Iceland Day 2 - The Golden Circle (June 26, 2017)

After a restful night at Hotel Fron, we'll depart Reykjavik and explore the "Golden Circle" today. We'll be picked up at the hotel in the morning to collect our rental vehicle to begin the self-driving tour of Iceland but not before we feast on the viking breakfast first. 

Great way to start the day


Looking refreshed after a restful night

Much needed coffee

Fruit and cold cut

After the hearty breakfast, we were picked up by the driver dispatched by the tour organizer to pick up or rental vehicle. It was a short drive down along the bay walk we did yesterday but in the opposite direction of the Sun Voyager. We said goodbye to Reykjavik for now until we return a week later. 

The Golden Circle according to Nordic Visitor consists of Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. We would head east and visit the aforementioned locations of interests accordingly. We will be staying at a farmstead named Hotel Selid tonight. 

At Enterprise Rent a Car

Picking up the 4x4 Toyata Landcruiser equipped with GPS and wifi

Roadtrip in Iceland

Ready to head out with the GoPro mounted on the front window

Arrived at Þingvellir National Park around an hour drive from Reyjavik

Þingvellir was where the viking settlers would gather to settle their business. The European and North American tectonic divide is visible here and tourists and either snorkel or simply walk thought the continental divide. 

Over-equipped to explore the National Park

Marching through the tectonic divide

This was where the Viking score was settled

Peaceful river with ducks

Getting along

At the continental divide

After visiting the National Park

After checking the first box of the Golden Circle, we headed to our second stop, the Geysir geothermal area. This drive took as less than an hour but the kids were able to get another nap in. The Geysir geothermal area is where tourists come and marvel at the geo-thermal activities in Iceland. We took pictures at the smaller as well as the big geysers. The kids were sensitive to the sulfur smell of the area so we kept our visit brisk. 

The Geysir geothermal area

geysers big and small can be seen around

an erupting small geyser

At "Strokkur", the mighty geyser

Tourists waiting for Strokkur to erupt

MM enjoying the geothermal area

A nearby geyser from Strokkur

Glacier mountain in the background that feeds the geyser

Wildflowers in the area

Glacier can be seen in distance

After visiting the geothermal area, we'll be heading to the third stop of the Golden Circle, the famous and touristy Gullfoss. Due to proximity to Reykjavik, Gullfoss is visited by large tour buses of tourists in usual times. When we visited we were passing by countless tourists from all over the world. 

The touristy Gullfoss in 2017

Gullfoss up close

Behind the scene

Tourists flooded the area in 2017

Hiking out along the narrow path

After completing the circle, Joanne found a great place to have to late lunch or early dinner - Friedheimar. It's a tomato green house that serves bread and tomato soup. We indulged on the organic tomato soup and bread. We did order two additional items - pizza and pasta. It was a great meal. After enjoying the meal, we visited one more spot - the Kerid Crater, basically a crater lake before we headed to our hotel for the night, the farmstead hotel - Hotel Selid

Friedheimar, one of the top restaurants recommended in the area

Inside Friedheimar, a tomato greenhouse restaurant

Pre-ripe tomatoes

Touring the greenhouse

The incredible bread station

You can cut fresh tomato leaves from the vine and add to the soup


Pasta

Pizza

Enjoying the late lunch early dinner

After an enjoyable meal

Horses by the restaurant

Visiting one more spot-The Kerid Crater before we head to our hotel for the night

Hiked to the edge of the crater lake

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