Goðafoss waterfalls, North Iceland. "Waterfall of the Gods". It was partially frozen with a skull-shape in centre of ice. The Goðafoss waterfall is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters over a width of 30 meters. This is near Mývatn Lake, where the 3rd season of The Game of Thrones was filmed last year!
Ski/Snowboarding at Hlíðarfjall ski hill, N Iceland.
Last weekend, Friday, Feb 1st, Niall & I joined a bus heading to north Iceland, arranged thru the Univ of Iceland exchange students for a weekend ski trip. Niall was the only child and I the only parent, but we had fun and enjoyed the group of mostly students from Spain, Germany, Poland, Norway, & France. Akureyri is the largest centre in the north, and a quaint village with Iceland's best ski hill, Hlíðarfjalli. Everyone else stayed in the Backpackers Hostel. Niall & I stayed at a cozy, quiet, comfortable guesthouse, Gula Vilan. I'd recommend it if you ever are in Akureyri :) This village felt really great to spend more time in.
Saturday morning, bright n early, we set out for the hill only to find out it was closed due to extreme high winds. Go figure! This is Iceland, as the saying goes, the weather changes every 5 min. The blizzard didn't let up so instead we did a 'north Iceland tour' which was fantastic. We went to the Goðafoss waterfall, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. Pictured above, is the iced over version we saw! It has great historical significance. In the year 1000 the Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland. After his conversion Þorgeir threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall. We stopped at Námafjall geothermal site with its surface boiling water and sulphurous mud springs. It was dusk so the billowing steam coming from the earth blew around us with a flurry and smell of sulphur - a natural wonder. This is near the Krafla volcano and its famous 'Krafla volcano fires' that lastest for years and the nearby geothermal energy plant. We drove thru very rare geological features such as Sudo Craters and flat top mountains (remnants of glacier-covered volcanic eruptions that leave the flat mountain after the glacier melts). Ahhh, then to reach our relaxing destination, the 'Blue Lagoon of the North", called Mývatn Nature Baths. It was dark out, and stayed in the geothermal pools for a couple hrs soaking. The natural sauna was very nice, too. We found out that the third season of famous movie series, Game of Thrones, was filmed in the Mývatn area we spent the afternoon and evening in.
Sunday: our second attempt at getting on the ski hill was a success, yeah! :) Niall and I got snowboards. I had no idea he could snowboard so well and fast, we kept up together well then I changed to ski's so that I could stay with him he was that good. Those full-day snowboard schools sure do pay off, with skills and confidence. Skiing at Hlíðarfjall was a mix of loving the opportunity to ski/board in Iceland with a fresh perspective on how lucky we are in British Columbia to have the best skiing in the world. Once people know we are from BC and the rocky mountains, if they are skiiers there is instant "Ohh, that is my dream to ski there" with some friendly envy and respect. The white-on-white skiing with absolutely not ONE tree was a new experience!! Our six-hr drive home south to Reykjavik was through a snow blizzard and white outs. Niall made friends with guys from Spain, France and Iceland - I don't think Niall will ever forget some of the fun he had with those university students. One girl from Spain said "i fell in love" she really liked Niall, and her Italian friend, Dario, was the funniest guy that seriously asked Niall if he could teach him how to snowboard. Several of the guys and Niall had a snowball fight on the ski hill, it was a great group. At one point, Niall went to the beginner hill looking for some of the students because he wanted to teach. Such a great attitude :) Good to be home! Glad to have experienced the North...finally!!!
Saturday morning, bright n early, we set out for the hill only to find out it was closed due to extreme high winds. Go figure! This is Iceland, as the saying goes, the weather changes every 5 min. The blizzard didn't let up so instead we did a 'north Iceland tour' which was fantastic. We went to the Goðafoss waterfall, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Iceland. Pictured above, is the iced over version we saw! It has great historical significance. In the year 1000 the Lawspeaker Þorgeir Ljósvetningagoði made Christianity the official religion of Iceland. After his conversion Þorgeir threw his statues of the Norse gods into the waterfall. We stopped at Námafjall geothermal site with its surface boiling water and sulphurous mud springs. It was dusk so the billowing steam coming from the earth blew around us with a flurry and smell of sulphur - a natural wonder. This is near the Krafla volcano and its famous 'Krafla volcano fires' that lastest for years and the nearby geothermal energy plant. We drove thru very rare geological features such as Sudo Craters and flat top mountains (remnants of glacier-covered volcanic eruptions that leave the flat mountain after the glacier melts). Ahhh, then to reach our relaxing destination, the 'Blue Lagoon of the North", called Mývatn Nature Baths. It was dark out, and stayed in the geothermal pools for a couple hrs soaking. The natural sauna was very nice, too. We found out that the third season of famous movie series, Game of Thrones, was filmed in the Mývatn area we spent the afternoon and evening in.
Sunday: our second attempt at getting on the ski hill was a success, yeah! :) Niall and I got snowboards. I had no idea he could snowboard so well and fast, we kept up together well then I changed to ski's so that I could stay with him he was that good. Those full-day snowboard schools sure do pay off, with skills and confidence. Skiing at Hlíðarfjall was a mix of loving the opportunity to ski/board in Iceland with a fresh perspective on how lucky we are in British Columbia to have the best skiing in the world. Once people know we are from BC and the rocky mountains, if they are skiiers there is instant "Ohh, that is my dream to ski there" with some friendly envy and respect. The white-on-white skiing with absolutely not ONE tree was a new experience!! Our six-hr drive home south to Reykjavik was through a snow blizzard and white outs. Niall made friends with guys from Spain, France and Iceland - I don't think Niall will ever forget some of the fun he had with those university students. One girl from Spain said "i fell in love" she really liked Niall, and her Italian friend, Dario, was the funniest guy that seriously asked Niall if he could teach him how to snowboard. Several of the guys and Niall had a snowball fight on the ski hill, it was a great group. At one point, Niall went to the beginner hill looking for some of the students because he wanted to teach. Such a great attitude :) Good to be home! Glad to have experienced the North...finally!!!