A Song of Ice and Fire - Iceland, a bestseller

More like a song of rain and wind; on Tuesday morning, a storm raged along the south coast, causing difficulties even in the morning to get into the car without getting wet. However, as we drove, the weather cleared up. At the same time, traffic on the Ring Road increased as we got closer to Reykjavik.

Like a string of pearls, the attractions lined up along the road: waterfalls, rest areas, and meeting points for guided tours into the highlands. The ample parking spaces were barely enough to manage the bustle of campers, rental cars, and tour buses. The tourism industry had developed into a significant branch of the economy on the island in recent years. The travel guide stated that about 2.2 million visitors travel to Iceland every year.

We began the day with visits to the waterfalls Skogafoss - touted by tourism marketing as the most beautiful waterfall in Iceland - and Seljalandsfoss - where a path led through a cave behind the waterfall. The crowds were enormous. A caravan of colorful rain jackets, rain capes, and ponchos made its way from the parking lot to the sights, snapping photos and returning to the parking lot.

While mainly German tourists crossed our paths in the north of the country, many tour groups from the USA and Asia roamed in the southwest. The so-called Golden Circle was particularly popular with travel agencies. This route led to attractions around Reykjavik and was also suitable for cruise ships and their day trips.

In the afternoon, three stops along the Golden Circle were on our agenda: an excursion to the geysers, the volcanic crater Kerið, and the Thingvellir National Park. There was another crash course in geology and volcanism. After all, Iceland was located where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates drifted apart (up to 2 cm per year). This resulted in earthquakes and volcanism, as well as hot springs and geothermal energy. Around Reykjavik, geothermal power plants steamed along the hills while the mountains in the east were covered in eternal ice.

On Wednesday morning, the farewell came; after a week of round trips, I parted ways with my small travel group. A big thank you to Timo for organizing the road trip and to the whole family for the best company! After a last breakfast together in Selfoss, I boarded the bus to Reykjavik.