Our second day on Iceland was spent on two activities, a giant jeep tour up over the glacier, and whale watching outside Reykjavik. The first of these was a little overwhelming, but the second was much like whale-watching tours we've been on in Canada, though with fewer, smaller whales than the spectacular whales we've seen here at home.
This is the sort of jeep we rode in, with 4 other people. Icelanders have discovered that if you let the air pressure (partly) out of tires, they actually have better traction in snow, and bigger tires are better. So they are up to 44" tires, with raised bodies for the adventurous few. I think the tires we rode on were about 3 feet high, though they felt like 5 feet at the time, and we did stop to deflate them at least once. We also got stuck which was only slightly terrifying up on the glacier miles from anywhere! Thank goodness they travel in groups.
Although both of these are internet images (thanks), this one is a very realistic illustration of our ride. It was bumpy, really bumpy, slight terrifying and when we stopped for a quick break, it was an arctic blizzard with a howling wind and zero visibility! I got no pictures of my own on that ride. What Mrs. F.G. remembers most is bouncing so much she bumped her head on the roof! We were still glad we went - why do tourists spend good money to get terrified and uncomfortable!
For the whale-watching later that day it was a quick ride down to the harbour and off we went in a tour boat. This was our best sunny day of the whole trip, and we enjoyed the adventure, a much more comfortable adventure!
This is the most we saw of whales, but we knew they were there. These were smaller Minke whales, but we've seen Humpback, Fin and Orca whales on both coasts here in Canada.
I know you always enjoy my selfies, so here you are. I am a handsome dude if I don't say so myself!
After that we were free to wander Reykjavik, so we enjoyed exploring the harbour and walked up past the beautiful Hallgrimskirkja, the big Lutheran church in the centre of town. It was designed to look like the basaltic columns in parts of Iceland, as you'll see in a couple of posts.
Wow, that jeep tour does look terrifying! But the whale watching part, and the incredibly beautiful church are way more to my liking. And thanks for the picture of FG himself! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd say you looked more distinguished than handsome, but that's just my opinion and I was wrong once -- I think.
ReplyDeleteHandsome, for sure, no wonder Mrs FG snapped you up in an instant those years ago. Somewhere I read about the Church there, and stuck with the jeep, so glad you were in a convoy.
ReplyDeleteGreat selfie!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I'd be thrilled with the ride, especially bumping one's head on the roof of the vehicle...though I've had it happen in turbulence in a small airplane. That wasn't fun either. I missed out on my whale watching tour in Bar Harbor when Hurrican Ike was barreling up behind us.
That’s an impressive church. Whale watching is one of my favourite excursions of all time, off Bay Bulls, Newfoundland with the humpbacks and minkes.
ReplyDeleteGreat selfie, FG.
Wow what an unusual and impressive the building of the church is!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat to see the whales.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite the fun days you had in Iceland. Glad you and wife had a safe time. I like the photo of you! Looking handsome as usual! It was quite chilly when I left work this afternoon. I put my coat on over my sweater I sometimes wear when working. Took a shopping cart back to TJ Maxx as someone left one close to Panera Bread where I work. I don't know why people don't take carts back! I do that at least once a week! Take care and stay warm and well!
ReplyDeleteIt's a fine thing when a ride in a jeep is rougher than a trip on the ocean. I think both of them would have had me being seasick. That's a very striking church.
ReplyDeleteYou are dashing, indeed.
ReplyDeleteQuite an adventurous jeep tour. I think it beats our jeep your up and down the hills of Sedona.
Very handsome in that warm coat! I enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteMy SIL traveled to Antarctica, and that was a cold one.
Great post.
I am not sure I would like that dangerous of a trip. I did see glaciers in Alaska, but we went by bus and it was not a thrilling.
ReplyDeleteThat church is a show stopper.
ReplyDeleteYou are so handsome! Wow that is one beautiful church!
ReplyDeleteWow, that church is spectacular!
ReplyDeleteA jeep tour was a thrilling adventure. Great selfie!
ReplyDeleteThat first Jeep is the color of our little '99 Jeep Wrangler. The extended cabs were not part of the lineup at that time. We've travelled thousands of miles in our Jeep. More than once bouncing till my head hit the top.
ReplyDelete