Day 6 & 7

Selijalandsfoss - side view
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We decided to devote a day to shopping and hit off for the Kringla shopping mall on Day 6. We were told that we'd need to get the bus out to it, but having checked out the map, we reckoned it would make a for a nice walk too, giving us a better feel for the city! c.40mins later we arrived to Iceland's biggest mall and emptied our wallets!! Iceland is not cheap when it comes to shopping, but if you're lucky, you will come across some great bargains. For us Irish folks, good outdoor gear is usually expensive, but we were delighted to get some great bargains here.

Crossing the Glacial lake
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We decided to take the bus back from the mall, dropped the bags home and then took off again around the centre, making cultural stops at the Viking museum and the Modern Art museum to fill out the day and learn a little more about Iceland.

You don't want to drive through this river... or do you?!!!!

Day 7 (South Coast and Thorsmork)

Yet again travelling with Iceland excursions, we headed off in the early hours to drive the South Coast on an outdoor adventure trip at Thorsmork (Thor's woodland). We stopped along the way to see some black sand beaches, some small villages and towns and the Selijandsfoss waterfall (one which you can walk behind). Then in was onwards on the most adventurous part of the day...

Thorsmork
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Today we travelled on a super jeep rather than a bus and it was only after leaving the waterfalls that I realised why! In order to get into Thorsmork nature reserve, which is shielded on 3 sides by glaciers and mountains, you have to navigate your way through many glacial-melt rivers, which can change in a matter of hours from an innocent stream into a thunderous torrent!

At the falls we met two cyclists on their way to Thorsmork... luckily for them our nice driver offered them a lift as there was no way they'd get through the rivers on bikes! Others followed our super jeep in their 4x4's, but all except one turned back when we met more challenging crossings!!

Lisa on Falcon Crest
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Once we arrived into Thorsmork, we had a wonderful hike up Falcon Crest (I can't remember it's Icelandic name!!). This short hike brings you up to 458m and gives you some great views of the remoteness you can experience in Iceland. Of course, it would be misty when we reached the summit so my photos aren't the best, but it was breathtaking all the same.

On our return we stopped off to take a quick trek into a nearby caynon, but unfortunately I didn't make it in fully. We had to cross some glacial melt rivers by foot, and with a dodgy ankle and a skill for falling into water, I decided it best not to chance the wobbly crossing!!! It was worth the effort though according to Lisa :-)

Caynon
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Anyhow, after all that, it was snooze time on the jeep back to our apartment for some food and hot showers. Then we headed out for some drinks, but found the town to be fairly quiet - it was a Tuesday afterall!!