January 11

 Glacier Lagoon - Diamond Beach - Glaciers & Lava Fields

We began the day, again, dark & early as we on the bus by 8am for the long drive to the east coast of Iceland to visit the Glacier Lagoon.  We made a stop about half way and then we entered the national park where we were surrounded by the massive glacier - it's the biggest glacier in all of Europe.  After about three hours we pulled up to the spectacular Glacier Lagoon.  The grounds were covered with ice so we put on our "cramp-ons" and made the walk to the beach to see the massive chunks of ice.  Then Kim and I bravely climbed up the ice-covered path to the top of the hill to get a panoramic view and have our photo taken.  On the way down the hillside (and it was a bit tricky) we saw seals splashing in the lagoon.  You have to watch the video (either the short one on Facebook or the extended version once we return home).  It was a really amazing sight.

We pulled out of the parking lot and literally drove across the road to reach the Diamond Black Sand Beach where massive ice chunks littered the beach.  It was relatively easy to access the beach and then the black sand was sooooo fine, easy to maneuver on and get photos.  I asked Bob & Pam to join us near an ice chunk for a group photo and then Kim spotted a chunk of ice floating just off the beach.  I climbed on and immediately the tide came in and I was three feet out into the bay!  Everyone watching good-naturedly waved good-bye to me and told them "he who hesitates is lost,"  And I encouraged them to all jump on when the water went back out.  They did and it was - I thought - a spectacular photo.  Got a good shot of the sunset over a big chunk of ice as well.

Back on the bus and stopped for lunch - we each had a lamb burger and fries (very good).  Then as we headed out we stopped for a photo op of two of the big glaciers - the one of which was used in the filming of "Game of Thrones" for the Great North Wall.  That was pretty cool.

The Great Wall of the North from GOT

Back on the bus and made most of the long drive before we pulled off to a scenic overlook to check out the lava fields covered in snow.  And on the lookout platform it was PERFECT TIMING as the glacier had a gorgeous pink hue to it and when you turned around the sun was setting over the snow-covered lava field.  Of course we did a photo op - it was an awesome picture of the two of us representing a great day.

Once back at the hotel we had about an hour before we met for happy hour.  Then we had a group photo taken with our travel agent host Rene and her husband John.  Those who were not in this group had no real idea that there was a "Rene Group" so we took a group photo of the "Non-Rene Group" LOL.  And to top off happy hour, our driver Arnor had gathered a huge chunk of the glacier and brought it back with us.  So all drinks were served with glacier ice!

The "Rene Group"

The "Non-Rene Group"

At 8:30pm (after dinner) we set out in search of the Northern Lights again.  The sky was darker, there was less cloud cover and there was a much more distinctive "glow" that IS the Northern Lights.  Certainly not the photos that are captured on the BEST of nights by the professional photographers, but you can see the greenish-hue of the glowing Aurora Borealis.  Interesting side note, our guide Cinthia remarked today that in the several years she's been doing this tour / been in Iceland during the winter she's seen THE Northern Lights you see in professional pictures just five times.  Tomorrow is a PACKED day as we're out the door at 7:45 am; driving to the Golden Circle (remember that was supposed to be the all-day event on Monday); then doing the Blue Lagoon; THEN doing the Farewell Dinner in Reykjavik .... AND providing all goes well we will get the boat trip in the harbor to search for the Northern Lights as we were scheduled to do on the first night.  WHEW.  Then home Friday late afternoon arriving at midnight in South Florida.