Iceland review - 2015, Page 59

ICELAND REVIEW 57
single soul to be seen that early. For me, it
was surreal. What about the others? First
timers here? I thought. Everything was
closed, even the bakery, located not far
from the bus terminal.
I asked the two, and only, Italians on
the trip, Paolo and Marco, what they did
during the stop. “We counted the stairs to
the church.” “And how many are there?” I
asked. They had already forgotten. “116,”
said Paolo. “106 I think,” said Marco.
After a half hour drive from Akureyri we
reached the waterfall Goðafoss for our sev-
en-minute stop in 7°C (45°F). Enough time
to take a selfie and back onboard the bus.
The four stops by Lake Mývatn were a
little longer, especially the half hour stop
at Hverarönd, the geothermal area. People
seemed to like the colors—not the smell of
sulfur, though.
MIDDAY
Then it was on to Dettifoss waterfall, the
most powerful waterfall in Europe, where
we spent an hour. When I asked people at
the end of the trip what the highlight was,
everyone agreed this was it.
The grandiose waterfall welcomed us
with mist and no wind. When we arrived at
the parking lot just after 11 am you could
hear the waterfall thundering 1.5 km (0.9
miles) away. Even though I have been to
Dettifoss countless times it always surprises
me with its raw force.
The next stop, half-way into the trip, was
the town of Egilsstaðir, the service center
for East Iceland, where we spent an hour-
and-a-half.
Here the passengers bought some food
to take with them for the remainder of the
trip, had a reindeer burger, and invested in
extra outdoor clothing—it had been chilly,
so far.
TRAVEL
° OVERLOOKING HORNAFJÖRÐUR, 8:54 PM, AUGUST 7.
° BREIÐAMERKURSANDUR, 9:31 AM, AUGUST 8.
° LÓN LAGOON, 8:46 PM, AUGUST 7.