Strawhouse

By strawhouse

Iceland, Day 1

What an amazing day!!!!!
We were so looking forward to waking up and seeing Stykkisholmur in daylight.
We had a bit of a wait as the sun didn't start to come up until 9am! But it was definitely worth the wait!
Breakfast at the hotel was fabulous - lovely rye bread, fresh granary loaf, muesli, yoghurt, ham, cheese, salami, fruit, amazing marmalade, the most delicious apricot and pecan pastries I've ever had, smoked sausages, and - for my mum - pickled herring and smoked salmon. Yummy!!!!!
Knowing we'd be heading off out into the wild later we took a "half board option" with us. To supplement all the M&S snacks!!
It was just getting proper light by 10am when we headed out for a walk round Stykkisholmur. What a pretty little town!
Historical buildings, a lovely harbour and a lighthouse on a headland overlooking it all. In the distance huge snow covered mountains all looking glorious in the sunrise. 
All breathtaking.
We came back to get the car with its ridiculous boot which has a door which only opens about six inches so you bang your head on it. Every time. and set off to explore the Snæfellsness Peninsular. 
Wow!!!!!
We turned off on to a gravel road as soon as we could and were rewarded by a drive across an ancient lava field towards the mountains and the sea. At the end of the road was the beautiful little black church at Bjarnarhöfn with its beautiful graveyard. Apparently it's one of the oldest wooden churches in Iceland. There was an incredible serenity and spirituality there -  what a place to see out your days.
We carried on driving oohing and aahing as we went!! Fjords, waterfalls, birds, petrified lava, snowcapped mountains, incredible sunrise light which imperceptibly gave way to sunset light!!
Unfortunately on the way to Kirkjufell I developed a horrific headache, the worst I can remember for years. We stopped for Paracetamol at a pharmacy in Grundarfjördur at the foot of Kirkjufell and thankfully it eased off. We parked up next to some ponies and had a chat with them, apologising for not bringing any apples!! 
We turned for home then, going back the way we'd come. As is the way with these kind of landscapes it was like a completely new journey!! Seeing it all unfold again in front of you!
We took a detour out to anther church near Stykkisholmur which was lovely. The graveyard had several graves with either headboards or entire bedsteads - ensuring peaceful rest! (See extras)
It was getting dark by the time we left so it was back to the hotel for an evening eating M&S nibbles, cheese and salami sandwiches and (uuuughhhhh) pickled herring! All while watching NCIS and Die Hard 2. Bizarrely the TV in the hotel has ITV, ITV2, ITV3, Channel 4, More Four and Film Four, Channel 5 and Sky News. Only one Icelandic channel and no BBC.

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