The ironman of travel Yoshimasa Ikeuchi

Viking monument in the harbor of Reykjavik

The hotel is well heated using hot springs, and you can enjoy the feeling of hot springs with the smell of sulfur. The port is undergoing reclamation work and a large building is under construction. Stay in Iceland for 10 days. Planned a trip based in an apartment hotel in the city of Reykjavik.

Reykjavik harbor is a rush to build large buildings

Euro price displays are now ubiquitous. (Applied to Euro member countries in August 2009) Prices continue to inflate, but they are still cheap for travelers. Reykjavik means "Smoke Harbor". The Island discovered by the Vikings is fluttering with the smoke of hot springs born from volcanoes everywhere.

A mysterious waterfall that springs from the basement, Hraunfossar(Lava Falls)

kazu

yoshi

midori

mo-ri

sigeko

fusae

Iceland tells the history of the earth. Fjord where the beauty of nature is often seen on the coastline. There are geothermal power plants in various places, and thanks to the hot springs, there are lakes that do not freeze even in winter. Enactment of the world's first constitution, election of the world's first female president (1980).　

Greenland

Travel companions immersed in the blue lagoon

Pasture with glaciers in the background

Glacial lake cruising

Glacier trekking

Cracks in the earth

Vatnajokull

Poppy flowers in the Akureyri botanical garden

Night view of the town of Reykjavik

Hot spring smoke is ubiquitous

Reykjavik Geothermal Power Plant

Akureyri Golden Circle (a popular area for sightseeing in Iceland), Hohun (a glacier walk), Westman Islands (a sanctuary for seabirds), etc. We have taken a step toward exploring the history of the earth. The travel coordinator is Mizuho Watanabe, who has lived in Reykjavik for 10 years.

Start from a day when you do nothing with your own interpretation. Search from the northern town tomorrow. Akureyri was scheduled to stay overnight, but I couldn't make a hotel reservation, so a day tour. It's hard to leave at 6:30 in the early morning.

The traveling companions are Morio Furuya (a friend for 50 years) and Kazuo Hayashi, a younger sister and his wife. A little tired from the adventures of glaciers and iceberg cruises on long trips. Reykjavik is rainy, cold strong winds blow, and dark clouds are a great rest day. Resting without doing anything.

At that time, the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (1979) was born, but no female president was born in any country in the world. It is also fresh in my memory that such an Island country went bankrupt in June 2008. Icelandic krone has fallen by more than half, and at the same time the economy has fallen.

Prologue

Faroe Islands

Iceland

The old days and now of the town of Reykjavik

Black sand lagoon

I found a dandelion on the cliff and tried to approach it, but my legs did not come out. Crawling to the edge of the cliff. A commemorative piece fits in the film. The highlight is the open-air bath run by a restaurant in Myvatn. It is also a mixed bath (wearing a swimsuit) (1500, yen discount for 67 years old and over)　

After a long absence, I went to a hot spring, and the tiredness of my trip flowed into the hot spring. "Cheers" with a glass of beer to drink after the bath. The liquid that rubs your dry throat and tastes goes straight to your stomach. "Umm delicious" Tap water is even more delicious. There is no place in the world where you can drink mineral water that has been filtered by lava and is 1000 years old. A warm bath from the heart of my body makes me feel like a dream.

The wives search for a T-shirt with a commemorative aurora design. It's a big difference if you think you'll see the aurora in the cold. Here in Iceland, it is unlikely that the temperature will be negative even in winter due to the warm current of Mexico. We are excited to see the northern lights in the middle of winter.

Godafoss Waterfall named God’ Waterfall. I can see it for a while in a wonderful waterfall. You can also peep into the waterfall basin from the top of the rocky mountain. In Japan, a rope in the exclusion zone will be stretched. Everything is at your own risk. Some people are impressed by the spectacular waterfall with no fences and the best in the world.

Godafoss Waterfall (God's Waterfall)

Fortunately, the sun is shining and the flowers begin to shine. Bees also fly around in search of honey. It's my first experience at a botanical garden in the early morning. The guide said, "Please relax" when you see us flying from flower to flower far beyond the scheduled time. I will adjust the time later.

45 minutes by air travel from Reykjavik. The spectacular view from the sky overlooking the glacier is also early in the morning, so I fall asleep on the plane. It's a pity that I missed the chance to take a picture. I'm sorry to lose that I can't beat aging. The botanical garden I visited opens at 8 am. Besides, I am happy that the entrance fee is free.

Parents and children walking

Jigokudani

Molly, Shigeko and Kazu

Kotetsu, Mizuho and Me

Open-air bath

Parents and children I met in the city

Aurora T-shirt

Downtown Akureyri

House 200 years ago

Let's go home

Akureyri Botanical Garden Flowers

Akureyri Botanical Garden Flowers

Inside the park where bees fly around

This is the first time for a blue hot spring! Japanese people like hot springs are famous. The temperature is a little lukewarm (35 ℃ -39 ℃). Looking for the right temperature, wandering around the hot springs. Gravel is spread at your feet. Hot springs that contain silicon are smooth and gentle on the skin.

Akureyri is the second largest town in Iceland. The old houses 200 years ago (1800s) have been well preserved and are still used as houses. The center of the town is only a few tens of meters, but there are colorful houses.　

Godafoss Waterfall (God's Waterfall)

A glass of beer to drink after the bath

Husavik fishing port fishing port

Rare goat gut lunch

Marimo of Myvatn

Dimmuborgir

Akureyri Cathedral

Other tourists also came. The quiet garden suddenly becomes lively, and the flowers are booming. A group from New York "Japanese? Where are you from?" "From Kobe" "Kobe beef" Unfortunately, I head to the next planned site.

The management of the park is done by a part-time job of junior and senior high school students. By the way, even in the Faroe Islands, I saw many young people in the early morning cleaning car. Flowers collected from all over the world. Bright colors. Eyes shine on varieties that I have never seen. The walking path is not decided and you can act freely.　

Dandelions blooming on the cliff

Hot water is charged, but tap water is free. I envy the utility bill for ordinary households, which is about 2,500 yen per month. Hekla (1492m), an active volcano, was the last earthquake in February 2000. It's quiet now. Among the many waterfalls, Hraunfossar is my favorite.

Hot water rises on one side, and tourists gather around it. The guide warns us that we should never stand downwind. It seems that you may get burned with boiling water. The distance between the spouts (2m) reminiscent of magma breathing is different each time.　

Clear ice. You can drink the best mineral water by twisting the tap. The abundant water source is glaciers. You can immediately break into the wilderness from the town of Reykjavik. A glacier can be seen beyond the flat land overlooking the distance. Countless waterfalls flow down from the glacier.

The source of the most delicious water in the world

Dynamic Gullfoss

It's worth driving along the bumpy road for 2 hours and 30 minutes from the town. The waterfall that flows down is full of minerals. The one that I wished for would be forever engraved in my memory of visiting the Islands. One of the recommended places for traveling ironmen.

Another waterfall overwhelms what you see. Spectacular waterfall "Gullfoss". (River width 70m, head 32m) Water droplets rise like smoke and have an eerie force. A violent and dynamic beauty that makes you chill when you look from the top of the rock. This is also the brave figure of nature created by glaciers.

On the one hand, a small Geysir that spouts a source at 98 ° C. Tomatoes made in a nearby greenhouse using this hot water. What is the taste of the tomatoes I bought for tonight's table? It's nice to be able to drink "whisky on the rock" again tonight with the best tap water in the world after a thousand years.

If you observe carefully, the water surface will rise and you will think that it has changed to blue, and the hot water column will rise to the air at once. It makes me think that it will go higher. Expectations never end and it's hard to leave this place.

Geyser in the northeast of Reykjavik. What used to blow up 60m to 70m is now reborn as a new geyser. "Strokkur" blows hot water every 5 minutes (30m).

The waterfall that springs out of the lava (1km wide) is a waterfall that has been sunk underground for 200 years. The beauty of the waterfall is like watching magic. The pattern drawn by the water curtain changes every second.　

Tomatoes harvested in a hot spring greenhouse

The Great Glacier will be the most delicious water in the world

The panoramic view of the waterfall of Hraunfossar is 1km

Tourists waiting for the next

Bull water suddenly rises from a 2m depression

Geysir

Magical waterfall of water curtain

Froin Monkey Waterfall

98 degrees spring source

Dynamic Gullfoss

The tip of a glacier that can be seen in the immediate vicinity

Depart for glacial lake cruising

Glacial lake

Glacial lake cruising also lacks power after a large glacier. The natural world is not designed for human convenience. The bad weather continued and I couldn't let go of the feathers every day, but today's weather is a blessing of nature.

A flock is dangerous to go alone

Wow! !! A trembling view, Kotetsu

Commemorative photo near the top of the mountain

Good luck blessed with fine weather after a long absence

Heading to the summit with four-wheel drive

A panoramic landscape below

Mountain hut near 800m

Lunch time on the hillside of the Vatnajokull

Vatnajokull

Descending the glacier to 76m cape. Bird watching tour of the black sand delta with a farming tractor.

Cold air hitting the cheeks (4 ° C) Feeling of feet standing on the ice sheet. Everything is united and transmitted to the body. One of the largest glacier landscapes in the world, "Wow". I screamed aloud.

It was the 7th day since I came to Iceland and I was finally blessed with good weather. The glaciers seen under the blue sky are so magnificent that you can't think of them in this world. Peek into the finder to look like a maiden without a single point. Its beauty is difficult to convey with a camera.

Finally arrived at the summit. The moment you land on the glacier. I can't believe it. It's like conquering Everest. Below this is a glacier! 360, degree panorama. A black fault eerily strips its fangs. Keep away from cliffs. Fear approaches your feet.

 

The size of the glacier is immeasurable. (8400 square kilometers, the combined size of Tokyo, Kanagawa, and Saitama) Creepy lava that sometimes appears. A small crevasse is easily jumped over by car.

In the mountain lodge, halve the air in the car tires and get on the glacier. The reason for removing the air is to widen the tire area and prevent slipping on snowy roads. 30 minutes to run on the ice road. The world of silver and silver that continues forever.　

The gravel road on the way shows a comfortable run. Mountain roads without guardrails are thrilling. It is a showcase for the skill of a skilled driver. The panorama under your eyes is a bit different from what you see from the observatory.

There are no guardrails on the mountain road

I'm excited just to imagine the sight of a glacier running in a jeep. At the foot of the glacier that can be seen faintly at the top of the mountain, switch to a four-wheel drive vehicle made by a Japanese car. The car is powerfully aiming for the summit. Climb to the mountain hut near 800m at a stretch.

• It is not dirt that the tip of the glacier is black. A lot of black sand can be seen along the coastline. Sandy black basalt is carried by the wind and attached to the glacier. A four-wheel drive adventure over Europe's largest Vatnajokull.

A big crevasse, if it falls there, it's over

Chicks grow on cliffs

Tour by agricultural tractor

Walk in the delta

Glacial lake cruising

Puffins seen a few meters away

That attacks people

Kazu taking a moving piece

Crevasses everywhere

Great glacier as far as the eye can see

Heimaey Island　

 Westman Islands 4200

Crashing waves

Puffins and volcanoes. The southern Island of Iceland is a paradise for wild birds. The 1973 volcanic eruption caused lava to flow into the harbor and witness its awesomeness. The Island that keeps people away is a sanctuary for birds. Bird watching from the sea on a boat tour. I can meet my favorite puffin.

 Islands created in order by volcanoes

Lava flowing to the side of the town

Shige and Kotetsu looking into the crater

Mortar-shaped crater

Video of a volcanic eruption 36 years ago

Puffin

Boat around the Island, captain and me

However, the house that is still sleeping under the lava. It is not very suitable for nature. Humans living with nature are also wonderful. Mr. and Mrs. Hayashi (Kobe) were also impressed by the fact that when they talked about the collapse of their houses due to the earthquake and many people died, they quietly prayed for a cross on their chests with sad faces.

The harbor is saved on the verge

The lava plateau that remains on the east side of the Island. Feel the awesomeness of the explosion just 36 years ago. Dark earth, reddish brown crater. A house crushed by lava. You can see that a new Island was born by the volcano. Information center that shows the pattern at that time on video. Miraculously, there was no casualty, and the beautiful old townscape is now being rebuilt.

After lunch, take a nap on the lawn in the square. Spend almost an hour comfortably. Under the blue sky, my sister stretches out her limbs and recovers. This time from land to puffin watching. The puffin flying in front of me is out of focus. The shot I finally got wasn't satisfactory either.

The sound of the owner's tenor saxophone blowing in the cave echoes on the rock wall and heals the traveler. My sister "Shigeko", who is weak on the ship, has a bad complexion. I'm worried when a lively person becomes silent. In exchange for that, I was surprised at the transformation of Kotetsu (my wife), and the seasickness that was so weak disappeared. Familiarity is scary.

I could easily meet murres and northern fulmars, but I couldn't see puffin in the middle. Child-rearing ends in the latter half of July, so the number of child-rearing homecomings is decreasing. You can enjoy a boat tour of the island for 1 week (2 hours, 3700 yen).

Captain's tenor saxophone blowing in the cave

Elephant

Puffin

Tomorrow is east and today is west. 10 days of traveling across the Island. "Confirm the cracks in the earth" at the junction of the Eurasian plate and the North American plate "Iceland" created by submarine volcanoes The history of the earth can be seen everywhere.　

Hot spring "Blue Lagoon" (4000 yen) in the lava ground We, who love hot springs, enjoyed visiting three hot springs.

The temperature is a little low (30 ℃ -39 ℃). The hot springs are dyed blue and full of minerals.

Westman Islands

Me during shooting

Favorite puffin

Popular restaurant (CARUSO)

Hathor Grim Skillca Church

Vatnajokull

The city's popular restaurant, CARUSO, was founded in 1892 and tastes local cuisine. Impressed by the waitress who speaks in Japanese. Shopping at a fun supermarket was a short time, but I experienced life in Iceland.　

August 4th-August 14th, 2009

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Yoshimasa Ikeuchi, a traveling iron man

Copenhagen sushi restaurant

Inside the church

Kazu and Morley listening to the performance

Church stained glass

pipe organ

cod

Nightly banquet at the condo

Mizuho Watanabe, who has lived in Iceland for 10 years.

I was especially indebted to my acquaintance, Icelandair's agent, Mr. Fumi Sakata. Thanks to him, a leisurely and leisurely trip that you can't enjoy on a tour I ran on the glacier with a jeep and stood on the glacier of 1000m and enjoyed the dynamic landscape. The fear of my feet shrinking.

Footbath

It's a good hot water ♪♪

Silicon mud pack

Reykjavik's Blue Lagoon

Cracks in the earth

Postcards sent to Kotetsu 40 years ago

Copenhagen 2009

Cracks in the earth

Glacial lake

Kotetsu's one word

　I was very impressed with the 360-degree glacier and the first experience of standing on it. I met a cute puffin, soaked in the hot springs of the Blue Lagoon, and felt that the trip with her close friends was as short as three weeks.

The Island made me feel alive. Thank you for many encounters. Lively nightly dinner, the finale of the trip is toasted again with "Martini".

Cat is not listening

A pipe organ concert at a church I met by chance. It echoes inside the church. The moment I listened to the tone, it made me feel refreshed as if my heart was washed.　

Easygoing and gentle Icelander. Summer flowers colorfully color the city. The hot spring mood that you can enjoy every day thanks to the smell of sulfur in the hotel's hot shower.

Like Japan, the country of whaling, the Islanders like whales. I bought whale meat at the supermarket and ate it in a room with a kitchen. "Whale" (1kg 900 yen) Cheap and delicious whales crowded the table twice. I didn't take a picture of the record because it was too fast to eat.

Make your skin smooth with a "mud pack" that has a beauty effect. The effect is perfect, but what is the result? However, long baths are forbidden, and I'm quite tired later. Enjoy a late dinner in the midnight sun and have a banquet every day.

"Mizuho Watanabe," who has an ancestor of Vikings who cannot understand Icelandic at all and speaks the ancient Norse of the North Germanic language. Thanks to her, I was able to enjoy my trip. Thank you for the relationship with people.

Me during shooting

Cracks in the earth