Iceland-Day 2

 After getting a good nights sleep (until noon or one!) we got in our rented car and began what is known as the "Golden Circle"  It consists of 3 sites (with multiple other detour sites) and is all drivable from Rejekevic.  We actually skipped the first one and headed straight to Geysir.  Supposedly it is what all other Geysirs are named after.  It was pretty amazing, but very small in comparison to Yellowstone.  There is one active Geysir as well as many other small thermal pots and an inactive geysir.  Nonetheless, it was a beautiful place to stretch our legs and take a hike.

 The first of many cliffs we would see on our trip.  I mentioned to Brian that I felt like the city was safe and his reply was, "I think the dangers to toursists here are falling off cliffs and driving off the no shoulder roads".  

 We got back in our car and continued on to Gulfoss.  Again, the first waterfall of many we would see in Iceland.  This was the largest we saw and one of the most beautiful for sure.  There wasn't much hiking, you basically get out of the car, walk a ways, look down steep cliffs at the waterfall and get back in the car.

 On our way back to Reykjavik, we noticed a parking lot with lots of tourists and decided to check it out.  It was an old volcano, Kerid,  that now has a beautiful lake inside the crater.  There is a path around the entire upper part as well as a path down into the crater and one around the lake.  We took the upper path and then walked down to the lake.

 Given that our planning didn't pan out the day before for the Blue Lagoon, we had made reservations for our second day at 8PM.  Our late start to the day didn't allow us to complete all the detours on the Golden Circle, but we were very glad to have the chance to enjoy the Blue Lagoon.    After walking down a long path nestled between this volcanic debris covered in this green moss, you come across a milky blue water.  I've never seen anything like it.  Its probably the most touristy thing we did while there, but well worth the $150 we spent on the tickets.  You line up inside a building while a "host" gives a little speech about how to use the lockers, gives you a wristband that allows you to lock you things as well as order anything you'd like from the bars around the pools and explains how to take care of your hair inside and out of the pool.  Once inside, men go into their locker rooms and women into theirs and you meet outside.  The pool is a perfect warm temperature, naturally heated.  You cannot see the bottom due to the milky nature of the water and so they suggest not bringing in cell phones for photographing.  There is a mud mask bar as well as a regular bar, one each included in your ticket.  You are allowed to soak as long as you want.  We stayed for 2 hours and took the photo below afterwards (at 11 PM!)