Aladdin's GRAND TOUR OF ICELAND 2015

01JUL: Reykjavik City sightseeing

Day 1

08:30 Pick up at hotel Fron
Reykjavik sightseeing tour includes Reykjavik‘s top attractions, interesting facts and stories that relate to history and Grönlandsresor - Iceland mapculture in Iceland. The tour travels the greater Reykjavik area including surrounding municipalities which provides an excellent opportunity to discover various things to see or to do in Reykjavik during your stay in Iceland.

On this tour you will visit Perlan glass dome where a 360 viewing platform provides some of the best places for sightseeing in Reykjavik.

After enjoying the spectacular view over Reykjavik city and its surroundings the tour proceeds to go to Reykjavik's seafront to the old Höfði house where all the important summit between former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and former U.S.S.R. Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev took place in 1986.

Next stop is Hallgrímskirkja church whos design was inspired by basalt lava columns, a common volcanic rock formation in Icelandic nature. From Hallgrimskirkja church the tour explores Reykjavik city centre in and around the Parliament building by Austurvöllur which sometime is referred to as "the Old town".
Grönlandsresor


Wednesday 1st of July 2015 and I was dead tired when they called me at 7 o'clock. They will pick me up at 8 thirty for the Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour. So I have time for a Diet MAX and a shower before going for my breakfast.

I was in the restaurant 10 minutes after 8 o'clock and that was a disappointment. This must be the worst hotel breakfast I have ever had. No bread, well, they had the sliced toast bread and not very much else. So it was no problem to be in time for the pick-up at 8 thirty.

Grey line didn't arrive until it was almost 9 o'clock and we were at Grey Line's terminal when it was past 9 o'clock already. We changed from the minivan to a bus and we left Grey line's terminal 9 fifteen something bound for new adventures and excitements in Reykjavik.

Grey line
Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour


Highlights

• Presidential residence at Bessastaðir
• The mysterious Huldufólk (Hidden People) of Hafnarfjörður
• View over Reykjavík city from Perlan dome
• Historical Höfði house
• Hallgrímskirkja church
• Parliament Alþingi

Inclusions


• Complimentary pick up and drop off for hotels and guest houses in Reykjavik
• Round trip transportation
• Professional travel guide

Description


This tour covers the city‘s top attractions, interesting facts and stories that relate to history and culture in Reykjavik and throughout Iceland. The excursion travels the greater Reykjavik area including surrounding municipalities which provides an excellent opportunity to discover various things to see or to do in Reykjavik during your stay in Iceland.

On this tour you will visit Perlan glass dome where a 360 viewing platform provides some of the best places for sightseeing in Reykjavik.

After enjoying the spectacular view over Reykjavik city and its surroundings the tour proceeds to go to Reykjavik's seafront to the old Höfði house where the all-important summit between former U.S. President Ronald Reagan and former U.S.S.R. Secretary General Mikhail Gorbachev took place in 1986.

Next stop is Hallgrímskirkja church who's design was inspired by basalt lava columns, a common volcanic rock formation in Icelandic nature. From Hallgrimskirkja church the tour explores Reykjavik city centre in and around the Parliament building by Austurvöllur which sometime is referred to as "the Old town"

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line
We are ready to take off with the bus

First stop at the Presidential residence at Bessastaðir. 5 minutes to take pictures and everyone left the bus for a photo session. We were soon on our way again

Bessastaðir

is today the official residence of the President of Iceland[1] and is situated on Garðabær, not far from the capital city, Reykjavík.

Bessastaðir was first settled in 1000. It became one of Snorri Sturluson's farm in the 13th century. After the slaying of Sturluson in September 1241, Bessastaðir was claimed by the King of Norway. Thereafter it became a Royal stronghold and the dwellings of the King's highest-ranking officers and officials in Iceland. It resisted an attack by Turkish slave raiders in July 1627. In the late 18th century Bessastaðir was changed into a school for a few years and until 1944 when it was donated to the President it was a common farm.

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Presidential residence at Bessastaðir
Presidential residence at Bessastaðir with the church in front

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Presidential residence at Bessastaðir
Taking pictures

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Presidential residence at Bessastaðir
Presidential residence at Bessastaðir with the church in front

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Presidential residence at Bessastaðir
Presidential residence at Bessastaðir with the church in front


Second stop, in Hafnarfjördur. There is a Gothic Arc in the fishing harbour. Another 5 minutes stop for pictures and we were soon on our way again

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Hafnarfjördur Gothic Arc
Everyone out for a 5 minutes photo stop

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Hafnarfjördur Gothic Arc
Hafnarfjördur Gothic Arc

Third stop was at the sculpture “Sun voyager” down at the water front. Another 5 minutes stop for pictures and we were soon on our way again.

Sun Voyager

(Icelandic: Sólfar) is sculpture by Jón Gunnar Árnason (1931 - 1989). Sun Voyager is a dreamboat, an ode to the sun. Intrinsically, it contains within itself the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress and freedom. The sculpture is located by Sæbraut, by the sea in the centre of Reykjavík, Iceland.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Sun Voyager
Sun Voyager

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Sun Voyager
Sun Voyager

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Sun Voyager
Sun Voyager

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Sun Voyager
Time to leave the Sun Voyager

Fourth stop was at the Hallgrímskirkja church. This time we had a 15 minutes stop for pictures and we were soon on our way again.

Hallgrímskirkja

(church of Hallgrímur) is a Lutheran (Church of Iceland) parish church in Reykjavík, Iceland. At 73 metres (244 ft), it is the largest church in Iceland and the sixth tallest architectural structure in Iceland after Longwave radio mast Hellissandur, the radio masts of the US Navy at Grindavík, Eiðar longwave transmitter and Smáratorg tower. The church is named after the Icelandic poet and clergyman Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614 to 1674), author of the Passion Hymns.

State Architect Guðjón Samúelsson's design of the church was commissioned in 1937. He is said to have designed it to resemble the basalt lava flows of Iceland's landscape. It took 38 years to build the church. Construction work began in 1945 and ended in 1986, the landmark tower being completed long before the church's actual completion.

The crypt beneath the choir was consecrated in 1948, the steeple and wings were completed in 1974, and the nave was consecrated in 1986. Situated in the centre of Reykjavík, it is one of the city's best-known landmarks and is visible throughout the city. It is similar in style to the expressionist architecture of Grundtvig's Church of Copenhagen, Denmark, completed in 1940.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Hallgrímskirkja
Stop at Hallgrímskirkja and we're not alone

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - Hallgrímskirkja
Hallgrímskirkja

We have one more stop before we finish the Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour. We will stop at the Pearl to have a look at Reykjavik from above. This stop lasted for 25 minutes as there were a chance to have something to drink and eat.

The Pearl

Perlan (English: The Pearl) is a landmark building in Reykjavík. It is 25.7 metres (84.3 ft) high. It was originally designed by Ingimundur Sveinsson. Perlan is situated on the hill Öskjuhlíð where there had been hot water storage tanks for decades. In 1991 the tanks were updated and a hemispherical structure placed on top. This project was largely done at the behest of Davíð Oddsson, during his time as mayor of Reykjavík.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
We're on the way to the Pearl

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
We're on the way to the Pearl

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
Reykjavik from the Pearl

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
Reykjavik from the Pearl

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
Reykjavik from the Pearl

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
Reykjavik from the Pearl

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
Reykjavik from the Pearl

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
Reykjavik from the Pearl

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
The Pearl

Reykjavik Sightseeing Tour with Grey line - The pearl - Perlan
The Pearl

I got off the bus at the opera house and I took a taxi to the fish restaurant where I had the fish Sjavarbarinn Sea foodstew yesterday. It was past 12 o'clock and I was in a hurry so I could make it with the 1 o'clock whale watching with Elding.

But first Sjavarbarinn Sea food for some lunch. The fish stew is excellent and nothing you want to Sjavarbarinn Sea foodmiss when you're in Reykjavik

Sjavarbarinn Sea food






I discovered that they had real tea pots when I paid my bill yesterday and I decided to come back here today. Very good food and real tea pots and we have a real winner.

Yes, a simple and cheap place, but the food is excellent and worth coming back for.

Sjavarbarinn Sea food
Excellent food. Sjavarbarinn Sea food is highly recommended by Aladdin
Visit their WEB PAGE

I paid my bill, I had had a wee bit too much to eat so I was not turning cartwheels out from the restaurant. I decided to take a taxi to Elding whale watching instead of walking the 5 minutes to Elding Whale Watchingthe jetty. And it was almost 1 o'clock so I was also in a hurry

I got out of the taxi in front of Elding’s office and I bought a ticket for the 1 o'clock cruise. It was raining and quite cold. I didn't worry much about the rain, but the wind. Yesterday it was impossible to take pictures due to the rolling and they told me at the office that it was a little worse today.

But what to do to kill time in Reykjavik? Not much to do and I decided to buy the ticket for the whale watching.

Reykjavik
Reykjavik from the Whale watching boat

Elding Whale Watching
The boat we used for the whale watching yesterday

Elding Whale Watching
Leaving Reykjavik behind

I walked down to the boat and I had to walk through, yes, through two boats to reach the boat Havsùlan. The first boat is a souvenir shop/ information centre. I was soon on the second deck waiting for the boat to take off. I could see the boat Elding that we had used for the whale watching at the midnight sun yesterday.

I meet a cute girl from China on the boat. Yes, I know what you're thinking. Aladdin harass the girls on the boat. Well, that was not the case.

Hard to believe, but it was actually she that started to talk with me every time and I spent most of the time talking with her. I'm not the kind of guy that can sit and talk for hours, but with her it was quite easy. And it was good, time passed quickly.

Elding - Adventures at sea


WHALE WHATCHING

TOUR DESCRIPTION

A guide will meet you in the Whale Watching Centre, which is facilitated on board an old fishing vessel permanently placed by Elding - Adventures at seathe pier. Before or after the tour you can enjoy the on board multimedia show that includes images, videos and facts about the whales and marine life.

Summer season is great for whale watching, as the wildlife in the bay is at its highest peak.

This is the time when the Minke whales are at their most abundant, along with the white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises and humpback whales, giving us the chance to enjoy and understand them in their natural environment.

You can check previous sightings through our online Whale Diary before your tour.

Our sighting success on previous tours is 91.40% however the cetacean abundance is unpredictable and varies with the food availability of our shores.

The most common cetacean in the area are the Minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises and occasionally we see other species including the humpback whales, killer whales/orcas and even fin whales.

If no whales or dolphins are seen on your tour we will offer you a complimentary ticket valid for two years.

TOUR AREA

Our whale watching tours are focused mainly on the southern part of Faxaflói, just off Reykjavík. Each day we scan the area for signs of whales as we never know for sure where we might find them. Sometimes we have to go far while at other times the whales are quite close to shore.In rare occasions we head to other areas and/or depart from nearby harbours e.g. Hafnarfjörður (Zone 1), Keflavík (Zone 2), Sandgerðir (Zone 3) or Grindavík (Zone 4). This is the case when weather conditions or chances of seeing the whales are greater there than in our normal area.


Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin
Pictures by Aladdin

Visit Elding's web page for more information

Elding - Adventures at sea

The rolling made it quite hard to take any pictures. I had given up, but just when we were about to return to Reykjavik I got a few pictures of a Humpback Whale showing the fluke when diving. We saw a few Minke Whales but they are quite boring. Humpback Whales are the funniest whale. Showing some skin and it is quite common to see them jump out of the water.

We were back in Reykjavik and I bought a small puffin bird in clay before I walked up the jetty and across the street to Volcano House to see a movie about volcanos on Iceland. I discovered a Icelandic Met Officemonitor showing earthquakes on Iceland. Seems like there are several of them each Volcano House in Reykjavikday. Visit Icelandic Met Office web page for a “live” earthquake watch

There have been a lot of activity in the SW corner of Iceland and also one volcano is marked as yellow, will I have to experience a volcano before going back home?

Icelandic Met Office
Plenty earthquake activity not far from Reykjavik

Icelandic Met Office
Plenty earthquake activity and that means that a volcano can erupt any time
and we have a code yellow warning from Icelandic Met Office today
Click HERE for bigger picture

I was at the Volcano House quarter to 5 and the movie started at 5 so I had time to look at rocks Volcano House in Reykjavikand volcano ashes etc. before the movie started.

The movie lasted for 53 Minutes and it was very interesting

The 1973 eruption on the Westman Islands
This 24-minute documentary contains stunning footage from the 1973 eruption on Heimaey, the largest of the the Westman Islands, which began without warning and without an active volcano just after midnight on 23 January 1973. The entire population of over 5,000 people was evacuated by boat to the mainland where they remained until the eruption stopped, seven months later. Dramatic and unforgettable footage.

Eyjafjallajökull and Fimmvörðuháls eruptions of 2010
This striking film documents the eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull and Fimmvörðulháls in 2010, which caused millions of people to be stranded worldwide as thousands of flights were cancelled. The documentary, with breath taking aerial views and footage, was produced by the Emmy-nominated director Jóhann Sigfússon, who has also produced nature documentaries for the BBC, National Geographic and Discovery Channel, among others. Duration: 28 minutes. This films also gives a good insight into the general geology and volcanology of Iceland.


Trailer for the very interesting 53 minutes movie at Volcano House

I visit to the Volcano House is highly recommended while in Reykjavik. And I had managed to visit the places I wanted to visit while in Reykjavik:
• Whales of Iceland
• Aurora Reykjavik - The Northern Lights Center
• The Volcano House

Plus 2 whale watching tours, I have more of the whale watching and the Puffin Tour booked for when I come back from Greenland. I left the Volcano House and I was going to walk through Reykjavik back to my room. I was hungry and I was looking for a restaurant the girl at Aurora Reykjavik had mentioned yesterday. A place with French fries made of Avocado.

I could not find it and I asked at the tourist information. They had obviously moved from town and SkåneI went in to Restaurant Reykjavik across the street just because I liked the house. Like a Gästgiveri in Skåne. And when I came inside I liked it even more. It looked like it was 100 years old and I felt like I was i Skåne. For 24 seconds.

They didn't had:
• Boiled potatoes
• Custard sauce (Vanilla sauce in Skåne)
• Whipped cream
No simple boiled potatoes. Only fancy potatoes with all the names to go with it. And they were serving whale, something I discovered when I had sat down and ordered the fish buffet.

More than 3 times the price comparing to Sjavarbarinn Sea food. And no sight of any tea pots, and the food at Sjavarbarinn Sea food tasted better, and they had boiled potatoes.

After 10 minutes I heard someone screaming F*** off and it sounded like they threw all the dishes on the floor. The Waitress working extra over the summer looked choked, but the other looked like it was a normal behaviour. I was scared and I left 10 minutes later walking back to my room.

7 o'clock wakeup call tomorrow and they will pick me up at 8 thirty and we can start the GRAND TOUR OF ICELAND 2015. This will be fun. And you just need to click HERE



       
                  

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizen visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? NJET PROBLEMA! Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.


                                       

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