After a good night in out little cabin we were ready for some ice.

I have noticed lots of cabins and hotel seemingly in the middle of nowhere. It’s because they are away from lights because when the northern lights arrive you don’t want any light around.

Driving to our first stop I can’t stop looking at the landscape. the contrast between lava fields, glacial tracts the cloud formations. Like nothing I’ve seen anywhere else.

You can see when an attraction is coming up because of the cluster of cars parked and a small sign. Not big signs here. No billboards. ( they’d probably blow over). But very little visual pollution to compete with the landscape.

There is a 4 km round trip to view this waterfall so Steve headed off on his own and I sat quietly observing people and writing a postcard to my grandsons. Who writes postcards any more. Not usually me but I think the boys will enjoys getting them.

Back to the people. All nationalities, all types of gear, all sizes and definitely all levels of fitness. Steve said a few struggled with the sometimes steep path.

Not Steve. He had taken over bring the walker in our family.

Back on the road towards the Glacial Lagoon. Here they offer boat trips up the lagoon to the wall of the glacier. We nearly missed out on a seat as they book out so quickly.

As you cross the bridge you can see large icebergs all around. the landcover is barren and brown which contrasts with the pearling white water and the icebergs.

We checked in at the truck for Jokulsarlon Ice Tours truck and told to come back in 30 minutes to ‘suit up’ This gave us time for a quick bite from one of the food trucks offering fish ‘n chips , lobster soup or lobster rolls , hot dogs or pancakes. All pretty good and all expensive. I have to stop thinking $$

Our group arrived for suiting up and Adam our Swedish guide helped fit us out. Shoes off , suits on , shoes on, cameras in pockets. Life jacket on then onto the bus for a 5 min ride to where the boats come and go on the hour.

It was quite cool but we were lucky as the sun was out most of the time. The suits keep you pretty warm and a hat helps for when the boat picks up speed for the 7 km ride through big and little chucks of ice broken off from the main glacier.

The glacier lagoon opens to the sea so seals and fish can enter the lagoon.

The ice chunks are like sculptures & look amazing.

Our guide Paulina was a great source of information and kept us entertained and informed us about glaciers. And how we need another ice age as the glaciers are melting and receding at an alarming rate.

We saw some Arctic tern birds who journey each season from the Antarctic to here each season. Quite a journey.

We were out in the lagoon for about 1 hour 30 and it was breathtaking.

The colours changed. The blue , the grey , the ash embedded in the ice giving it a striped appearance.

Finally time to return. And I thought how lucky we were to experience this one such a beautiful day.

Back in the car Steve , my Australian driver husband said ‘let’s continue on to Hofn’. This is a little fishing town about another hour up the road.

It was a pretty little harbour town

The thing about these towns is that they appear so quiet. Everything is designed for cold weather. Freezing weather so the buildings are block like. No verandahs, no decks, no outdoor living. Not much in the way of gardens. Few trees , stark buildings.

We found a lovely looking restaurant. Went in. Sat down. Checked the menu. Got up with an apologetic voice said we actually wanted some lobster. They only had a bisque. Steve wanted some lobster. Went to Ossin down the road and had a lovely meal before our nearly 3 hour drive back to our cabin.

But it’s no problem here. It stays light until around 10pm.

Our special day was complete.