After sharing my experience of trying to get the perfect shot of Strokkur, a geyser at Haukadalur, and my failure to do so, today I want to talk about the geyser park in general. When I first read about it I was super excited. As a kid, we went to Yellowstone almost every summer. And even though the geysers were not my favorite part since they stink, I still enjoyed seeing them. And if you’ve never smelled a geyser, trust me, if you have a sensitive nose you may not like it. The mud pots got to me the most. Nevertheless, I was still excited to see more geysers. And to see them in Iceland—that’s even cooler in my book. By the way, the hot water in the country is heated using geothermal water and each time I showered it smelled like a geyser. The water is perfectly safe to shower in and to drink. Not that I drink my shower water.
What struck me first was how small the park is. I should have guessed this since Iceland is not that big to begin with. I’m not saying I wouldn’t recommend it. In fact I do. I’m just saying, it’s nothing like Yellowstone so be prepared. And it’s just off the highway. You can see most of it from your car if you don’t want to get out. Why you would do this I’m not sure.
We crossed the street and started to explore. Here are some photos.
I noticed people hiking to the top, so I had to as well.
The better half wasn’t enjoying the cold and the wind. When it got muddy, well, I was on my own.
The view of the geysers from above was beautiful.
A good time to blow one’s nose.
And here’s the view of the other side. No geysers, but horses. When I rejoined the better half I said, “You missed seeing some horses.” I got the so what I grew up on a ranch look. I grew up in a city and hardly ever saw horses so I was excited. And I hardly ever see Icelandic horses.
Time to head back to the bus for our final stop of the tour: the national park Pingvellir.
This next bit has nothing to do with geysers or horses. Regann wrote a wonderful review for my novel, A Woman Lost. Also, she’s hosting a giveaway. Hop on over for a chance to win an ebook copy of A Woman Lost. The giveaway ends in two days.
50 Year Project 
I love geysers, too! And horses. I would be your perfect traveling companion. 🙂 But let my NYC blisters heal up first before we take a trek. Great pics, as always!
Blisters! Oh no. You can walk for miles and miles in NY and still not see everything. I feel your pain. Let me know when you’re better–I’m sure we can find some horses in the Caribbean. I could use a few days on a beach.
🙂 The blisters were because I did NOT wear TOMS Sunday morning. We met Micah for brunch before his study session for Econ final and decided to walk back to the apt instead of take the subway since it was so beautiful. Which would have been fine if I had not had these stupid other shoes on. Halfway there I stopped and put neon green bandaids on—-from then on everyone passing by looked at my feet—-including the faux monk who tried to hit me up for cash. It was well worth the blisters but I should have known……next time. The beach sounds delightful…..
Econ final–that just sounds hard. Ugh! A faux monk. Did you get a photo? I haven’t had that experience yet in the Big Apple. Hopefully you can stay off your feet and heal. Yes the beach … I can hear the waves now.
Yes—I got a photo of the faux monk. My husband said monks don’t wear tennis shoes…….
Do they wear Toms?
I think he thought they should wear sandals….
That’s my image as well, but I like the idea of Toms
I think Toms would work, too. My husband is ever the skeptic and I am an easy mark…..
Good thing you two have each other. Balance is key in a relationship.
Balance is key. He is the ying to my yang.
🙂
My sister and I spent a day in Iceland on the way to Europe, and I really enjoyed it. We explored the national museum in a jet-lagged fog, and saw geysers from the airplane. One day I’d like to go back.
Your novel sounds intriguing. Congratulations on a very good review.
I bet the geysers looked neat from the plane. We flew in early in the morning and it was raining so we didn’t see them from up above. I hope you go back. And thanks for your kind words.
This reminds me of my visit to Iceland where fields of geysers were not uncommon.
fields of geysers … that sounds pretty cool!
Wish we had some of these here… I’d spend days trying to get the perfect photo…
You would love Iceland and all the photo opportunities.
I agree Yellowstone is a beautiful park, I visited it twice. You are so close to Italy, you should go to the Solfatara in Pozzuoli, around the Amalfi coast.
I hadn’t heard of Solfatara until now. Looks like a place I would like to visit. I’ve climbed one volcano and enjoyed it.
The volcano in Naples area is active, but tourists go inside of the crater everyday. The guides ask them to sit on some rocks and punctually they burn their butt. Solfatara is at the foot of the volcano.
I remember when I climbed a volcano in Guatemala and the rocks were really hot. I wouldn’t want to take a seat 😉
I did it and not knowing what to expect, I burn my bottom slightly. The heat is so intense, no one will sit even for 5 minutes.
I can imagine. Just walking near the top made my feet hot.
Exactly. 🙂
It’s beautiful, I probably wouldn’t hack the cold wind either!
The wind was brutal that day. Gave me a good excuse to buy a new sweater 🙂
I have never seen a geyser in real life. I would love to go to Yellowstone one day, but I doubt I’ll ever make it to Iceland.
Yellowstone is awesome. Not only do you have the geysers, but there’s excellent hiking and other outdoor activities. If you go, swing by the Tetons as well. It’s about 3 hours away and the mountains are stunning. One of my favorite places.
It really is beautiful and I would have loved to have seen Icelandic horses. But I would have been whining about climbing up that hill. Somebody would have had to push me up!
The hill wasn’t that bad actually. At first when I saw it from below I thought it would be much harder. It wasn’t. It levels off in the right places. And just in case you don’t want to climb it, you can see horses along the highway so no worries.
Lovely pictures. Very interesting to read about the heated tap water too! That was something new for me.
It’s quite the experience. I wish more places had cleaner energy like Iceland.
Wonderful images! My other half is the same way about wind and cold, and I often end up having to go off on my own in those conditions. I’ve only seen one geyser (in California) and it was a small one. Would love to go to Iceland some day to see them there.
Where in California? That rings a distant bell. Wind, cold, and mud are not a great mixture and I totally understand. Vacations should be fun and if one isn’t having fun then by all means, head to the restaurant and have a coffee to warm up. I hope you visit Iceland!
It’s the Old Faithful Geyser in Calistoga. Privately owned, I think. It was an unusually cold, windy, and rainy day. We were on our way to Napa for some wine tasting (a good activity on a cold, windy, and rainy day).
Ah, I haven’t spent any time in Napa or near it. Now you’ve given me another reason to go!
You had to drink water that smelled like a geyser? Oh, I would have to buy lots of bottled water.
Yellowstone kind of dwarfs everything else, but this looks like a cool place to visit. I know that “Iceland” is a misnomer, but it still surprised me to see horses there!
We had lots of bottled water and beer. I was surprised to see horses and we stopped at a tomato greenhouse. That shocked me. I don’t associate any type of farming, including greenhouse, with Iceland. But it works! And the tomato soup we had was awesome!
I suppose I got used to the “rotten egg” smell of the water but it took a while. Each time I turned the shower on in our hotel room, I noticed it. Not pleasant. But so worth it!
And Yellowstone is on my bucket list!!
I was surprised by how strong the smell was in the shower. I was warned, but you have to experience it to really understand. But I would love if England did that since it’s better for the environment.
Yes, Yellowstone is a must!
I also meant to say…I hope you are settling into your apartment. Do you like your new neighborhood?
More importantly, is Miles finding enough tennis balls in the parks around your new place?
He’s found two tennis balls in the last week and a soccer ball that had a hole in it. He carried the thing all the way home, even though it’s the same size as he is. A very happy dog. We really like the peace and quiet in our new place. Haven’t seen one tourist!
That’s a beautiful view! worth the muddy hike.
Hahaha I understand your feeling about seeing horses, I also enjoy seeing animals I never seen before.
I’m like a kid, I enjoy seeing any animal or any part of nature. If it wasn’t so cold the better half would have enjoyed it as well.
Hahaha I wonder how cold it was…you who live in winter said it was cold, how bout me who live in tropical island…I bet I would say it’s freezing 😉
I bet you would have thought it was freezing. It was actually snowing at higher elevations that day, so my guess is quite cold. The wind was the worst part. It cut right through you.
Looks like another planet!
Yes that’s a good way of putting it.
So much flat in a Volcanic region .
Lovely raw naturalness in these shots TBM .. can’t feel the raw wind though 😉
Indeed it looks a great place to visit .
Wondering if have I missed the decision on the trip for next Easter time ? …
We are narrowing in on a choice for Easter. Waiting for the right time to book, which means, when we have more money in the account. Don’t ya just hate money!
Know the feeling TBM… we’ve big trip coming up in Feb … but more about that later I’m sure 😉
Oooo…big trip…you have my attention!
Wild horses are such a lovely thing.
I didn’t know about the smell of the water. Brrr.
I love all animals and these horses are stunning. And the water takes some getting used to.
Nice pictures, TBM! It is interesting that water is heated in Iceland using geothermal water. Have you read Bill Bryson’s ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’? He says something fascinating – quite mind blowing actually – about Yellowstone National Park.
I haven’t read it yet. I recently picked up a few of his books and last night I was browsing his Made in America. but I don’t have a copy of his History yet. I’ll keep an eye out for one in the charity shops. I would love to learn more about Yellowstone.
You take the best pictures 🙂 I want to go and sit there right now. I’m sick of working – I want to travel!
Me too. Let’s go!
It looks like a beautiful place! Nice photo tour!
I do enjoy visiting the geysers, but I’ve only been to Yellowstone.
Yellowstone will always have a special place in my heart. I went so many times when I was a kid and still remember feeling awed by it.
We have geysers here in Rotorua…that remind me of this. It is all very low key, but i like that
Low key is nice. Does that mean there aren’t many tourists? Not that I’m against tourist, since I am one most of the time, but it is nice to visit areas that aren’t crawling with them.
You used to get quite a few…but it has been a while since I have been there so not sure how it is now.
I will put it on my list if I make it that way. Would love to see more.