Snaefellsnes Peninsula

 6/15: The day started with Bob improvising on how to clean our car windows with items at our rental since gas stations don’t seem to have window washing materials, and no car washes anywhere to be found (maybe because of all the rain?!)

The scene driving into the Snæfellsnes Peninsula was gorgeous: mountains, old volcanos, lava fields, lakes, and the ocean.

Our first stop was the Kirkjufell mountain - popular site in Game of Thrones

Charko likes it

We had an absolutely gorgeous day - such a treat after the crazy wind, cold, and rain!

Zoom in to see me in the middle!

Djupalonssandur Beach

We loved the scene at the Arnarstapi Cliffs. Iceland really is a photographers dream. There are so many gorgeous scenes!

These are Simone’s photographs! She is loving experimenting with different modes taking pictures of the scenes (learning from Bob!)

The perfect spot to stop for a beer, soda, and the most delicious piece of chocolate cake! Zoom in - we’re sitting at the corner spot!

We have now learned that beer (and all liquor) is so expensive because it is enormously taxed. A bottle of standard beer is about $12. The article I read said the government gets about 94% of the revenue from liquor sales!

Here is Simone's artistry

The lupines are EVERYWHERE! They are so beautiful. I found some really interesting info on them:

In 1945, a committee was set up to revegetate areas of Iceland (https://www.hakaimagazine.com/features/why-iceland-is-turning-purple/). A representative of the committee, Hákon Bjarnason, took a trip to Alaska to select plants he thought would do well in the harsh Icelandic landscape. 

 On November 3, 1945, he arrived home with his collection of seeds, and the story of the Lupine began. 

Lupine plants are pretty unique because they thrive well in harsh conditions. They are able to extract nitrogen from the air and redistribute it to their roots. To put it simply, the lupine plant makes its own fertiliser. 

 Iceland doesn’t have a great deal of botanical competition, so the fact that the Lupine is so good at thriving has meant that it has spread like wildfire. Some Icelanders feel that the Lupine is an invasive species; others think it helps irrigate the soil and prevent erosion.