My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 23.day

5.September 1998

To Hanstholm we came at morning with a little bit delay, because of storm. It took long time before we were in the bus. The most of us were so tired and we tried to sleep. When I woke up, it was afternoon and we rushed through Germany to Czech republic. Near of Czech boundaries we passed bus of our friends from travel agency "Kracalik". It had accident with some german car. It looked like nothing serious happened. But it was weekend and it took them, long time before they could continue, we thought. E-55 was abandoned, it wasn't right time for prostitutes. In Prague we broke with most of our travelers. Together with them our bus left also our guide Hynek. Radio Reykjavik stopped its broadcasting for the rest of our travel. In Brno bus left next part of travelers from Moravia. To Bratislava we arrived at evening. There we said good bay to rest of our group. We had only a few of new addresses from our new friends. In shorts, I have never used them on Iceland we divided to our homes. But Iceland stayed in our heads forever.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 22.day

4.September 1998

That night we didn't sleep so much. Hynek persuaded us not to sleep. Why? He promised us beautiful sunset over Torshavn. At 3 o' clock morning we had to leave Viking club, because they wanted to close it. We spend rest of time, speaking, near of Viking club. We were so tired. From our group was everybody sleeping except Hilda and me. We were looking forward for a beautiful view. But later we moved to restaurant on the lower deck. There slept other people. Possibly there were better place for sleeping than in the couchets. We were near of Faroe Island. On the chilly deck, searching sun rays from incoming sun, we finally understood, that we had bad luck. The fog around us was so strong and it was impossible to see some sun, neither made some good photo. We went to sleep and we slept till afternoon. After afternoon shower we were still so tired. At evening it started to rain, and strong wind moved 5 metres high waves over the deck. Group of young people from north surprised us. One of them in the good mood went to Viking club in the life jacket and he had fire extinguisher on his back. The crew of ship weren't enjoyed with his manners and they disarmed him shortly. Norrona in the storm was waving from one side to another. We were looking on the movie, but sometimes it was so difficult to do it. Also Faerian musicians had problems to play and they gave it up in short time. But it didn't matter us. We persuaded the waitress to play our tape with Slovak well known group, Elan. It helped usand we were dancing about hour. In good mood we went to sleep, knowing, that we have to reach Hanstholm at morning. We had to rest before long trip in the bus to Slovakia.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 21.day

3.September 1998

At nine o' clock we left camp. We have to shipped at our ferry Norrona. It was leaving port at afternoon an at the port there were a lot of cars and buses already. There were also another buses and cars from Czech republic. Many of them we knew from our way to Iceland. People who had sea-sickness problems were a little bit nervous. They took paper boxes soon after shipping. After our accommodation in couchets we moved to our well known Viking club. Together with us there were also group of teenagers from some north country, going to school holiday. And they were so noisy and disturbing. Our first night at the ship was very hard, and I hated them, because it was impossible to sleep in that noise.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 20.day

2.September 1998

At morning we left B&B at half past nine. At the camping site we joined with other part of our travelers. Their tents were much more wetter than yesterday. In the Svartys we made photo near of the lighthouse. It was so difficult to make photo in the horizontal rain, but at last we made it successfully. We denied to visit The museum of stones. That day we were returning to point that we left 2 weeks ago. Our round way around Iceland was closed. In the Egilstadir we bought some meal for the ferry. We had enough own groceries we only wanted to buy some fresh bread and butter. We reached our well known camp in Seydisfjordur in the strong rain. Hesitated long time, we build our tents at last. But there were no other possibility. Our dinner we prepared on our standard place in the shower/toilet cabin. With wet dresses we went to sleep to wet sleeping bags and wet tents. But it didn't matter at last. We were so tired and we slept in short time.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 19.day

1.September 1998

At 6 o'clock morning, we all woke up and we started to survive our tents. I decided to do the same, despite of Boris's protests. We packed our tent. Then we helped Emil and Hilda. Strong wind blew away cover from Emil's tent and we searched it half hour. We found it at last. After shower our mood rapidly improved. Fully packed we visited local coffee shop, where we bought some coffee and cakes. We had enough time, that we spend with visiting of Skaftafelljokul iceberg moraine. It was near of camping and it wasn't problem to find it. But strong wind blowing from iceberg embarrassed our advance.

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We left our camping at afternoon. We stopped at Jokulsalron. It is iceberg lake. It was raining, as usually. I decided to visit lake with terrapin. At first we had to wear orange life jackets. Then our terrapin went on the lake. It was interesting experience, and it all looks like somewhere in Greenland. From the water sticked up blue icebergs and I made a lot of photos there. One man from crew followed us on another boat. He brought us 1000 years old ice. We didn't have whiskey and we only touched it. After half hour we returned on the bank wet and cold.

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Then we continued to Hofn, where we had to spend next night. It was still raining outside, and everybody was in bad mood from that. When we realized, that we must build our wet tents again, wasn't very pleasant. At last we made agreement with Palo and we accommodated at the near youth hostel. Difference between price of this type of accommodation and camping we paid ourselves. It was a fair offer. It was raining outside, but we were in warm place. We took shower, prepared a good meal in the well equipped kitchen. Palo found Black Velvet and offered it to our group. Evening we spent discussing with 2 girls from Germany. They travelled through Iceland severally. We slept in our sleeping bags, but in normal beds, what was unbelievable comfort.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 18.day

31.August 1998

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At morning we woke up to beautiful weather. The rain finished. That day we prepared to trekking around an iceberg. We finished our preparation before noon. It was our the longest trek, here in Iceland. We crossed Sjonarsker, Nyrthrihnujur and we climbed to 979 m high Kristinartindar. My ascent to top, in strong wind was near of my maximum. The last thing that helped me to continue, was bar of chocolate in my rucksack. We wanted to eat it as bonus on the top. Now I must reach the top, take it to my friends. At last I was on the top, and I was happy from excellent view from the top.

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We could see from there 2 joining moraines of the iceberg. Boris took 8 pictures with camera for the panorama. They were the most beautiful pictures from our holiday. After our return back from the top we continued through 650 m high Glam to Sjonarnipa. We reached our camping on late afternoon. We opened bottle with Demänovka. It was very tasty, especially for Hilda. At evening it started to blow strong wind and we were afraid of our tents. It was very bad night. Wind was blowing with huge power and our tent copied our lying bodies in it. Boris was sleeping, but I was so afraid, that my tent could broke. Also in tents around us it was brightly. Sentences "Are you still staying?" or "Oh no, my is not staying already" were questions and answer about our tents. And some of them fell.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 17.day

30.August 1998

At morning we left camp so early. Some tents were destroyed from strong rain. Wet tents and luggages we gave to the bus and continued in our trip. After long way through black desert we joined to our well known route "1", the main way around Iceland. It was raining and Iceland showed us its right face. We stopped near of Seljalandsfoss waterfall. It was interesting, because it was possible to go underneath waterfall via small pathway. Wet shower from waterfall didn't upset us, because we were wet enough from rain.

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After Seljalandsfoss we visited Glufurarfoss. It was known waterfall from saga, where some old well known Viking hide a big treasure. We didn't find it, unfortunately. Our next stop was black beach Dyrholaey. Strong surge on black beach made impressive view. It is also possible to see stone gate in the sea. I gave up this exhibition, because I wasn't in mood to get wet next time. All our things hanged in the bus didn't dry, and water was everywhere around us. Our last exhibition was waterfall Skogafoss. At evening we reached National park Skaftafell. There, near of a big iceberg we built our tents, made some shower and tired we went to sleep into our wet tents.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 16.day

29.August 1998

At morning it was rainy and windy weather. It checked quality of our tents and an outdoor equipment. Well chosen place for tent was very important. Some of tents stayed in the water. Also the wind didn't help our tents so much. But I had good luck and my tent resisted. Concerning to weather we declined to go on some trip. We didn't want to get wet. We decided to pack Boris's tent, because it wasn't suitable neither as store. Without going on trip it wasn't there so much possibilities how to spend free time. After founding stream with thermal water near of our camp, we decided to try it. When it a little bit stopped to rain we wore swimming suits and over them our Gore-tex jackets and went to swim. Jackets we left over on tentative hangers on bank of stream and divided into thermal water. It was excellent feeling. Outside it was temperature some degrees above zero, it was a little raining and we were dipped into hot water. When it started seriously raining some of us gave it up. In short time I must gave it up also, because rain started to be very strong, and my jacket on the bank was going to be wet. I left water, took my jacket into hand and ran to my tent in the strong cold rain. When I came into tent I was wet and cold. I changed my swimming suit to dry and warm clothes. It took me some time, but when I was dressed, I started to relax.

When the weather improved, we decided to prepare our rice from previous day. Educated from yesterday, we cooked our rice in small wooden cabin, near of our bus. Later we recognized that it was service cabin for neighbouring toilet. Our rice was cooked in background sound effects from toilet. Three times boiled rice with meat wasn't so good, but it was warm, and we ate it together from one big pot. We had been overeaten, when joined us Lubica from Presov and she helped us. At last we prepared also hot tea. It was still raining and we went to our tents, where we played cards. It was only one thing, what it was possible to do there in this weather.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 15.day

28.August 1998

It is morning's standard weather on Iceland. It is raining. We packed our tent in a record time, to prevent to have wet things. We saved a day or two, and we decided to go to mountain camping in Landmannlaugar. This camping is far from main maintained round way around Iceland. Before our trip we had to find some informations about possibility to reach that place with our bus. We stopped on our way in Hveragardi. It is a small city on southwest of Iceland. There we visited a big glasshouse, Eden Shop. You can buy there souvenirs between palm trees while temperature outside can be under 0 degree. Hynek found out there, that the way to Landmannlaugar, is negotiable also for our bus. Franta sat down to his place of driver, and after a few kilometers we left main way and turned to black wilderness. The way wasn't such good as we were informed. But with help of God and our driver's abilities we continued forward. Everywhere were black dust and it looks like we were going through the black desert.

The last place with inhabitants Hrauneyar were in a half of our way and it looked more like lodging houses for workers. After short break there we continued. The countryside around us warped from plain to mountains. At afternoon we reached our camping place. In front of camp it was the ford. It was better to bring our things with us and went over it by foot using wood pathways. It was a little bit raining and we had a beautiful surround. Mountains were colored from black to dark red. We built our tents and decided to cook some dinner. After preparing all ingredients for the risotto we started to cook it on the wooden table near of our tents. Our effort was broken with strong rain. We stopped the cooker and went to our tents. Our rice we hid under the table. After a half hour weather improved and we continued in the cooking. But also the second attempt was broken with rain. We hid our rice and also cooker. That day it looked on cold dinner. During strong raining and it also started to blow cold wind. We gave up all our cooking attempts. Boris's tent we degraded to store tent and Boris moved to my tent. It was a little bit uncomfortable, but it was necessary.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 14.day

27.August 1998

Refreshed enough, I took shower and after breakfast we packed our things. We left camp at noon, and we were looking for new experiences. We saw first time Reykjavik during a day. We bought some souvenirs and visited National Gallery. There was a free entry. We saw there a lot of pictures from local artists. Especially pictures of Iceland in stormy weather were beautiful. Before leaving, we looked at Reykjavik, from observation point
Pearlan.

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From capital city we continued to Blue Lagoon. Inside the factory is artificial lake with thermal water. Water is mixed with minerals and they give water beautiful blue color. We healed our ached bodies dipped into water. Only our heads sticked up from water. Palo ordered for all blue colored alcoholic soda. Waiters in swimming suites and jazz-bow on necks brought them in synthetic glasses straight into water. After drinking, one participant made decision to be recorded in Guinness book records. When he gave the mineralized mood on his head, we made a tower from all our 40 glasses on his head. We were successful, and we won applause from others spectators in lagoon. After finishing our bathing, we continued to our camping in Grindavik. There we build our tents in rain. After fast dinner we went to sleep.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 13.day

26.August 1998

The night and especially the morning was terrible. I slept only short time and my knees were achy. I looked more like the adept on wheelchair. Our first stop was Storygeysir. Tere, we looked on father of all geysers, Geyisir. The biggest geyser in this area, Strokkur, had erupted water to 30 m height. It was active until year 1930. Later it was active only from to time after earthquakes and only for short time. Icelanders tried to change it, and they discovered technique for activating geyser. Always, when they threw a few kilograms of soap to geyser, geyser erupted. This technique they used occasionally for important foreign visits, but later it didn't help.

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After geyser visit we continue to Gullfoss, golden waterfalls. This waterfall was really beautiful. We also visited centre of culture on Iceland, church Skalholt. Here were written most of well known old Icelandic sagas. Our next stop in history of Iceland was valley Thingvellir. There you can find the oldest parliament of the world. It was based in 930. Thingvellir is located on rifts of Europe and America continents. Here groups of Vikings from whole Iceland each year met together and voted for new laws, and solved their's argues. There was also possibility to repay from killing somebody. At evening we reached our camp in capital of Iceland, Reykjavik. After building tents and dinner we prepared us for night city exhibition. We found a small coffee-bar, where we drank beer and tequila and rested. We returned back to camp at 10:00 PM. We were happy, that we could sleep on plain surface in our tents.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 12.day

25.August 1998

At morning we packed all our things and gave them to the bus. We were going to left Reykjahlid. Our way continued with bus to Reykjavik. It had to be so long way and we had to reach Reykjavik at next day afternoon. To make the way more comfortable and not so bored, we stopped on interesting places. Near of lake Myvatn we visited Skutustathagigar where we saw nice pseudo-craters. Later, we stopped near of beautiful Godafoss waterfalls.

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Longer break we made in Akureyri. Akureyri is the second largest city of Iceland. It is the biggest exporter of bananas in Europe. It is surprising fact, but when we saw big amount of glasshouses in city, we understood. All glasshouses are warmed with thermal water and in the most of them are growing banana's trees. We didn't visited any museums there. But we found very good shop with fishes. At last we had dinner in the local botanical garden. Near of the garden we had also our bus, and after short exhibition we continued to Reykjavik. At evening we also visited some open-air museum. I don't know, where it was, exactly. After this night last stop, I tried to sleep in bus, during seeing of video. I saw whole Dangerous Speed 2, but from Men in Black I saw only small parts and I slept in short time.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 11.day

24.August 1998

At morning it was cloudy, but didn't rain. At 9:00 we went to Dummborgir. In translation this word means black forest. In reality, it is black stone city, created by nature. Streets of this city were pathways, with colored markings, and maps on crossings. The most beautiful part of the city was Kirkja, the church created from basalt crystals.

From Dummborgir we went to see black volcano Hverfjall. The volcano consists from huge amount of black slag, with circle crater inside it. Nearby should be place, where US astronauts, with Neil Armstrong, had practised landing and moving on moon. I believe, that there they had really real conditions, because we also felt sometimes like on the moon. We didn't find the specific place. After climb on Hverfjall we went down on another side of volcano.

There we found Grjotagja, the stone break point with caverns and thermal water. We wanted to swim in it at first, but fortunately we thought better of it. The radiant heat from water indicated us high temperature of water. To Reykjahlid we came at 4:30 PM. It was sunny weather, we took advantage of it and we tanned on the sun. At evening we all played "Mariáš" (card game). I wasn't very good, because I was only one, who lost many games. It forced me to go to sleep, with idea, that tomorrow I will be more successful.

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My Travels - Iceland 1998 - 10.day

23.August 1998

At morning it looked on standard weather at first. Later clouds disappeared, and weather improved. We left our tents in camping and went by bus on trek. Bus rode us on the foot of volcano Krafla. Here we met together with the second group. Krafla is volcano that erupted last time in 1984. In near neighbourhood are still wide lava fields from this eruption. Under volcano is crater Viti with lake inside it. After hour we reached top of this crater volcano in 827 m height. There, Palo withdraw bottle of champagne from back-pack, as hilltop bonus. On place, where 10 years ago erupted volcano, now erupted the cork from champagne. We shared the bottle among 20 people. Then we made some group photo and created together message into the top-hill visitors book.

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After the descent we continued through the lava fields back to our camp. It was difficult trek, because sharp lava crushed our boots. There were also some places where lava was still hot. We returned back to camp at evening. There we visited our well known tea-sop, and there we bought big portion of ice-cream. After shower we went to sleep.

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