The Golden Circle, Iceland (1)

The tour which Tomo & Chouchou joined in Iceland

"the Golden Circle Classic" English tour
organized by Gray Line Iceland Excursions
Departure from Reykjavik.
hotel pick-up service included.

<Itinerary>
1.Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant [Hellisheiðarvirkjun] ⇒
2.Lake ⇒  3.Skálholt Cathedral ⇒
4.((UNESCO)) Þingvellir National Park ⇒
5.Geysir Geothermal Springs ⇒　6.Gullfoss Waterfall

We joined this tour in winter.

Departure from Gray Line office in very early morning. 

The sky was still dark.

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The Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant/ 

the Hellisheiðarvirkjun Geothermal Power Plant/

The Hellisheiði Power Station 

[Icelandic: Hellisheiðarvirkjun] 

Hellisheidavirkjun is the largest geothermal power station in Iceland.

 

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 The sky was getting bright.

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The tour bus stopped exceptionally.

Our tour guide brought us to the lake.

 

The lake was covered by the snow but it was very pretty place.
 

 

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Skálholt Cathedral [Old Icelandic: Skálaholt].

Inside Skálholt Cathedral

Jesus was drawn on the wall.

The ceiling made with woods and white walls had a good harmony.

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((UNESCO World Heritage site))

Þingvellir National Park /Thingvellir National Park

[Icelandic: Þingvellir]. 

 

 

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to be continued... The Golden Circle, Iceland (2)

Episode of The Golden Circle tour

Tomo & Chouchou joined the popular English tour "the Golden Circle Classic" which is organized by Gray Line Iceland Excursions.
Departure was very early, so we worried if the pick-up bus will arrive our hotel or not... We didn't need to worry. They picked us up almost on time!
Gray Line sends many pick-up vans to the hotel. Those vans go back to their office. Then they ask the clients to move to the bigger coach there. Gray Line has efficient organization and very solid work. We felt Gray Line was reliable.

We left in the early morning, so the sky was dark. From the bus window, we couldn't see the scenery so much, but we could see white snow and snow mountains.
First, the bus arrived the Hellisheiðarvirkjun Geothermal Power Plant
(=The Hellisheiði Power Station). Hellisheidavirkjun is the largest geothermal power station in Iceland. It's the first or second largest geothermal power plant in the world. Iceland doesn't have any atomic power plant. Iceland uses mostly geothermal energy. In Iceland, there are earthquakes and Iceland has volcanic belts under the ground. Therefore Iceland uses the underground heat for the energy. We heard that the geothermal energy was safe. Tomo & Chouchou support such safe energy! We also wish Japan will use geothermal energy too.
While heading off to the next place, the sun rised and the sky became brighter.
Our tour guide stopped the coach exceptionally. We could see the lake. The lake was covered by the snow but it was very pretty place.
Next, we arrived Skálholt (=Old Icelandic: Skálaholt) Cathedral. Skalholt Cathedral was simple and quite different from European Gothic cathedrals. Colorful Jesus drawn on the wall was unique. The ceiling made with woods and white walls had a good harmony. Skalholt Cathedral was a beautiful Icelandic church.
We visited Þingvellir National Park designated by UNESCO World Heritage Site. We could see amazing view there.

to be continued... The Golden Circle, Iceland (2)

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* Reykjavik in Iceland

* Blue Lagoon (geothermal spa) in Iceland

* Northern Lights tour in Iceland