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life_of_glamour) wrote2012-07-14 02:48 pm
life_of_glamour) wrote2012-07-14 02:48 pm
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Day 7: Waterfalls
Today was a long day with a lot of driving. We had to get out of the East fjords and into Northern Iceland, and the only thing standing in our way was a barren wasteland. One of the barren wastelands that NASA used to practice the moon landings, for Geology Field Trips. Regardless, it was definitely a long, boring, barren wasteland. Broken up occasionally by the most powerful waterfall in Europe - Dettifoss:
And Dettifoss has a little sister, Hafragilsfoss, about 2km down the road, which I found prettier (and still impossibly huge. if you could see the people near the fall, they'd look like ants, I'm standing on a very high ridge overlooking the fall to take this picture):
Sometimes, when we're out and about, Cathyn will hide behind "cover" and wait for me to walk by then jump out and yell "Raaaaarr!!" like a dinosaur while making T.Rex arms at me. I play along and pretend like I can't see him, usually singing a little "I'm oblivious" song so he knows that I know he's there but am pretending like I don't. Then when he rarrs at me I yell "Eeeep!!" Yeah, it's weird. Anyway, anything can be cover for this game. Even a foot-tall stake in the ground. In fact, the smaller and more ridiculous the "hiding" the better. I can't even believe I'm posting this. Now you know all our secrets.
So, back to Iceland. All of the materials we've read about Iceland mention that you should definitely enjoy the edges of the island because that's where all the good stuff is anyway, and under no circumstances should you attempt to go into the interior highlands. Our car had a sticker on the inside of the driver's side door, and a large poster struck through the wheel which had to be removed before we could drive, which informed us that this vehicle can not go into the highlands. Also the rental agent told us that. In fact, to go into the interior highlands would require specialized equipment that you just don't have, buddy. Like a big-ass 4x4 vehicle with extremely high ground clearance, a massive engine, fuel tanks that go on for days and enough space to pack all the food and water you'll need should you become stuck (and you will, because you're not man enough for the interior). Anyway, there are basically two types of vehicles you see driving around in Iceland. You see little efficient coupes like the VW Polo, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i10 (don't think they sell that one in the US), and suchlike. And you see MONSTROUS jacked up vans and SUVs, like a Ford full-size van with wheels approximately as large as a VW beetle. LandRovers with amphibious exhaust spouts (and enormous wheels), and, well, this kind of thing, which we saw today in Husavik:
Anyway... I could post several more pictures we've taken of outrageous vehicles for accessing the highlands in the interior, but that would be boring. Just thought you might find that interesting.
The other thing we did today was go to the Whale Museum in Husavik, because the Phallological Museum had moved to Reykjavik since our guidebook was written. I found the Whale Museum depressing. Husavik has changed from a whaling town into a whale-watching hub over the last 20 years or so, which is excellent. They, apparently, make a lot more money from the whale watching tours than from the whale-killing activities, which is great. But the whale museum is depressing if you, like me, can't stop wondering why humans are so greedy and evil and shortsighted and stupid. An entire species practically hunted to extinction, many of them killed for NO reason or benefit to anybody whatsoever, just because we COULD. It makes me sick. I guess, in the end, once the last of these magnificent creatures is gone it'll be good that there's a museum that people can go to and see what we destroyed. I guess.
Tomorrow is Myvatn and Kafla - big geothermal and volcanic areas. I'm excited about tomorrow!
And Dettifoss has a little sister, Hafragilsfoss, about 2km down the road, which I found prettier (and still impossibly huge. if you could see the people near the fall, they'd look like ants, I'm standing on a very high ridge overlooking the fall to take this picture):
Sometimes, when we're out and about, Cathyn will hide behind "cover" and wait for me to walk by then jump out and yell "Raaaaarr!!" like a dinosaur while making T.Rex arms at me. I play along and pretend like I can't see him, usually singing a little "I'm oblivious" song so he knows that I know he's there but am pretending like I don't. Then when he rarrs at me I yell "Eeeep!!" Yeah, it's weird. Anyway, anything can be cover for this game. Even a foot-tall stake in the ground. In fact, the smaller and more ridiculous the "hiding" the better. I can't even believe I'm posting this. Now you know all our secrets.
So, back to Iceland. All of the materials we've read about Iceland mention that you should definitely enjoy the edges of the island because that's where all the good stuff is anyway, and under no circumstances should you attempt to go into the interior highlands. Our car had a sticker on the inside of the driver's side door, and a large poster struck through the wheel which had to be removed before we could drive, which informed us that this vehicle can not go into the highlands. Also the rental agent told us that. In fact, to go into the interior highlands would require specialized equipment that you just don't have, buddy. Like a big-ass 4x4 vehicle with extremely high ground clearance, a massive engine, fuel tanks that go on for days and enough space to pack all the food and water you'll need should you become stuck (and you will, because you're not man enough for the interior). Anyway, there are basically two types of vehicles you see driving around in Iceland. You see little efficient coupes like the VW Polo, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai i10 (don't think they sell that one in the US), and suchlike. And you see MONSTROUS jacked up vans and SUVs, like a Ford full-size van with wheels approximately as large as a VW beetle. LandRovers with amphibious exhaust spouts (and enormous wheels), and, well, this kind of thing, which we saw today in Husavik:
Anyway... I could post several more pictures we've taken of outrageous vehicles for accessing the highlands in the interior, but that would be boring. Just thought you might find that interesting.
The other thing we did today was go to the Whale Museum in Husavik, because the Phallological Museum had moved to Reykjavik since our guidebook was written. I found the Whale Museum depressing. Husavik has changed from a whaling town into a whale-watching hub over the last 20 years or so, which is excellent. They, apparently, make a lot more money from the whale watching tours than from the whale-killing activities, which is great. But the whale museum is depressing if you, like me, can't stop wondering why humans are so greedy and evil and shortsighted and stupid. An entire species practically hunted to extinction, many of them killed for NO reason or benefit to anybody whatsoever, just because we COULD. It makes me sick. I guess, in the end, once the last of these magnificent creatures is gone it'll be good that there's a museum that people can go to and see what we destroyed. I guess.
Tomorrow is Myvatn and Kafla - big geothermal and volcanic areas. I'm excited about tomorrow!
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Or maybe she meant this was the part of Iceland that looks like the moon. It's hard to tell with arty types like her.
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Unless we book an Adventure Tour there.
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Oh to be there! I have Icelandic pals who are there right now but they will return to Canada soon.
Ekatarina
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