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
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
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
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
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
Touring the greenhouse
The incredible bread station
After an enjoyable meal
Horses by the restaurant
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