Day 2 in Isafjordur. The nice thing that Im discovering is that Icelandic words are generally spoken phonetically, so if you're able to read them (and you know the few icelandic letters) you can generally say things correctly to locals. Of course, not that it matters because all Islanders speak perfect English, and being able to say the name of a village isn't very useful for ordering food or asking directions(:
The day started off rather nicely at the Arctic Fox Preserve in Sudavik a town over. The Arctic Fox native to Iceland is actually genetically unique to the island, it's the only land mammal in the country, and the Western Fjords is where the majority of them live. The museum wasn't very big, but they did have two foxes out back that they rehabilitated but aren't allowed by law to release. Allison and I can now say that we have heard foxes laugh (whether with each other or at us we'll never know), and Allison had one sniff her hand. Apparently for some people they're like wild cats of the neighborhood cause they'll keep coming back if you feed them. I'm at least hoping we'll see one in the wild before we leave.
Since we're in Europe though, and most businesses aren't open on Sundays, we took the day to too more outdoorsy, expense-free things. Turns out it ended up being Waterfall day(: The crazy thing you have to know too about Iceland is that there are literally waterfalls EVERYWHERE. Like when you see videos of some South American countries or the jungle or whatever, they always show some random waterfall spilling a small stream of water over some Amazonian basin, and it's all great and cool. All except that here in Iceland, where you're either on flat plains or the vertical edge of a enormous peak rising straight up out of said plain, you can't look somewhere without at least spotting the potential beginning of a waterfall. All the mountains are topped with snow, so come later in summer, Im sure water is running down every crag and crevice Iceland contains.
That being said, Waterfall #1, which I think remains unnamed to this day (let's call it Gimlifjordur, cause it was short, but wide and powerful, like Gimli, and every name here in Iceland has the word -fjordur attached to the end) was pretty sweet. It was a short hike up a little road to it, and it was right next to the fox preserve. Nice thing too about it being small was we got to get nice up close and personal. Also the first wading in freezing Icelandic water for me that day(:
By sheer happenstance, we chose to go to Valagil Waterfall as Destination #2. What followed was a beautiful 2km hike along generally flat grasslands, passing babbling brooks, stony former riverbeds and the occasional bush. Seriously, they're not kidding when people say Iceland is idyllic. Anyways turns out Valagil starts right at the top of a mountain, and over time has worn out a deep crevice in the mountain so you can only get a full view of it from a certain angle away from the road! It kind of makes it special though: you have to really work to get there and see it(: Also, count this as #s 2 and 3 that I waded in freezing Icelandic water. Really its more to say that I did it, but wading in the third place as we were coming back from the waterfall really was lovely. The sand was soft on my feet(:
Little did we know what Waterfall #3 held for us......
BEHOLD, THE GREAT DYNJANDI
Imagine Niagara Falls. Now bring in significantly the sheer width of Niagara Falls, and pretend that instead of the water going straight off the edge of the falls, that it's rolling down a rocky set of cliffs to finally cascade into a large pool where it then falls again into another pool with a great amount of power and splashing. And imagine that that pool then falls into more pools and rivers, until finally you have a huge amount of little rivers all flowing towards an ever present Icelandic inlet situated between two mountains.
Or in short, again, BEHOLD, THE GREAT DYNJANDI.
Honestly, the comparison to Niagara Falls isn't very fair, cause Niagara Falls can't really be beat for sheer size and massiveness. But the amazing thing with Dynjandi is you get to go right up to it, without the help of any "Maids of the Mist". And in true European fashion, there are no guard rails to hold you back from risking life and limb to bring your face a little closer to that of Death. And there's nothing to stop you from experiencing a sense of just how amazing and awe-inspiring this world we live in really is. The hike up to the main falls was really beautiful. Ironically, for being one of the most out of the way things we've seen out here so far, it was actually probably the most curated. The Icelandic park service even had public restrooms out there, and had built some stairs to get to the main falls. Just to stand there though in the face of this huge mass of water churning down the mountainside, and to feel the mist of the water thrown into your face and celebrate being alive; that was definitely the highlight of the day for me. Iceland really continues to amaze.
HOWEVER, let it be known that Dynjandi is a trek to get to. And not just any kind of trek. I have to give a special shout out to our car, the little Kia C'eed we picked up from the rental car place. Amazingly enough, we got out here from Reykjavik only using a half tank of gas, cause the car is so small. That being said, I think it's assumed that a little car like this should not be expected to climb a gravel road up and down a mountain, turning around switchbacks and blind curves left and right, with a straight drop ever present and always waiting on one side of the road? That's what we thought. Turns out, the hour drive to Dynjandi involves all of that, not to mention (since we're driving through the mountains) sheer eight foot high walls of ice and snow lining the road ready to avalanche at a moment's notice! I would've turned on music in the car to help me calm my fears, but I was too worried just the car rolling by would be just the kickstart that snow needed to come sliding down(: So nervous silence and white knuckles on the wheel it was. Let it be known that Dynjandi was TOTALLY worth it all, but next time I might bring an SUV(:
A drive home and a couple bowls of Ramen later, and we're headed to bed. See you tomorrow.
The day started off rather nicely at the Arctic Fox Preserve in Sudavik a town over. The Arctic Fox native to Iceland is actually genetically unique to the island, it's the only land mammal in the country, and the Western Fjords is where the majority of them live. The museum wasn't very big, but they did have two foxes out back that they rehabilitated but aren't allowed by law to release. Allison and I can now say that we have heard foxes laugh (whether with each other or at us we'll never know), and Allison had one sniff her hand. Apparently for some people they're like wild cats of the neighborhood cause they'll keep coming back if you feed them. I'm at least hoping we'll see one in the wild before we leave.
Since we're in Europe though, and most businesses aren't open on Sundays, we took the day to too more outdoorsy, expense-free things. Turns out it ended up being Waterfall day(: The crazy thing you have to know too about Iceland is that there are literally waterfalls EVERYWHERE. Like when you see videos of some South American countries or the jungle or whatever, they always show some random waterfall spilling a small stream of water over some Amazonian basin, and it's all great and cool. All except that here in Iceland, where you're either on flat plains or the vertical edge of a enormous peak rising straight up out of said plain, you can't look somewhere without at least spotting the potential beginning of a waterfall. All the mountains are topped with snow, so come later in summer, Im sure water is running down every crag and crevice Iceland contains.
 |
| Don't know what it is, but I love this picture. Lovely Allison looking excited and Gimlifjordur in the back |
By sheer happenstance, we chose to go to Valagil Waterfall as Destination #2. What followed was a beautiful 2km hike along generally flat grasslands, passing babbling brooks, stony former riverbeds and the occasional bush. Seriously, they're not kidding when people say Iceland is idyllic. Anyways turns out Valagil starts right at the top of a mountain, and over time has worn out a deep crevice in the mountain so you can only get a full view of it from a certain angle away from the road! It kind of makes it special though: you have to really work to get there and see it(: Also, count this as #s 2 and 3 that I waded in freezing Icelandic water. Really its more to say that I did it, but wading in the third place as we were coming back from the waterfall really was lovely. The sand was soft on my feet(: |
| "I WANT ADVENTURE IN THE GREAT WIDE SOMEWHERE..." |
Little did we know what Waterfall #3 held for us......
BEHOLD, THE GREAT DYNJANDI
Imagine Niagara Falls. Now bring in significantly the sheer width of Niagara Falls, and pretend that instead of the water going straight off the edge of the falls, that it's rolling down a rocky set of cliffs to finally cascade into a large pool where it then falls again into another pool with a great amount of power and splashing. And imagine that that pool then falls into more pools and rivers, until finally you have a huge amount of little rivers all flowing towards an ever present Icelandic inlet situated between two mountains.
Or in short, again, BEHOLD, THE GREAT DYNJANDI.
Honestly, the comparison to Niagara Falls isn't very fair, cause Niagara Falls can't really be beat for sheer size and massiveness. But the amazing thing with Dynjandi is you get to go right up to it, without the help of any "Maids of the Mist". And in true European fashion, there are no guard rails to hold you back from risking life and limb to bring your face a little closer to that of Death. And there's nothing to stop you from experiencing a sense of just how amazing and awe-inspiring this world we live in really is. The hike up to the main falls was really beautiful. Ironically, for being one of the most out of the way things we've seen out here so far, it was actually probably the most curated. The Icelandic park service even had public restrooms out there, and had built some stairs to get to the main falls. Just to stand there though in the face of this huge mass of water churning down the mountainside, and to feel the mist of the water thrown into your face and celebrate being alive; that was definitely the highlight of the day for me. Iceland really continues to amaze.
HOWEVER, let it be known that Dynjandi is a trek to get to. And not just any kind of trek. I have to give a special shout out to our car, the little Kia C'eed we picked up from the rental car place. Amazingly enough, we got out here from Reykjavik only using a half tank of gas, cause the car is so small. That being said, I think it's assumed that a little car like this should not be expected to climb a gravel road up and down a mountain, turning around switchbacks and blind curves left and right, with a straight drop ever present and always waiting on one side of the road? That's what we thought. Turns out, the hour drive to Dynjandi involves all of that, not to mention (since we're driving through the mountains) sheer eight foot high walls of ice and snow lining the road ready to avalanche at a moment's notice! I would've turned on music in the car to help me calm my fears, but I was too worried just the car rolling by would be just the kickstart that snow needed to come sliding down(: So nervous silence and white knuckles on the wheel it was. Let it be known that Dynjandi was TOTALLY worth it all, but next time I might bring an SUV(:
 |
| Step Aside Unicorns, the power of Dynjandi is too great |
A drive home and a couple bowls of Ramen later, and we're headed to bed. See you tomorrow.
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