July 30,2023
We got up bright and early for breakfast aboard ship--quite the spread. Then we boarded zodiacs for a tour of cliffs, waterfalls and stone formations along the coast outside of the town of Arnarstapi. This was a great tour, as we were able to see the geological levels and the beautiful rock formations in the stone cliffs. One of the formations was the Stone Bridge, a big whole in the rock. The colors were really impressive, also. Our Zodiac driver was very informative about the area--history and geology. Lunch aboard the ship.
We shuttled in a zodiac over to Arnarstapi, as our ship was too big for their harbor. We boarded a bus for a tour around the peninsula. This is a narrow peninsula with a lot of inlets. Any towns are along the coast. There is a road that pretty much goes all along the coastline of Iceland, following all of the inlets and fjords. So the views are amazing.
Our first stop was at the Londrangar cliffs. Very impressive rock formations along the lava cliffs. What views. Nearby was a view of the Snaefellsjokull Glacier. A glacier, atop a lava mountain, with deep crevices down the slopes. We were originally supposed to get to go to the top of the glacier, on a Snowcat, but it was too warm, so no one was allowed up there.
Next stop was Snaefellsjokull National Park. What a neat place. You walk down a rocky trail, through lava formations, to a rocky, black, basalt pebble beach, with more lava formations. There are even the iron remains of a shipwreck still there from 1948. The rock formations certainly inspire seeing "things" in them. I even pointed out a dog face in one to our guide, who had never noticed it before.
Our last stop was at Kirkjufellfoss Waterfalls. The was a delight. Backed by a big lava mountain, the top falls cascades into a lower set of falls, which falls into a sweet little pond, before winding out into a stream into the ocean. Lots of folks walking the trail to get to the falls and climbing all over the rocks.
We shuttled back to the ship in time for cocktails, dinner and a movie about the geology of Iceland.
Photos day 4:
 |
| Zodiac tour |
 |
| Cliff rock formations along Arnarstapi coastline |
 |
| Beautiful colors, shapes & waterfalls |
 |
| More colors and shapes |
 |
| Rock formations |
 |
| Colorful layers and shapes |
 |
| Colorful layers and shapes |
 |
| Colorful layers and shapes |
 |
| Stone Bridge on the Arnarstapi cliffs |
 |
| Typical Lava mountain along the coast |
 |
| Stone Bridge --se the people walkiing along the top |
 |
| Arnarstapi cliff formations |
 |
| Our Sea Venture cruise ship |
 |
| Rock formation in Arnarstapi |
 |
| Arnarstapi harbor--see our ship further out. |
 |
| Snæfellsjökull National Park-Londrangar cliffs |
 |
| Snæfellsjökull National Park-Londrangar cliffs |
 |
| Snæfellsjökull National Park-Londrangar cliffs |
 |
| Snæfellsjökull Glacier |
 |
| Snæfellsjökull National Park |
 |
| Snæfellsjökull National Park |
 |
| Snæfellsjökull National Park |
 |
| Snæfellsjökull National Park |
 |
| Snæfellsjökull National Park |
 |
Djúpalónssandur Beach |
 |
| Djúpalónssandur Beach-Snæfellsjökull National Park |
 |
| Mountain at the Kirkjufellsfoss waterfalls |
 |
| Kirkjufellsfoss waterfalls-looking downstream |
 |
| Kirkjufellsfoss-lower waterfalls |
 |
| Kirkjufellsfoss waterfalls |
 |
| Kirkjufellsfoss -upper and lower waterfalls |
 |
| Kirkjufellsfoss -upper and lower waterfalls |
No comments:
Post a Comment