Sunday 27th July
Sunday 27th July
Sunday 27th July
On Sunday we decided to go on an organised trip to the Blue Lagoon ("Blaa Lonid" in Icelandic - see picture right). The tourist coach took about 60 minutes to make the journey over what was by now becoming quite familiar countryside of lava-fields, agricultural land and the ubiquitous grey rocky stuff.
pictured left and below right -
Sam and Richard at the Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon's origins were explained to us during the journey.
Having discovered that super-heated geothermal water was available
for the taking by simply drilling far enough down for it, the
Icelandic people naturally established locations at which to exploit
this phenomenon and use it to provide hot water. In so doing,
they use the geothermal water as an agent in the heating of cold,
spring water rather than making use of it directly as its content
is too salty and mineral-rich and would cause corrosion and damage
to pipes and plumbing equipment. Having developed a geothermal
plant to perform this task of heat-exchanging they then decided
to chuck away the geothermal water back into the lava-coated ground
once it has lost most of its heat. This worked for a few weeks,
as it just seeped away, but gradually the deposits caused the
gaps in the lava to fill in and as a result a lagoon formed
by accident. Also apparently by accident it happens to be a delightful
blue colour (probably something to do with sulphur).
This accident is now one of Iceland's most significant tourist
attractions and probably a not inconsiderable money-spinner too,
given the obvious lack of development costs. Entry costs about
a fiver, and towel hire is £2, although the entrance cost was
included in the £30 coach tour fee which also covered a visit
to the President's House (see picture - left) and the delightful church next door (see picture below of stained glass window in church). The blue lagoon is mostly shallow and warm, although there
are deeper areas which tend to be much hotter. The really steamy
bits were much too hot for us, although we enjoyed dunking into
the heat for a few minutes before resting in the breeze on one
of the floating wooden platforms before plunging back in. The
water is very salty, almost slippery, and is quite supportive.
A very relaxing experience was complemented by great weather,
blue skies, sunshine and fluffy clouds. The industrial part of
the Blue Lagoon is strangely quite attractive despite its exposed
metallic entrails and it belches steam night and day in huge clouds.
Arriving back in Reykjavik in the afternoon we relaxed at the
hotel and then ventured into the centre of town (there is an area
covering about a dozen streets where all the restaurants, bars
and cafés are situated: the eating zone, effectively). We ate
at the Laekjarbrakka fish buffet restaurant. The buffet was not bad but it was late by the time
we got there and most of the dishes had been comprehensively ransacked
by a huge party of noisy Germans. Despite this we managed to root
out some good stuff including some tasty lamb, succulent white
fish which may have been shark, lobster tails, various shellfish,
pasta dishes and pickled fish. This was quite enjoyable and rounded
off with coffee and chocolates seated on the comfy sofas in the
corner. This buffet restaurant is reasonably informal and is situated
in the upper room of a traditional wooden building. Service was
friendly, unobtrusive and relaxed. The building which houses the
buffet is a bit like a church or small school, has exposed beams
and a pointed roof, and is quite dark and romantic. Dinner is
a fixed price being £25 for whatever you want from the buffet.
Drinks extra (of course).
Click for next day
© Richard Harrison
All photographs are © Richard Harrison and Samantha Coe 1997