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FRIDAY
Late onto the minibus waiting to pick us up before the rounds of all the other hotels. Not good start. changed seats three times before settling at the front - just before the next tourists got in. Unlike queues where I always choose the wrong one, this was an excellent decision. Great view all day.
First stop was the National Park where the Eurasian and American tectonic plates meet. Elly was particularly impressed by the crack between them which now forms the path. The parliament was begun here - bit close to the crack for safety but hey - they weren't to know. The girls had great fun climbing over the rocks and posing in the cracks - see photos.
Next stop was a brief rendezvous with Icelandic ponies - who nibbled grass out of Elly's hand. Dooley drove on pointing out various points of interest or telling us Icelandic history.
Excitement rose in the minibus as we approached one of the highlights - Geysir - the original spouting hot water from which the word geyser comes.
Dooley said it erupted every 5 minutes. We craned forward in the bus watching little clouds of steam rising above the fields like little campfires.
Not daring to blink in case we missed the moment, as we turned the last bend - all 14 of us jumped as a burst of white spray erupted messily into the air in front of us. No neat plume this - but impressive all the same.
5 minutes later we had joined a semi circle of camera toting tourists waiting for Geysir to issue forth again. He did not disappoint. in fact we got a double eruption. the frothing earthy lips bubbled then parted violently
to projectile vomit boiling blue water high into the air. It crashed down to be sucked thirstily back into the gaping mouth. Ripples. Bubbles. Then swelling water spilled over the lips and a second smaller spurt heaved into the air, taking everyone by surprise.
A pause then excited babble in so many languages as people around us examined their cameras, phones and iPads to make sure they hadn't missed the shot. It was the best pic of the holiday.
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