First we stopped at an overlook to admire Þingvallavatn lake, which Wikipedia advises is the largest lake in Iceland. It was cold and windy, so we hit it and quit it.
Next up was Þingvellir (pronounced Thing-fet-ler) National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of both geological and historical significance. The park is situated where two tectonic plates meet and demonstrate continental drift. Also, the country's early parliament met at this location for days of meetings and festivals beginning in 930 AD.
Along the way, we stopped to photograph and then to pet the Icelandic horses, who were friendly little guys. They have short legs and sturdy bodies with full, fluffy manes.
The main attraction for the day was the waterfall Gulfoss, which speaks for itself.
Some scenery from our drive:
The last stop was the Secret Lagoon, and impulse decision that wound up being one of the highlights of the trip. Sometimes photographs can overstate the actual beauty of the subject and makes places look a little more mysterious, a little more lovely. This is not one of those instances. We enjoyed a long, quiet swim in this naturally heated pool with its own little geyser.
