Fire, Water and

When I planned the tour through Iceland about 5 months ago, I focused on the number of kilometers to drive and some sights that seemed interesting to me. So I created a 14-day circular route that allowed time today for a visit to the capital Reykjavik. However, after so many days of impressive landscapes, I really didn't feel like being in a city at all. Besides, my accommodation is only about 9km away from the currently active volcano. So I hoped for a chance to catch a glimpse of it.

The morning started peaceful, in the rural area around Reykholt. It was pleasantly warm and not at all windy. Ideal conditions for the journey. I passed Reykjavik and drove to the sea, to Gardskagaviti. There are 2 lighthouses, a bright sandy beach and a campsite right next to the lighthouse. Shipwrecks are lying off the coast in the sea, waiting to be discovered. The air smells good. Wonderful. There I had lunch in a quaint restaurant. The owners cultivate tomato plants from all over the world. They grow in flowerpots all around the windows, mostly still bearing green fruits, and each has a sign with its tomato name stuck in the soil.

Now it was slowly time to go to today's accommodation in Grindavik. On the way, I also passed the Blue Lagoon, a spa where the excess water from the nearby geothermal power plant is cleverly used for bathing. However, the spa was also not an option today.

A short time later, Hildegard is already parked among the cars of the other guests of the Guesthouse Grindavik, and the host offers to take me to the parking lot from which the hike to the volcano can start. I gratefully accept this offer, change my clothes, and off we go. The path leads 9.5 km through lava fields from previous eruptions until I join many other enthusiastic people in the impressive experience of a lava-spewing volcano. In addition to the option of walking, there were also helicopter flights, small planes in the air, and 1-2 large jeeps with permits to drive through. The noise was immense. I would have liked to listen to the volcano as well. But even just the sight was fascinating.

What a day - between water and fire! The photos are nothing compared to what I have seen.