Today we say goodbye to Romania.  We will be flying from Bucharest to Munich, Germany and then onto Chicago, Illinois.

Leaving Iceland

It's a sad day when you have to leave Iceland.  Iceland is a beautiful country and my favorite out of the countries I have visited.  It is just unlike any other country in the world, and the views are incredible.

Before we headed to the airport, we went to the mall for a quick meal.

Reykjavik's Hallgrímskirkja Church

Hallgrímskirkja Church is the tallest church in Iceland and one of the tallest structures in all of Iceland.  It is located in Reykjavik.

Waterfalls, Sulfur Springs, and Caribou, Oh My!

Today's post is a big mixture of adventure from Iceland.  First up is the Goðafoss Waterfall.  It is known for being one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland.  When we arrived, the weather was quite cold and rainy.  Weather in Iceland is hard to predict and constantly changing. 

Krýsuvík-Seltun Geothermal Area

Krýsuvík is a geothermal field and home to one of the most famous, Seltun.  Among other things, mud pots and hot springs have formed here.  As with many of these locations in Iceland, the smell of sulfur is strong here!

Icelandic Phallological Museum

We are heading to a very interesting museum today.  More about that in a minute.  Before we get started today, we stopped for lunch at Reykjavik Roadhouse.  This is a Texan-themed restaurant.

Standing Between Two Continents

Brú milli heimsálfa is translated to Bridge Between Continents.  This place is truly neat!  You can walk across a bridge from the North American plate to the Eurasian plate.  You can also walk underneath the bridge and stand between the two continents!  It is one of the coolest things I have ever done!

Exploring Laugavegur Street and Another Mall

Laugavegur Street is the most famous street in Iceland.

Spending a Day in Vestmannaeyjar

We are taking the ferry to Vestmannaeyjar today.  We will be leaving from Landeyjarhöfn harbor. Vestmannaeyjar is a town and group of islands off the coast of mainland Iceland.  The town became known when the Eldfell Volcano erupted in 1973. Around 1/5 of the town was destroyed, and it took months to evacuate the entire town to mainland Iceland.

Having Skyr, an Icelandic treat kind of similar to yogurt, before we leave

Exploring Hackaup, Iceland's Walmart

After leaving Metro, we decided to head over to the nearby Hackaup to explore.  Hackaup is the closest thing to a Walmart in Iceland.

Metro, the fake Icelandic McDonald's

McDonald's left Iceland in October 2009.  Apparently, they left due to the high cost of importing some food products.  Someone wasn't too happy about McDonald's leaving, though, so they bought the former restaurants and reopened them as Metro.  Metro looks very similar to McDonald's on the outside, and they sell many of the "same" products as McDonald's.  

The drive-thru

Kerid Volcanic Crater Lake

Kerid is a volcanic crater lake in Iceland.  It is located along the Golden Circle route.  It is believed Kerid was a cone volcano.  When it erupted, the magma was released.  Afterward, the cone collapsed due to the weight.  

Gullfoss Waterfall

Gullfoss Waterfall is part of the Golden Circle in Iceland.  Seeing it in person was absolutely breathtaking.  I highly recommend seeing Gullfoss on any trip to Iceland!

Seeing Geysers at Þingvellir National Park

Continuing a tour of Iceland's Golden Circle, our next stop is Þingvellir National Park.  The park is home to geysers!

Entering the geyser area

Exploring Plate Tectonics at Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is located in southwestern Iceland.  It is popular because it lies in a valley that holds the top of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.  The boundary between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates is located here.  

The most beautiful bathroom scenery ever.

Visiting Iceland's Smaralind Mall

We went to Smaralind Mall for lunch today and also explored the mall while we were there. 

Heading to the mall

Visiting Reykjavik, Iceland's Flea Market

We are going to explore Reykjavik's flea market, Kola Portid, this morning!

Arriving in Reykjavik, Iceland

After leaving Vik, we are on our way back to Reykjavik.  This time we will be exploring the city.

Beauty on the way to Reykjavik

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Glacier hike

Last night we checked into our hotel near Jokulsarlon.  The view from our window is gorgeous!

Going Whale-Watching in Iceland

We are driving to Husavik tonight for a whale-watching tour.  Husavik is a small town in Northern Iceland known for its whale-watching tours.