R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 40

Jewel of the Seas — Belfast, Northern Ireland

Jewel of the Seas left Reykjavik, Iceland on 1 June 2022. We arrived at our next destination on this, the first of three back-to-back Jewel cruises, on 4 June. This week I will present some of the photographs I took on that visit, and on Wednesday’s article I’ll take you through St. George’s Market in particular. You may recall that Ursula and I have been here before. I posted a series back in May 2021 of that visit. But this week I’ll show you things we did not see that last time. After thi...

Fun Photo/Food Friday — Reykjavik Area Favorites and Eating at Hótel Skógafoss

Today I’m going to combine a Fun Photo Friday with a Fun Food Friday featuring a lunch review of the restaurant at Hótel Skógafoss in Skógar, just minutes away from on foot from the magnificent Skógafoss waterfall. We’ll start with a glance at the lunch menu at the Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar:

Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar

But that menu does not show you the full selection available. There were also sandwiches, French fries, and other popular fair:

Hótel Skógafoss Bistro and Bar...

Jewel of the Seas — Reykjavik; Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss video

Today I present a video showing off the magnificence of both the Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls. I put together this video for you (as well as my YouTube channel audience) because sometimes static photographs fail to capture the dynamics of moving scenery. This is particularly true in nature for things such as waterfalls. I hope you enjoy this short video (1 minute 27 seconds):

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Reykjavik; Seljalandsfoss

I‘ve already shown you the waterfall we saw earlier on this excursion on 13 June 2022 — Skógafoss. Today I’ll show you another that we visited after the black sand beach and basalt columns of Reynisfjara. Today’s article shows Seljalandfoss in pictures. Tune in Wednesday for dramatic (I hope) video of both Seljalandfoss and Skógafoss. Until then, here are today’s photos containing final shots of Reynisfjara and the waterfall Seljalandfoss:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Fun Photo Friday — Reykjavik Area Favorites 2

Stacked Rocks

Today is the second of two Fun Photo Fridays of Reykjavik-area favorites. Next week will be a Fun Food Friday.

Waterway Black Sand Photo Shoot Basalt Columns Black Sand and Stacks

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Reykjavik; The Basalt Columns of Reynisfjara

Reynisfjara

You may recall that I’ve shown you basalt columns before. On 30 July 2021 I posted a six-part series of articles on The Giant’s Causeway in Ireland (see Part 1: Northern Ireland — Reaching the Giant’s Causeway). You can click on that link to see how the Giant’s Causeway columns compare to those of Reynisfjara.

Reynisfjara basalt colums

So, here’s today’s offering of Reynisfjara’s column images:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Reykjavik; Black Sand of Reynisfjara

Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve

There is much to see here at Reynisdrangar. We’ll be spending some time discussing it over the next several articles, starting today with the ink-black sand of this incredible beach and the basalt stacks that rise from its shore and the ocean.

Reynisdrangar

And, yes, here’s you’ll find puffin breeding grounds on the high cliffs and seabirds accumulating on the beaches:

Puffin Puffin Awaiting Its Mate Birds of a Feather Flocking Together

Now ...

Fun Photo Friday — Reykjavik Area Favorites 1

Smoke-Free Environment, a.k.a., A No Puffin’ Zone Inverted Volcano Hanging from the Ceiling (Lava Centre) With All This Water, No Wonder It’s So Green Being Sheepish Posing on Basalt Columns

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Reykjavik; Skógafoss

Approaching Skógafoss by foot

Before I present additional images of Skógafoss up close, let me show you the surrounding scenery starting with some famed Icelandic sheep:

Sheep Country

And here are some of the surrounding mountains:

Skógafoss area

Now for a photo gallery/slide show of the spectacular Skógafoss:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Jewel of the Seas — Reykjavik; Lava Center and Skógafoss

Lava Center

We arrived into Reykjavik on 1 June 2022, and Ursula had us booked on a tour that was put together by one of our fellow passengers. All told, there were perhaps a dozen of us who would be heading to the southernmost point on Iceland. Along the way we would see waterfalls cascading from dizzying heights, black sand beaches that put those on Hawaii to shame, and an entertaining and informative Lava Centre:

Lava Centre

Our guide this day was absolutely wonderful. He’s a teacher ...