2014 - OCEAN PRINCESS - ON THE WAY, ICELAND

THIS TRIP IS GOING TO BE A CRUISE ON THE OCEAN PRINCESS FROM DOVER.

BUT FIRST, A STOPOVER IN ICELAND.

AS SOON AS I LANDED, I FOUND ICELAND HAS SOMETHING UNIQUE IN MY EXPERIENCE. DUTY FREE ON ARRIVAL. WHAT A GREAT IDEA. I AM SURPRISED EVERY COUNTRY DOES NOT DO IT.
I PASSED ON USING IT THOUGH I SHOULD HEVE PICKED UP A BOTTLE OF SOMETHING & LEFT IT AS A TIP FOR THE CHAMBERMAID.
BOOZE IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE HERE WITH A 25.5 % TAX IN RESTAURANTS ON A BEER.
LIKE EVERYWHERE, THINGS CAN BE EXPENSIVE OR NOT. I BOUGHT A THREE DAY REYKJARVIK BUS PASS FOR ABOUT 24 DOLLARS & SNACKS FROM THE SUPERMARKETS WERE REASONABLY PRICED. THE HOTEL BJORK WAS UNDER 300 DOLLARS TOTAL FOR 4 NIGHTS, BREAKFAST INCLUDED. NOTHING FANCY BUT CLEAN & MORE THAN ADEQUATE.

ANYWAY - ON WITH THE TRIP.... WITH A WALK AROUND REYKJARVIK

PASSED A CHURCH

AND ANOTHER UNIQUE FEATURE....

THIS IS FROM INSIDE A RESTAURANT INSIDE THE TOWN HALL. VERY SWISH.

MY ONLY POLAR BEAR SIGHTING...

AND HERE IS THE PENIS MUSEUM. ALWAYS CLOSED WHEN I PASSED BY WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE SINCE IT SOLD THE FUNNIEST T-SHIRT I HAVE SEEN - IT SAYS ' THIS MUSEUM IS NOT FOR PUSSIES'.

NOW I AM OUT ON A TOUR.... THEY PICKED ME UP AT THE HOTEL... GREAT.

OUT INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE... THIS IS WHERE THE ATLANTIC RIDGE IS ABOVE SEA LEVEL, WHERE EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA ARE SEPARATING. STAND HERE FOR A FEW MILLION YEARS & THE MOUNTAINS IN THE DISTANCE WILL BE TOO FAR AWAY TO SEE.

A COUPLE OF GIRLS FROM MONTREAL...

LOTS OF HORSES ON ICELAND & IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIGURE WHY THAT WOULD BE.

FOOD.

PASSING THOUGH A THERMAL AREA .... ON THE WAY TO A STOP AT...

.. A RATHER LARGE WATERFALL..

THEN WE BACKTRACK FOR AN HOUR OR SO AT THE THERMAL AREA.....GEYSIRS ERUPTING RIGHT & LEFT...

ALL THE GEYSIRS ARE NAMED AFTER THIS ONE, WHICH DOES NOT ERUPT ANYMORE.

THIS LADY IS PAINTING VIEWS FROM INSIDE A THERMAL POWER PLANT. IT SUPPLIES HOT WATER TO ALL OF REYKJARVIK, 27 KMS AWAY & ONLY LOSES 2 DEGREES CENTIGRADE OVER THAT DISTANCE.

REMARKABLE.

NOW I AM OUT ON THE OCEAN FOR A WHALE WATCHING TOUR....

AND THAT'S WHAT I SAW OF THE WHALES. A NICE BOAT RIDE, THOUGH IT WAS A TAD CHILLY...

BACK TO REYKJARVIK & A WALK AROUND THE HARBOUR... THIS IS THE CONCERT HALL...GETTING A CLEAN

LOTS OF GRADUATION GROUPS WANDERING AROUND MAKING LOTS OF NOISE & HAVING PARTIES ON THE STREET..

THE VIEW FROM THE HOTEL BJORK & A STOP-OFF AT THE BLUE LAGOON ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT...

AND THAT'S IT FOR ICELAND. MORE THAN WORTH ANOTHER VISIT BUT MAY IS TOO EARLY AS TOURS TO OUTLYING PARTS OF ICELAND DO NOT START TIL LATER IN JUNE.

ARRIVING IN LONDON THE STEWARDESS ASKED ME TO LET THE ICELANDIC PRESIDENT GET OFF FIRST. I WAS TEMPTED TO SAY NO.