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This is the last day of our escorted tour. We have a later than usual start due to Kris and Siggi travelling back from Reykjavic. Steve and I take advantage of the early morning sunshine and walk a short way to the waterfall, Skogafoss on the Skógá river, which springs from 60 metres at the top of an eroded cliff.
Cases loaded into the trailer and we're heading for the folk museum at Skogar or Skogasafn, only about 10 minutes away. Now, I have to own up here and say I wasn't that fussed about a museum and when we pulled up outside the modern buildings did nothing to inspire me. However, it was a most enjoyable experience.
First we had a very interesting talk from a guide who informs us that this collection was put together by Þórður Tómasson who started collecting artefacts from the age of 14. We are told that he is now in his nineties and has a look of Einstein about him. People thought he was a bit weird to be collecting all this stuff.
Our guide explains how it was slaves from Norway, Denmark, Scotland and Ireland that first settled here and not Vikings as is commonly believed although they did arrive during the Viking era. When they arrived here, they had nothing and were not prepared for the fact that there were few resources available to them on Iceland. Iceland was once 90% woodland, now it's only 1%. The settlers chopped down the trees to build houses but they didn't grow back again. There was no metal, no clay to make cooking pots and the top soil was very thin and blew away.
They took their lives in their hands if they went fishing as they could only cover their clothes in cod liver oil to protect them from the icy waters. If they fell in, they didn't know how to swim and would only survive for around 3 minutes anyway.
Our guide showed us some woollen fishermen's mittens which had 2 thumbs, so that when one side got wet they could flip them round and use the other side! Great idea! Their mittens were also securely fastened to their sleeves as they may have become their only lifeline if they fell overboard.
Anything of any value, like the fish they caught, oil from whales etc were used for trading. They made shoes from the fish skin but, of course, they weren't very durable. Journeys were measured by how many pairs of shoes it would take. Their sheep were their greatest asset and everything was used, woven wool became a currency, the milk was used for dairy products, even the bones were used as flotation devices for fishing nets. Listening to all this, it's hard to imagine why they stayed in Iceland.
We spot a ship's bell with Grimsby Town engraved on it. With Steve being from Grimsby, this warranted closer inspection. We find a picture of the fishing trawler that sank off the coast of Iceland on 23rd April, 1946. 17 crew members were saved but 3 perished. The mast can still be seen sticking out of the sand on the beach.
The museum also has several interesting buildings including some turf houses (with one for the elves), a school house, church and a two-storey home with under floor heating - that is to say, the animals were kept on the ground floor!
We stop at a famous farm for two reasons. One, it has been awarded the title of best kept farm in Iceland, and two, the owner of the farm took the photo of Eyafyallayokullt to show that the eruption had begun In 2010. This picture became iconic around the world.
Our next stop is the unique waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, on the River Seljalandsá. It is 60 metres high with a foot path behind it at the bottom of the cliff, but with a thin cascade. It is the only known waterfall of its kind, where it is possible to walk behind it. Once more we scramble over wet rocks to enjoy the experience. From behind the waterfall, you can truly appreciate the power of the water.
Now we are all good Facebook friends, Steve made a tongue-in-cheek comment about always having to climb to see waterfalls and asked why there wasn't a flat one! As usual, our Icelandic experts deliver. We are taken to the beautiful Urriðafoss waterfall, a voluminous waterfall in Þjórsá river (Iceland's longest river at 230 km from source to sea), where the river falls off the margin of Þjórsárhraun lava field in beautiful and peaceful surroundings. Þjórsárhraun lava field is one of the greatest lava flows on earth from a single eruption since the Ice Age.
We finally arrive back in Reykjavic where we visit the Perlan (Pearl) which is a domed building situated on top of the city's hot-water storage tanks. It stands 25.7 metres high and has various exhibition spaces. On the fourth floor is a rotating restaurant with an outdoor viewing deck from which the whole of Reykjavic can be clearly seen.
Hotel Klettur hasn't changed but our new room is cooler and raised from the road.
The whole group (except for Jon) meet in the Steikhúsið for our final meal together. Great food, great company!
Cases loaded into the trailer and we're heading for the folk museum at Skogar or Skogasafn, only about 10 minutes away. Now, I have to own up here and say I wasn't that fussed about a museum and when we pulled up outside the modern buildings did nothing to inspire me. However, it was a most enjoyable experience.
First we had a very interesting talk from a guide who informs us that this collection was put together by Þórður Tómasson who started collecting artefacts from the age of 14. We are told that he is now in his nineties and has a look of Einstein about him. People thought he was a bit weird to be collecting all this stuff.
Our guide explains how it was slaves from Norway, Denmark, Scotland and Ireland that first settled here and not Vikings as is commonly believed although they did arrive during the Viking era. When they arrived here, they had nothing and were not prepared for the fact that there were few resources available to them on Iceland. Iceland was once 90% woodland, now it's only 1%. The settlers chopped down the trees to build houses but they didn't grow back again. There was no metal, no clay to make cooking pots and the top soil was very thin and blew away.
They took their lives in their hands if they went fishing as they could only cover their clothes in cod liver oil to protect them from the icy waters. If they fell in, they didn't know how to swim and would only survive for around 3 minutes anyway.
Our guide showed us some woollen fishermen's mittens which had 2 thumbs, so that when one side got wet they could flip them round and use the other side! Great idea! Their mittens were also securely fastened to their sleeves as they may have become their only lifeline if they fell overboard.
Anything of any value, like the fish they caught, oil from whales etc were used for trading. They made shoes from the fish skin but, of course, they weren't very durable. Journeys were measured by how many pairs of shoes it would take. Their sheep were their greatest asset and everything was used, woven wool became a currency, the milk was used for dairy products, even the bones were used as flotation devices for fishing nets. Listening to all this, it's hard to imagine why they stayed in Iceland.
We spot a ship's bell with Grimsby Town engraved on it. With Steve being from Grimsby, this warranted closer inspection. We find a picture of the fishing trawler that sank off the coast of Iceland on 23rd April, 1946. 17 crew members were saved but 3 perished. The mast can still be seen sticking out of the sand on the beach.
The museum also has several interesting buildings including some turf houses (with one for the elves), a school house, church and a two-storey home with under floor heating - that is to say, the animals were kept on the ground floor!
We stop at a famous farm for two reasons. One, it has been awarded the title of best kept farm in Iceland, and two, the owner of the farm took the photo of Eyafyallayokullt to show that the eruption had begun In 2010. This picture became iconic around the world.
Our next stop is the unique waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, on the River Seljalandsá. It is 60 metres high with a foot path behind it at the bottom of the cliff, but with a thin cascade. It is the only known waterfall of its kind, where it is possible to walk behind it. Once more we scramble over wet rocks to enjoy the experience. From behind the waterfall, you can truly appreciate the power of the water.
Now we are all good Facebook friends, Steve made a tongue-in-cheek comment about always having to climb to see waterfalls and asked why there wasn't a flat one! As usual, our Icelandic experts deliver. We are taken to the beautiful Urriðafoss waterfall, a voluminous waterfall in Þjórsá river (Iceland's longest river at 230 km from source to sea), where the river falls off the margin of Þjórsárhraun lava field in beautiful and peaceful surroundings. Þjórsárhraun lava field is one of the greatest lava flows on earth from a single eruption since the Ice Age.
We finally arrive back in Reykjavic where we visit the Perlan (Pearl) which is a domed building situated on top of the city's hot-water storage tanks. It stands 25.7 metres high and has various exhibition spaces. On the fourth floor is a rotating restaurant with an outdoor viewing deck from which the whole of Reykjavic can be clearly seen.
Hotel Klettur hasn't changed but our new room is cooler and raised from the road.
The whole group (except for Jon) meet in the Steikhúsið for our final meal together. Great food, great company!
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