuous!

We took an after-dinner stroll down by the docks, and walked over to the other Iceland Air Hotel (Oriental theme), for an after-dinner drink, before retiring for the night. An absolutely perfect end to the perfect day!

Well, a lot to talk about, but that just about wraps up our amazing 5-day excursion to one of the world's most beautiful island paradises!

Things I wanted to do, but didn't have time: - were to see the aurora borealis . . .


Aurora Borealis

(we needed to stay up very late for this, during the month of Sept); exploring the awesome West Fjords (just north of Snaeffelsness); . . .


Magnificent West Fjords


Then, there is the East Coast . . .


with its vast ice fjords and ski resorts; the North coast - where you can take a ferry excursion up into the Arctic Circle.



(They even give you a certificate, saying you have crossed the Arctic Circle);

Salmon fishing up in the Lake Myvatn area (N); visiting the island of Surtsey (where the last active volcano erupted in 1970s);


Spewing Magma on Isle of Surtsey


And at least one of the bird islands,



where you find the brightly colored, quirky-looking Puffin!; There are many spectacular lakes and waterfalls all over, and you really don't want to miss a one!

Leaving Iceland!


Next: Journey to Scotland